Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-24
President Will Light Symbolic
Christmas Tree at 6
O'Clock.
FIRST LADY TAKES PART
IN SPREADING OF CHEER
Washington Federation of Churches
Sponsors Services at National
City Christian Ediice.

Washington took the lead in prepare
tions for Christmas today as thousands
waited in eager anticipation of the
official ceremonies in Sherman Square
before the living community Christmas
tree shortly after dusk, when President
Hoover is to broadcast the seasons
greetings to the Nation.
The touch of the Presidents hand
on the electric button which will set
the giant tree in blaze of colored
lights will signalize to the Nation the
approach of Christmas. Members OF
the cabinet, the diplomatic corps and
hundreds of other officials will mingle
with the citizenry of the National Capt.
tai as the Marine Band, at $50 o'clock
strikes up the strains that start the
picturesque ceremonies.
Mrs. Hoover Helps Generously.
Meanwhile, countless gifts were dis
tributed to the less fortunate of the
city today by religious, fratenal, chart
table and other organizations at score
of Yuletide exercises. Efforts were
made everywhere to assure a cheerful
Yuletide season for all of Washington's
poor and unemployed, and in these
activities today0Ndrs. Hoover played a
generous part.
The President will arrive in Sherman
Square a few minutes before O'Clock,
when he will light the community
Christmas tree. He will be accom-
panied by Mrs. Hoover and members
of his official family. As soon as he
presses the button, the Chief Executive
viii wish the entire Nation a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year.
His greetings will be broadcast to the
populace over Nationwide radio hook
up Lieut. Col. U. S. Grant, Sd, chair
man of the committee in charge OF the
ceremonies, will speak, numerous appro-
pirate airs will be played by the Ma
rine Band, and the assembled thou
sands, led by organized chorus groups,
viii chant familiar Christmas carols.
Traffic Arrangements Made.
Special traffic arrangements in con-
necticn with the community tree cere-
monies were made today by Capt. P. j.
Carroll of the park police.
The captain explained that traffic
viii be permitted to travel through
Treasury place and north on East ~
ecutive avenue. Some so parking PAGES
have been reserved for the invited
guests in the area around East Ex-
ecutive avenue and Treasury place TO
South Executive avenue and street.
The public will be permitted to PARK
around the Ellipse. Traffic Will be al
lowed to travel east and west on East
and South Executive avenues, Capt.
Carroll pointed out, but no trafnc VIII
travel in the area set apart for reserved
parking.
The stand, near the community
Christmas tree, has been enlarged TO
accommodate additional guests, as an
the members of President Hoover's cao-
met are expected to attend. Fifty more
seats than last year will be set up on
the platform. =,
Special programs of carol singing VIII
he held in many churches tonight, while
Christmas services will be conducted
In practically every church tomorrow
morning. The annual Christmas sery-
ices sponsored by the Washington Fea-
Grafton of Churches Will start at II
O'Clock tomorrow morning IN the Ma
fional CITY Christian Church on Thomas
circle. - a.,
DIR. John Weidley, pastor OF the
lutheran Church of the Reformation
and chairman of the Committee on
public Meetings, will preside and ofier
the Invocation. DR.. A. r. Bird, pastor
of the Church of the Pilgrims and presi--
dent of the federation, will present
greetings and make several announce
mentS.
DIR. w. A. Shelton to Preach.
The sermon will be preached by DR..
w. A. Shelton, who came TO Washing
ton recently to be pastor Of the Mount
Vernon Place Methodist Episcopal
Church South. Other clergymen par
ticipating will include DR.. S. j. Porter
First Baptist Church; Rev. Godfrey
Chobot. Sixth Presbyterian, and DR.
H. H. Ranck. Grace Reformed. The
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