Putnam patriot., 1925-12-18
TO ENACT DRAMA
 OF THE HOLY NIGHT
Pomfret's Christmas Play to Be Presented Sunday Evening
 For Fourteenth Time
Three of Cast Have Appeared Since
 First Presentation. 1912

The community is invited to join with pomfret in it's celehra- ton of Christmas through is annual presentation of the drama of The Holy Night. on the eve ming of Sunday. Dee goth. in Pomfret Hall, beginning at { O. clock.
 Christ Church. almost adjein- ing the hail, will be. as usual, through the courtesy of the rec tor. the Rev. Frank II Bigelow, open to all corners who cannot gain admittance to the hall The play will be repeated as many times as necessary during the evening that all who come may witness n.
 In 1912. the year of the first community Christmas tree n Madison Square, New York City. this drama of the Nativity was presented in Pomfret for the first time lt has gained wide public ity throughout this and other lands. Some form of the play has been presented in almost every state in the Union, and t has be come the most distinguished ex= ample of church pagoantry of community nature.
 Played From Beginning
 This k wholly due to the ear. nestness and devotion with which the actors have created their parts. These roles. SO far as pos sible. have been played from the beginning by the same people. Warren Averill. as 6 King of the Orient. and J. Fred Ash, as the Master Shepard. and the Misses Gnstafson and Danielson, are nevertheless. the only ones who have been of the cast from the first performance. MT Ransome, as Joseph. has taken the part for many years. Others before him were Giorgio Cariglia, Mir. John Ash, whose recent death was deeply felt in the community, and Mir. Styrnborough. who is no longer a resident of Pomfret. Elizabeth Ransome has for sew eral years taken the role of Mary; Ester Gustafson, of Cab riel: Frank Chandler and Leon ard Watson Of the other Wise Men. Leonard Watson, of the state police, Is unable to he pres ent, and his part will be taken by Robert Arnold. The shepards VIII be Allen Averill. the only one be- sides Fred Ash of the old group, Edward Arnold, Irving Emlott. and Benjamin Gfosveuor as shep- ards boy. The angelic host IS composed of the Misses Ella Gus tafson. Fife Danieison, Lois Ran some. Mildred and Maude Black mar. and Mrs. Leonard Watson. The attendants to the MaRi are John and Alice Ash, irvin Hat tin, Gilbert and Selden Daniel son.
 Text We'll Known
 The text of the drama of the Holy Night. as is well known in the community, Is the Gospel de seribinR the Nativity in all it's bearings. This is read, at the close of the carol singing, just be- fore the play itself, which begins with the singing of Holy Night.
 Throughout the country the celebration of Christmas has dur ing the last decade become a com munity celebration. In almost ev- cry American town some plan for a general, united celebration of the worlds greatest festival is each year carried through. This year Putnam has it's first great public Christmas tree, the best or all methods of making Christmas Eve a joyous occasion.
 P0mfret. as for 90 many years, pictures with reverence and dig nity those ancient mysteries. Beauty and truth and faith are always the source Of miracles, to- day in the world. as more than two thousand years ago.
 Christmas is not a failure. IL is not nuisance. It's spirit is not dead. Like all great gifts, it can be received only by those who give.