finding DIED IN KEATS POAD, WALTER CEASE WI We Remember KILLED IN ACTION RICHARD WELLINGTON CEASE, January 29, GEORGE UTRICH, HOWARD A. COSGROVE, July THOMAS CLARK LLOYD; July MISSING IN ACTION HAROLD THOMAS KEPNER, December 19, 1942 JOHN E. FRITZ, May 7, 1943 JOHN P. GLEASON, March 30, 1943. PRISONERS CLARENCE H. MORGAN, May 22, 1942 DONALD FREEMAN, May 22, 1942 FRED WESTERMAN, April 20, 1943 725 Free Posts to Soldiers this week 1942 SERVICE May 16, 1942 Tux Darras Post MORE THAN A NEWSPAPER, A COMMUNITY INSTITUTION 3, 1942 4, 1943 March 3, 1942 LSON, May 9, 1942 OF WAR Editorially Speaking: The Last Hours Of The War No one knows when the la st hour of the war will come. But ending the war soon—pulling the end closer to us even ; ~by an hour—can mean life or death to thousands. hour a machine-gunner can bullets. more than 500 shells. Every but ending the war even one and mine. In one deal out more than 10,000 In one hour an anti-aircraft gun crew can fire hour of the war is important hour sooner can be your goal - No one knows exactly what happened in World War I, in that last hour between ten and eleven a. m. on Novem- ber 11th. But throughout the morning of November 11th, according to casualty lists, 1,021 American boys were either killed in action or severcly wounded. Tonight and tomorrow, the hours you put in speeding production are the most important hours in your service to your country. They may be personal lives. the most important in your Perhaps someone you knew and loved was killed on the morning of November 11th, 1918. Perhaps someone you know and love will remain alive in the last hour of the war because you did what you could tonight and tomorrow. PILLAR TO POST By Mas. T. M. With the approaching birthday of B. Hicks, Jr. the Prince of Peace, we are entering upon our third incredible year of war. Other nations, not so fortunate as ours, are about to celebrate their fifth or sixth or seventh or eighth war- time Christmas... Sasadibion ind EY a But by the grace of God end © of geography, our own cities might now be lying in smoking ruins, our owng - children homeless, our own loved "ones penned in concentration camps, our own feet bleeding from the weary march of the refugee. ‘It is with a feeling of devout thanksgiving that we humbly rea- lize that we as a nation are fav- _ored above so many others. The ac- cident of birth protects our chil- dren from the suffering which is visited upon their brothers and sis- ters on the other side of the world. The siren wails, we wake and wonder briefly if the light in the hall has been turned out, stumble sleepily from our blankets to inves- ‘tigate, and go back to bed. The children are safe. An air-raid alarm throughout the length and breadth ~ of our country means purely and simply a practice drill. | The air- planes droning overhead are friend- ly. They do not bear a burden of sudden, searing death. There is no sickening lurch of the heart, no headlong snatching of a “sleeping child from his bed, no wrapping him in blankets and rushing with him to the nearest bomb shelter. No frantic attempt to reassure him, to provide mental and emotional se- curity for him in a world of chaos. On this continent, we do not yet know what war means. We are deeply grateful that this is true. We pray that we will never know. Our sons, hostages to fortune, are out what war @ means. Through. their eyes we are viewing a world in flames. Their young bodies and their stout hearts are engaged in this titanic struggle for what we believe to be true freedom. Perhaps if the struggles were on our own doorstep, we might better appreciate what it is that the world ‘is facing. This great country was settled by pioneers, fleeing from op- pression or activated by a love of adventure and a determination to found a nation whose cornerstone should be freedom of the individual. For generations the way was. rocky, the odds at times almost overwhelming. But the great new land was worth fighting for, and if need be, dying for. There was the colossal and epic -struggle between the States, with brother pitted against brother and ‘no family spared its soldier's grave. 