Evening star., 1940-12-25
5000 Attend
Program
At E||ipse
Roosevelt Emphasizes
Faith and Hope in
Message to Nation
(Tert OF President Rooseuelts
address on page 49,

(Tert OF President Rooseuelt's
address on page 49,
Foremost among the Nations
Christmas messages was that spoken
by President Roosevelt as he lighted
the Capitals community tree on the,
ellipse early last night.
While none except little children
can be merry" on this war-sad-
dened Christmas, he said, "for
most of us it can be happy
Christmas"
We can be happy, the President
continued, 'if by happiness we mean
that we have done with doubts, that
we have set our hearts against fear,
that we still believe in the golden
rule of all mankind, that we intend
to live more purely in the spirit of
Christ, and that by our works, as
we'll as our words, we will strive
forward in faith and in hope and
in love-"
A throng estimated at more than
5000 attended the outdoor cere-
monies which were broadcast by all
major radio networks.
President Presses Button.
Following Introductory remarks by
District Commissioner John Russell
Young. the Chief Executive pressed
a silver button which sent 10000
watts of electricity into the colorful
decorations of the tall cedar tree, a
signal for similar ceremonies all
over the country
The audience then heard the Presi-
dent preface his prepared remarks
with an announcement that. if the
Commissioners considered it desir-
able, the special tree would be plant
ed on the south lawn Of the White
House grounds next year. with Mr.
Roosevelt speaking his fecilitation
from the porch of the Executive
Mansion
The President said Mrs. Roose-
welt had agreed with him that such
a shift in locale would make for a
more honey celebration.
Young Forecasts Approval.
After Mr.. Roosevelt's greeting,
Commissioner Young said he felt
certain the gesture would meet with
the enthusiastic approval of the
other two Commissioners and the
city as a whole.
The President said, in part:
sometimes. we who have lived
through the strifes and the hates of
a vito u.ny,lor if tl,ic old
world of ours has abandoned the
ideals of the brotherhood of man
Sometimes we ask if contention and
anger in our midst in America is
portent of diSunion and disaster.
Sometimes we fear that the selfish
ness of the individual is more ara
more controlling in our lives.
when we are in these moods, it
is hard for us to keep from putting
our tongues in our cheeks when we
say Merry Christmas. for we think
in thoughts of futility and not OF
hope. A few people are cynics all
of the time; some people are cynlcs
part of the time; bat most people
keep their faith most of the time
4lldl 10 WHY VIC hCCp VII
striving for better and more happy
world
1T is unintelligent to be defeatists.
Crisis may beget crisis, but the
progress underneath does not wholly
halt--it does go forward"
The President mentioned gains of
mankind through the years and the
70 ot t1 Lo
done.
Most of all we ask chance to do
it-yes. peaceful chance to do it,
he said.
I'VE want to do it the voluntary
way-and most human beings in all
the world want to do it the volun-
tary way. We do not want to have
the way imposed on the world by
the conquest of the world by the
sword"
Although adults might find a
happy Christmas after reflection, it
could not be merry, Mr.. Roosevelt
admitted, but he urged
Let us make this Christmas a
merry one for the little children in
our IIlluSt.
Peace and joy may be but a
memory in some of the war-torn
nations of the Old World, but here
in America and in the whole West
ern Hemisphere there still is abun-
dant peace and good will among
men," Commissioner Young de-
clared in his Introductory remarks.
THE lighting up of a community
Christmas tree close by the White
House has been a Christmas eve
custom for more than decade"
he pointed out. Each President,
during that period, had pressed the
button Illuminating the tree and
has given us here in Washington
and throughout the country a
Christmas greeting. I am glad to
have the opportunity to take part in
these ceremonies, and I am proud to
welcome the President and Mrs.
Roosevelt and members of their
family to this celebration"
A total of 700 colored lights and
$50 flashing stars will brighten the
tree nightly during the Yule period.