The Berwyn News from Berwyn, Illinois • 3

Friday, December ll, 1936 THE BERWYN NEWS 8 GIRL SCOUT NEWS The Berwyn District Committee met at the home of Mrs- Louis Suva, 1245 Wenonah avenue, Monday afternoon, December 7, with 16 members present. Mrs, J. C. Morison, chairman of Training and Personnel, announced a class to begin shortly after the holidays. Other members of this committee are Mrs.

L. T. Suva and Mrs. J. A.

Perkins. High school girls who are interested in organizing a troop have been i incited to the home of Mrs. Walter Spelman, 3220 Wisconsin avenue, Monday, December 14, at 7:30 P.M. Any high school girl wishing to join this troop please call Mrs. Spelman, Berwyn 1184-W.

Mrs. J. C. Morison, 3530 Highland avenue, announced that she will- take any discarded candles, bits of soap, or bedding to Fidelis Inn, a home for jobless women at 63rd street and Rhodes avenue, Chicago. Candles are the only artificial lighting in this home.

After the business meetingi refreshments were served by the hostesses, Mrs, Suva and Mrs. J. Milback. The Oak Park Area Council will meet at headquarters, 141 Oak Park avenue, Oak Park, Thursday, December 10, at 10 A.M. Berwyn women belonging to this council are Mesdames Elmer Wood, J.

A. Perkins, C. E. Collins, P. B.

Teeter, E. F. Slavik, J. C. Morison, A.

H. Munch, and G. Best. Troop 25 Sunday, December 7, Mrs. Paul Teeter, our Scout Captain, took our troop to the British Old Peoples Home.

We went there in cars provided by Miss M. L. Geraghty, Mrs. L. McKinstry, Mrs.

Otto Kass, Mr. and Mrs. Susanka, and W. C. Gray.

Each Scout took a jar of homemade jam or jelly. A program of songs was presented, the numbers being announced by Barbara McKinstry. Lorraine Secreste gave a talk on What Girl Scouting Means to Me. When we returned supper was served at the Methodist church by Mrs. Grove, Mrs.

McDonald) and Mrs. Kass. Merle Drije, Scribe. EARLY CHRISTMAS SERVICE AT 1ST LUTHERAN CHURCH Early Matin services at 5:30 A.M. on Christmas morning are a tradition in The First Lutheran church.

This is an old Swedish custom and is observed by an increasing number of churches in America also. The appeal of this early service "of worship in the mystic hours of the holy morn never fail to attract large congregations of worshipers. Christmas trees; colorful decorations, candlelight, anthems, and the old familiar hymns form a setting for the sweetest story ever tqld that leaves a profound impression until in the minds of millions it "is simply not Christmas without it. The services are of course all in the English language. The public is cordially invited to though it admittedly requires considerable.

will power for the casual churchgoer to pull himself out of bed at so early an hour. But it is wortlT the effort. o-o BERWYN BOYS CLUB BAND TO BECOME A REALITY The Board of Playground Commissioners has been keenly interested in the formulation of a Berwyn Boys Club band and has obtained some very satisfactory results. Thus far forty-six boys (and a few girls) have registered at the Recreation offices as, members. In order.

to become a member of the band it is only necessary to call in person at the Recreation offices, 6307 Cermak road, where registra-tionsare accepted. To those who are interested and thus far have not availed themselves of the opportunity to enter, the registration date has been extended to December 22; after that time it will be definitely closed. Any boy or girl having some knowledge of music, who is able to play an instrument and possesses it, is welcome to join. A joint meeting of all members and director James Medek, will be held in the very near future. is placed on the table, from which the family can feed Gifts are thrown in- at the door by an unseen hand.

Russia and Poland were mentioned as making Christmas a day to give to those who have not. With the singing of Come All Ye Faithful by herself and the club, Mrs. Baker closed her program. This was followed by the, singing of Nazareth by the club chorus, Mrs. Dorsey and Mrs.

Low at the piano. Then came a surprise for the entertainer of the afternoon, for the chorus sang in magnificent fashion her own composition, the Communion Service in the Episcopal church in Berwyn. Solos were by Mrs. Low and Mrs. Erwin, Golan.

Mrs. Baker assured the club that this tribute would be her nicest Christmas gift. Refreshments were then served to members and guests in the dining room. 0-0 LECTURE ON THE AMERICAN NEGRO The Reverend M. Kingsley of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Chicago, will speak at the Methodist chyrch auditorium Tuesday evening, December 15.

He is pastor of this Negro church and comes very well prepared to 'deal 1 familiarly with his subject, The Serious Plight of the American Negro. As pastor of the "church of the Good Shepherd, Rev. Kingsley met with singular success. From an insignificant beginning in a small store the church has become one of the cultural centers of Negro life in Chicago. Perhaps the greatest reason for the growth was the abandonment of the emotional type of religion of most Negro churches for a type of.

