Evening star., 1939-12-17
All City 10 Join
In Christmas
Celebration
President to Light
Cedar in EIIipse
Sunday at Dusk


From dark alleys to bright ave-
nues, the community celebration of
ChristmaS in Washington this year
will be truly city-wide in scope.
A tall cedar in the Ellipse will
symbolize the holiday for the city
and the Nation, when President
Roosevelt lights the varicolored
decorations at dusk next Sunday,
Christmas Eve.
Similar decorations will beautify
many avenues. streets and alleys.
The national community Christ
mas tree will be lighted at exercises
shortly after 5 o'clock in the park
south of the White House. In pre-
vlOuS years since the custom was
inaugurated in 1923. the community
tree has stood in Lafayette Park, in
front of the White House, and in
Sherman Square, south of the
Treasury Building.
Elaborate plans for community OBJ
servance of the holiday have been
perfected by churches, citizens as
sociations, welfare agencies and
other groups. Mrs. Roosevelt will
have an active part in many of
these affairs.
President to Speak.
President Roosevelt will deliver his
Christmas Eve message to the Ma
ton at the tree-lighting exercises.
The observance this year is in
charge of Representative Jennings
Randolph, chairman of the House
District Committee: Arno B. Cam
merer. director of the National Park
Service, and Miss Sibyl Baker of the
District Recreation Department.
A living Maryland cedar about 40
feet tall will be planted near the
center of the Ellipse. The location
was chosen because of the need for
larger space to accommodate the
crowd and because the tree can be
seen from a greater distance.
The program will be broadcast
over a Nationwide hookup of radio
stations. The Presidents message
at 5:1l pm. will be preceded by a
concert by the Marine Band begin
ming at 4:30. The Most Rev. Patrick
j. Mccormick, vice rector of Catho-
lie University, will deliver the invo-
cation, and the Rev. John w. Rus
tin OF the Mount Vernon Place
Methodist Church the benediction.
Chorus. to Sing.
A program of Christmas songs
will be sung by the Federal Play
house Chorus under direction of
Lynn L. Gillchrest. Greetings to
President and Mrs. Roosevelt will
be extended by representatives of
the Boy and Girl Scouts.
Mrs. Roosevelt will attend Christ
mas celebrations of three local well
fare agencies Saturday.
Her first stop will be at $50 am.
at the annual Christmas party of
the Central Union Mission in the
Capitol Theater, where she will
help distribute gift bags. Hundreds
OF these have been prepared for in
dlvidual children by the missions
Women's Guild and Evening Aux
1liary.
Presidents wives have partici-
pated in the distribution since the
custom was begun by Mrs. Warren
G. Harding. In charge of arrange
ments are Mrs. William H. Ramsey.
president of the guild Mrs. Mervyn
Lanham, president of the auxiliary,
and Mrs. Jean Bennett, superintend-
ent of the mission.
The program will be opened bv
the Marine Band. The public will
be admitted to the balconies. Tick
cts OF admission can be obtained
from the mission.
Volunteers of America Party.
The next Christmas party to be
visited by Mrs. Roosevelt will be
that given by the Volunteers of
America for needy families at lis
O'Clock at headquarters of the or
ganization
Mrs. Roosevelt will be guest of
honor at the annual Christmas par
ty OF the Salvation Army at 2 pm.
in the Salvation Army Temple, COG
p street NV. She will pass out
the first of 600 Christmas baskets
2ol Leeuy 1dmllleS.
The principal address will be made
by the Right Rev. James E. Free
man, Bishop of Washington. Other
speakers will be Maj. Charles H.
Dodd and Sidney F.. Taliaferro, who
will preside and introduce Mrs.
Roosevelt for her usual short talk.
There will be a scripture reading
by Maj. Harold Gesner and the
benediction will be delivered by the
Rev. William H. Darby, secretary of
the District Federation of Churches.
Music will be supplied by the Navy
Bands Orchestra and the Salvation
Army Divisional Band. More than
Il 900 toys will be distributed at a
children's party in the Temple Sat-
urday night.
Alley Tree Plans Made.
Mrs Frank A. Linzel, president
OF the Women's Council. Washing
ton Federation of Churches, and a
? member of the Committee on Light
Ing OF Alley Christmas Trees. an
nounced that various churches are
arranging to set up and decorate
Christmas trees in more than 10
alleys this year.
A community Christmas tree will
be lighted at the corner of Thir-
(see CHRISTMAS, Page BED
Lady Goes Shopping
H. n