Evening star., 1941-12-24
Capitals Christmas
Celebration Is Begun
With Tree Lighting
White House Ceremony
Opens First Wortime
Yule Here in "a Years

With the lighting of the COM
munity tree on the south lawn Of
the White House grounds, the
Capital late this afternoon opened
it's celebration Of the first wartime
Christmas season in "a years as
President Roosevelt and Prime Min
lister Churchill broadcast holiday
greetings to the country and to the
world.
The Marine Band played and men
and women around the tree sang
carols before the lights on the tall
cedar were flicked on just when the
President and Prime Minister ap-
peared on the south portico, Over
the traditional ceremony hung the
pail OF war, but there were signs OF
merriment and good cheer.
There are indications that in many
ways this may be Washington's big
gest Christmas. Gift-giving seems
at an all-time high, the defense
workers who have jammed the city
beyond capacity also jamming the
downtown stores.
Travel is at a high peak, too. air
and rail terminals busting with
crowds of homeward bound Among
the travellers are Senators and Rep
resentatives. Congress having taken
q brief breathing spell. Large num-
bers of service men are mingling
with Government workers bound for
Christmas celebration with family
and friends.
Throughout the Capital churches
are preparing for their annual Yule-
tide observance. The candlellght
service will be held at 11:15 o'clock
tonight at the Washington Cathe-
dral. The only celebrant at COM
munion will be the Right Rev James
E. Freeman. D. D., Bishop of Wash
ington. The services will be illumi-
mated only by the tapers in the
great choir and the candles carried
by the choristers.
Carol Service Sunday.
Tomorrow holy communion will be
celebrated at 6, 7:30 and $50 am.
at the cathedral. The services will
be chmaxed with a festival holy
communion at 1880 am The an
nual Christmas carol service will be
at 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon.
The solemn pontiflcal high mass
at midnight tonight in the National
Shrine of the Immaculate Concep-
ton at Catholic University will be
given an international aspect by the
presence of two priests taking grad
uate courses at the university. The
celebrant of the mass. the Most Rev.
Joseph M Corrigan. Bishop of Bilta
and rector of Catholic University
will have as deacons of honor the
Rev Leonidas Rodriquez-Sandoval
OF Quito, Ecuador, and the Rev.
Augustine Tsin-liang Chow OF the
Catholic Mission of Nanking, China.
Other Celebrations Scheduled.
The Christmas celebration was
underway yesterday and today at
many other parties scheduled by
charity, Community Center and
other groups. Tomorrow afternoon at
: o'clock the National Cathedral
Post, No. 10. American Legion, will
play Santa Claus at a party at the
Washington Home for Foundlings
The U. S. o. Club, under the d.
rection of the National Catholic
Community Service. at 920 Tenth
street NV, will be open to service
men all day tomorrow. The Navy
Band will be on hand to provide
dance music in the afternoon from
8 until o'clock. A Christmas din
ner will be served the first 300 serv-
ice men who register for it.
Washington's children already are
thoroughly in a holiday mood. the
Christmas school vacation starting
yesterday afternoon leaving 91.850
boys and girls free from books and
studies until Monday, January s.
Parochial schools already had sent
some 1000 students from the class
rooms Monday afternoon, free until
January 5.
University students in the Capital
also have begun their Christmas
holiday. Georgetown University sus-
pended classes Friday, George Wash
ington released it's students Monday
and the American University vaca-
ton began last Thursday. Glasses
will be resumed January at all the
institutions.
Two hundred members OF the
Young Mems and Women's Mutual
Improvement Association of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints toured residential sec
tions last night, singing Christmas
carols. They were directed by Miss
Mariah Vaughan.
In addition to taking time of from
pressing wartime duties to send his
holiday message to the Nation and
light Washington's community
Christmas tree, President Roosevelt
also has sent Christmas message
to the Civilian Conservation Corps
1T is a real pleasure to extend
holiday greetings to the Civilian
Conservation Corps" the Presidents
letter says. In no previous year
has the c. c. C. performed more
important service to the Nation than
during the year just coming to q
close. Through your work you have
built up your own strength and
strengthened America.
Il am glad to share with you, or
1bie ninth Christmas of the = = q
the sense of satisfaction that comes
froma job well done