Christianity the Negro can find of practical use in adjusting himself to his environment Like other churches Rev. Kingsleys has met erious difficulties during recent years. The final outcome has, however, been happyu Nine years have seen approximately 1500 new members added to the rolls, and 700 of those are' now very active. The budget, soaring to uncomfortable heights in depression years, was cut drastically by the substitution of volunteer services for paid services. The lecture, the second of the series sponsored by the Methodist Mens- club, promises to be most interesting and of exceptional value in timeliness and in the capability of the speaker.

The Serious Plight of the American Negro is indeed well worth considering. 0-0 YOUNGSTERS CHRISTMAS PARTY DEC. 23 BERWYN WOMANS CLUB RECIPROCITY DAY Reciprocity Day, held by the Berwyn Womans Club at. the Berwyn Masonic temple-, Friday afternoon, December-4, proved a most tremen- dous success, both from the angle of good attendance and from that of splendid entertainment. Probably largest groups ever at- tending a meeting of the club was present.

There were seventy-five out of town guests and twenty-two Ber-, wyn guests, -nine of whom were club presidents and eighteen of whom were Sixth District officers, the local club being hostess to the Sixtyi District clubs on that day. The meeting opened' with the singing of America and the salute to the Flag, after which the president, Whitten, welcomed the guests and new members. She introduced Mrs. Percy Boynton, president of the Sixth District, who greeted the club members with the spirit of Christmastide. In her short talk she paid glowing tribute to the members Of the Bejvyn Club who hold offices on the Sixth District Federation Board Mrs.

Skinner, Mrs. Winter-mute, Higgins, and Mrs. Ja-burek. Mrs. B.

Hi Skinner, Program chair- man, then introduced the entertainer of the afternoon, Mrs. Cora Batch Baker, who entered the hall dressed in an old English costume and singing, Hail Ye Time of Holidays. After relating how the date, December 25, came to be accepted as Christmas, she related how the mistletoe and holly were accepted as Christmas symbols, after having had a pagan background for centuries, by being related to Christ; the Trinity, and the shedding of blood by the crown of thorns. She told of a number of old English customs, such as the miracle plays, by mummers, the origin of mincemeat, the serving of roast boar for men and roast peacock for women, and she sang God Rest You Merry Gentlemen and The First Noel. In like manner Mrs.

Baker took her audience to France, changing rapidly to a French costume. She told of the attendance at midnight mass and the Christmas dinner that is served in the middle of the night; of how Pere Noel comes to the children only; of the Yule Log and the Bird Feast, and other fascinating facts of a French Christmas. From France, changing, again to a German costume, she told of that countrys Christmas, so nearly like our own, and sang the songs, probably more familiar than those of any other country, Silent Night and Oh, Christmas Tree. She stated that Bohemia was the earliest carol singing nation of the world. Many Bohemian Christmas customs are very like those of our Halloween, Mrs.

Baker said. In the lovely costume of Italy she sang When Christ was' Born on Earth. She told of how the Italians do not use the evergreen at Christmas and consider it a sign of mourning. Stockings are hung at Epiphany. The Christmas stew, served in the middle ofthe table, consists of so many ingredients that, as the speaker humorously remarked, since she was engaged for only one afternoon, she would not attempt to name them.

Christmas spells a long period of i housecleaning and cooking in preparation for the day to the immaculate Dutch and Swedish. In the former, the coming of Christmas once suggested terror to young children for fear that the good Bishop Nicholas would use a switch on their ankles instead of placing gifts in their shoes. A more kindly Christmastime prevails in modern Holland. In Sweden the mother of the family takes a holiday on Christmas, and all food 20 YEARS A. W.

GARBUTT Jeweler now located in his beautiful new store at 6836 WINDSOR AVE. with a fine line of Christmas Goods in fa Diamond Rings as Low as $10.00 Hamilton, Elgin, and Swiss. Watches A beautiful Elgin Ladies or Gents' Watch at $17.50 Waterman and Parker Pen Sets $1.95 and up 4 Jewelry, Silverware, -Novelties, etc. My repair department is equipped with all modern appliances, and my 20-year record stands for my ability to do good work at moderate prices A huge childrens Christmas party will be sponsored by the Board of Playground Commissioners December 23 and will take place at 6709 26th street from 2:00 to 8:00 P. M.

Santa will be there at 2:00 with a huge grab bag, which it is believed might contain a few pleasant surprises. And there will be carol singing around an attractively lighted Christmas tree, story telling, and moving pictures. Reservations will be accepted at the Recreation offices. Admission will be However, it will be necessary that each child who is eager -to attend the party obtain a ticket for admission. Youngsters from 3.

to .6 years of age will be admitted at 2:00 P. M. Those ranging from 6 to 8 years will be admitted at 3 :09 P. and those from 8 to 10' will be admitted at 7:00 P. M.

Be sure to make your reservation early, as there is a limited amount of tickets issued for each age group..