3 The wounds were slow to heal, but gradually a greater nation emerged. | For a period of years we have been free of conflict with other na- tions, but not free of inner turmoil. It seems to be axiomatic that when a nation is at peace with the world, it turns to jealous brawls within its | (Continued on Page Eight) > Little Theatre Will Present York Nativity Christmas Presentation Is Patterned After Old English Miracle Plays ‘With the presentation of “The York Nativity” at Irem Temple on December 29 and 30, the Little Theatre, of Wilkes-Barre, is offering a production ‘of rare beauty. It is a true community effort, employing as it does representative choirs from every creed and nationality, to- gether with a trained dramatic cast. | The scenery adds to the pagean- try. It is copied in effect from the ancient presentations of the orig- inal Miracle Plays, but expanded | and enlarged to fit the modern pro- | duction. The stained glass windows | and the rugged masonry used as | background are the result of weeks of labor by an augmented technical crew. The production is one which has been contemplated for a number of years, but has been laid aside re- { gretfully because of difficulties in casting and setting. The Miracle Play | is being sent up as a trial balloon to determine if the community as a whole is willing to wholeheartedly support an ambitious program. The Little Theatre presents and invites. It is able to produce plays of character and beauty such as the “York Nativity”, only if the com- munity is solidly behind the pro- gram. Mrs. Harold Croom, Hostess At Party Mrs. Harold Croom entertained | members of Queen Esther Society of Trucksville Methodist Church at a Christmas party Friday evening. Gifts were exchanged and packages wrapped for the Children’s Home, at Binghamton, N, Y. Plans were completed for making hot pads. Two new members, Shirley and Nor- ma Anthony, were accepted. Others present were: Barbara Hoag, Ruth and Mary Evans, Esther Blase, Doro- thy Gregory, Hazel and Helen Roushey, Agnes Wheeler, Jeanne Croom and Loraine Turner. Vol. 53 Later, Our Lady was aware— Or half aware—of angels there: Of high bright wings sweeping a floor As Gabriel's had done before. But in the night, the holy night, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1943 WONDERFUL NIGHT (Single Copies Our Lady had mo jot of sight Save for her little lovely Son, The verily adorable One, Looking with a joy so new on Him, How had she moticed seraphim? —Sister M. Paulinus. Army Dependency Office: Seeks Typists And Clerks Lieutenant Philip E. Anderson, recruiting officer, and Miss Beverly Booth, Civil Service examiner, have been in Wilkes-Barre for the past month recruiting clerks, typists and claims examiners for the: Office of Dependency Benefits, in Newark, New Jersey. From this office is is- sued monthly $250,000,000 in checks to the dependents of our armed forces. Lieutenant Anderson stated they had met with great success, and al- though he and Miss Booth were re~ turning to their home office on De- cember 18, persons interested in se- curing employment in the Office of Dependency Benefits, in Newark, may apply to Miss Helen O’Rourke, interviewer, United States Employ- ment Service, 5 East Market street, Wilkes-Barre. : The O. D. B. offers an initial sal- lary of $1,752 per annum, with op- portunities for advancement. Assis- tance will be given employees in se- curing suitable living quarters. Girl Scouts Induct first mass was sung. Eight New Members Eight new girls were inducted in- to Troop 54 Girl Scouts at their meeting in the High School this | tain” week. Games were ‘played and re- freshments served. It was reported | | that over fifty Christmas favors for | hospital trays had been completed | by the girls and a sizable amount | of money raised in connection with | the tuberculosis stamp drive. Mrs. | Wilbur Davis is leader of the troop ! made up of over twenty girls. | 1 An Explanation | We had planned to publish a more ambitious Christmas edition, | but illness during the past week | plus a series of other circumstances | beyond our control have made this | impossible. A number of Christmas | Greeting advertisements have been | left out. We have also been unable | to print many news stories or to | give the usual attention to make- | up. We are sorry, but we know you | will understand, since ‘we have been working with a skeleton force for many months. Anyway, we wish you a Very Merry and Joyous Christmas—all we want is a restful one.