Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-25
Christmas Rites
Draw Thousands
TO Churches
President Attends
Service; Dinners
Given Servicemen

Thousands Of District families,
led by President and Mrs. Roosevelt.
paused in their round Of gifts and
turkeys and parties today to cele-
brate the religious significance OF
the birth of Christ at services in
Capital churches.
The President attended a union
service sponsored by the Washing
ton Federation of Churches at the
Church of the Epiphany, 1917 G
street NV. There he heard DR..
Howard Stone Anderson, minister
of the First Congregational Church.
declare that Christmas will en-
dure as long "as there are simple
joys, moral initiative and heartfelt
faith"
Christmas brings a point of view"
and a perspective that people get
at no other time during the year,
DR.. Anderson said. They see hum
BILE things in light and glory, while
burdens retreat into their proper
subordinate positions"
Cites Rickenbacker Prayers.
He cited the prayers of Capt. Ed
die Rickenbacker for rescue as ex-
amples of the power of simple.
heartfelt, faith"
"As long as there is that spirit
in the world among men," declared
DR.. Anderson, land they are will
ing to disavow and brush aside their
own strength, power, pride and po-
sition to confess simply their de-
pendence on God, just so long
there1l be Christmas"
Thousands of other churchgoers
attended service this morning, while
others worshipped at midnight serv-
ices last night.
At midday series Of public
dinners at the Gospel Mission, Sal
walton Army, Mott School, National
Catholic Community Service, YWCA
and YMCA got under way. About
one hundred servicemen were enter
tanned at dinner at the Soldiers,
Sailors and Marines Club.
= Thousands crowded into the great
candle-lit Washington Cathedral
last night and thousands more lis
tened on the radio as the Rt. Rev.
James E. Freeman, Bishop Of
Washington, conducted his annual
midnight service.
Il firmly believe" he declared,
that better world is yet to be
born; world that I believe must
be finer and nobler in its impulses
and in all its human relations than
any We have ever known"
Christ is "the one glimmering
star Of hope in darkling world
Bishop Freeman said.
Tonight and tomorrow night the
same organizations, except the Sol
diers, Sailors and Marines Club, are
sponsoring Christmas dances for
war workers and servicemen.
Only Essential Workers" Held.
The Public Library branches and
all public monuments were closed
today as the city observed its only
genuine non-working day of the
year. Even the War and Navy De-
partments had released all but the
most essential workers for the
holiday. Hundreds of soldiers and
sailors still on duty in the vicinity
were visited by the Red Cross during
the day.
Dances will be held by the Wom-
ems Battalion tonight at the Bu-
reau of Engraving and Fort Belvoir.
The Metropolitan Police Boys
Band assembled at 7 o'clock this
morning to play at eight District
institutions, including the House of
the Good Shepherd, Mount Alto
Hospital, Methodist Home, Episco-
pal Home for Children, Masonic
and Eastern Star Home, st. Joseph's
Home and School, st. Vincents
Home and Children's Hospital After
the tour they were the guests of the
Willard Hotel for breakfast.
Girl workers will get their first
glimpse this afternoon of the reno
waited garage that Mrs. Evelyn Walsh
Mclean has turned over to them.
Hung with huge mirrors and fur
nished with gayly decorated sofas
and stuffed chairs, the buff and
green room will be previewed at 3
o'clock and open for regular use on
New Year day. The garage will
be used as writing, reading, sew
ing or sitting room.
Between now and New Year girls
nearby will be registered at the
garage from 3 pm. to 10 pm. and
perhaps later formed into a Mclean
club to continue activities on an
organized basis. At present the
District Recreation Department
plans to operate the unit as a rest
center.