Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-24
IMPOSING PROGRAM
USHERS CHRISTMAS
INTO CITY TONIGHT
EpochaI Radio Carol Singing
viii Be Preceded by
Tree Ceremony.
WHITE HOUSE CHORAL
NUMBERS TO BEGIN AT g
Mrs. Coolidge Assisted Today in
Distributing Gifts to Needy.
Church Services Planned.

The National Capital tonight will
add its voice to the nationwide chorus
of Christmas carols which will herald
the gladsome return of another might
before Christmas"
With local ceremonies in or near
the White House, followed by partici-
patton in the epochal radio Choir
invisible" the citizenry, from Presi-
dent Coolidge to the tiniest wide-eyed
child will welcome the joyous Yuletide.
The imposing program OF services
and celebrations arranged for Christ
mas eve, ranging from formal public
exercises to the annual home-to-home
visit of good old Santa. is calculated
to make the occasion this year mem
orable one.
The observance began this morning
with the customary distribution by
charitable organizations of toys, food
and other gifts to the needy. Mrs.
Coolidge entered wholeheartedly into
the spirit of this program, assisting
the Central Union Mission and the
Salvation Army in their parties Tor
deserving ones.
The outstanding features of the
evening will be the lighting by the
President of the national community
Christmas tree in. Sherman park at
o'clock, the carol serenade by the
choir of the First Congregational
Church in front of the White House
at 9 o'clock, and the climaxing radio
concert from 1890 until midnight,
reaching many millions of homes
throughout the country.
The White House will form back
ground for the first two celebrations,
and it's occupants will contribute
toward the success of all three.
p. President Opens Program.
President Coolidge will announce
Officially" the advent OF the season
of "peace. and good will when he
presses a button to light, the 35-foot
living spruce tree south or the
Treasury. AS the myriad lights nash
forth in all their vari-colored Drill
liancy, a flare, high in the heavens
will bathe the scene Yin artircial Gay
light. 1t will be a signal for Boy
Scouts stationed throughout the CITY
to trumpet a message OF cheer.
Senator Arthur Capper, chairman
of the Senate District committee, VIII
preside, and District Commissioners
Dougherty and Taliaferro will lenu
their aid.
ARRANGEMENTS are being made by
the community center department OF
the public schools and the ONCE or
public Buildings and Parks. A COM
mittee to greet the President VIII
consist of z. C.. Snyder. chairman;
Representative F. N. Zihlman OF
MARYLAND, Lieut.. Col. U. IS. Grant
Ard: r. C. Graham, Isaac Cans, Miss
Sibyl Baker, Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes
and Mrs. John D. Sherman.
The Marine Band will play several
seasonal selections, and the public, led
by William E. Braithwaite, will sing
carols.
The carol concert at the north
portico of the White House Will De
conducted by the choir of the Presi-
dents church under festoons of
lights hung especially for the occasion
beneath the tall porte cochere. The
public is invited to join in the singing
Members of the presidential family
are expected to take part, also.
SIS Voices i'm Chorus.
The vested chorus of 65 voices will
he led by Ruby Smith Stahl. soprano,
assisted by Dorothy Wilson Halbach,
contralto; w. Madison Taylor. tenor
and John Chandler Smith, bass
Charles T. Ferry will be at the piano:
Musicians from the Marine Band Will
assist in the accompaniment.
The following carols will be sung:
Good Rest You, Merry Gentlemen.
''The First Noel" THE Holy Mother
sings" "Angels We Have Heard on
High" silent Night" Shepherds
Christmas Song" "All Knew He Was
There" carol of Russian Children
20 Little Town of Bethlehem,
come All Ye Shepherds" The Babe
in Bethlehem Manger, ITO Us IS
Born Emmanuel" Bells of Christ.
mas and 20 Come. All Ye Faithful.
Words and music of BELLS Oh
Christmas" were composed oy heN.
DIR. Jason Noble Pierce, pastor of the
First Congregational Church. and
dedicated to Mrs. Coolidge.
The outdoor observances completed,
the big broadcasting feature will be in
order. 1t undoubtedly will be the
most remarkable carol concert in his
tory. with more than 20,000,000 per-
sons singing the old songs. under
the leadership of the 50-voice choir
of DR.. S. Parkes Cadman's church in
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Radio Stations United.
A large Cndln OL SbdtAOASS
cl,Idine WRC, will carry the music
from one end of the United States to
the other, and all listeners-in will be
requested by DIR. Cadman to join in
the mighty chorus. Arrangements
for the unique celebration were made
bv The Star and other leading Ameri-
can newspapers, and The Star today
issues with this edition free booklet
containing the entire program, with
words and music to all the carols.
The carols will continue until few
minutes before midnight, when the
singers will pause for a moment to let
DIR. Cadman deliver a Christmas mes
sage and prayer. When church bells
sound the mystic hour of IL, the ma
tional chorus will be heard again in
the most wonderful of all carols,
silent Night"
The clear music of chimes will ring
out in harmony with the final sonG
bringing the observance to a close.
DIR. Harry Rowe Shelley, famou.
composer and choirmaster, will be the
musical conductor for the concert.
Uncle Sam took due note of the day
and adopted a suggestion Of Santa
Claus that Government employees be
permitted to go home early and make
proper preparations for his reception
tonight. The Federal machinery will
remain motionless over the week end.
Hundreds Of employees and many rep
1C,ontin,Ted nm - - Cf-~E