—The Editors. Need Ping Pong Balls U. S. 0. Lounge, in Wilkes-Barre, is greatly in need of Ping Pong Balls. Ping Pong seems to be the Service men’s favorite game. Anyone will- ing to contribute said balls will kindly get in touch with headquart- ers. Christmas Mass Will Mark Fifteenth Anniversary 01 St. Therese's Church _Bfiniversary Signals Liquidation Of Parish Debt On Church Property Valued At $115,000 St. Therese’s Church, Shaver- town, will celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the first mass in the church on Christmas Eve. A solemn high mass of the nativity will be sung at midnight, Friday night, and will be broadcast over Station | WBA, St. Therese’s parish was : formed i in November 1926 at the di- | rection of Bishop M. J. Hoban. For two years the congregation attended Mass in Gabriel's Hall, Hillside. The foundation for the beautiful stone .| church, on Pioneer avenue, Shaver- town, was started in June 1928. On Christmas Eve that year, although the church was not completed, the The parish numbering only forty families in 1926, increased steadily, so that in 1928 more than sixty families were represented. At the present time there are two hundred and twenty- five families in the parish. The par- ish, caring for all the “Back Moun- area serves Trucksville, Sha- vertown, Dallas, Lehman, DeMunds and Kunkle. The fifteenth anniversary also marks the liquidation of the parish debt. A voluntary subscription of the members of the congregation, begun three months ago, raised a {fund of three thousand dollars, which entirely rids the property of all incumbrances. The congregation made willing and generous sacri- fice to meet the building costs. The meh property represents an out- lay of $115,000.00. Rev. John J. O'Leary, the present pastor, was in charge of St. Therese’s when the work was started, but on account of il] health, had to resign and the work was ably carried on by Rev. Harold G. Durkin for seven and one-half years. , During Father Durkin’s pastorate the church debt was reduced by $20,000, and wit- nessed the installation of many im- provements. Last June, Father Dur- kin was appointed pastor of St. Matthew’s. On account of the short- age of priests in the diocese, because of the number of chaplains enter- ing the Armed Forces, Bishop Hafey reappointed Father O'Leary as pas- tor. St. Therese’s choir, under the di- rection of Fred Hannebaul, of Wilkes-Barre, has prepared a special | musical program of hymns and car- ols that will precede and follow the singing of the Mass. Reverend John J. O'Neill, of Mount Saint Mary’s, Emmitsburg, Md., will preach the sermon. Besides the midnight mass, other masses will be read at 8:45 and 10:45 on Christmas Day. Masses at Our Lady of Victory Chapel, Harvey’s Lake, a mission of St. Therese’s, will be read at midnight, Christmas Eve and at 9:30 Christmas Day. After the 8:45 mass at St. Ther- ese’s and the 9:30 mass at the Lake Chapel; parties will be held for the Sunday School children. ‘Frances Bond Marries ‘Harvey's Lake Man / Announcement has been xi of | the marriage of Miss Frances Bond, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred ' Bond, of Wilkes-Barre, and “Walter J. Rauch, son of Mrs. Harriet Rauch, {of Harvey’s Lake. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Howard D. Thompson, at Central Methodist Church, in Wilkes-Barre, Sunday afternoon, at 2:30. Attendants were Mrs. Robert Emery, of Richmond, and Joseph Rauch, of Harvey’s Lake. The bride has been employed as assistant cashier of Prudential In- surance Company. Mr. Rauch is a graduate of Laketon High School and is employed by Glen Alden Coal Company. Following the ceremony, a recep- tion for about fifty guests was held at the Dresden. Dallas Students Enrolled 100% In Junior Red Cross It is announced by ‘Mrs. Samuel Buckman; chairman of the Junior Red Cross, that Dallas Schools have enrolled one hundred percent. The sponsor for the Dallas Borough schools is Mrs. Harold Rood. Projects carried out by the Jun- ior Red Cross include collection ‘of metal coat-hangers for use in the armed services where coat-hangers! are at a premium in the more crowded centers, the making of holi- day decorations for army ‘camps and veterans’ hospitals, and the raising of a fund for materials and relief work. Hillside School, Jackson Town- ship, under the direction of Mrs. Ralph Hazletine, has enrolled in the Junior Red Cross, and is carrying out specified projects. 6c) No. 52 Full Programs Are Prepared By All Churches For Christmas Deeper Significance For Yuletide Religious observance of the holi- | day season will see its climax in | the traditional Christmas services | [ throughout this week in all the churches of the area. To the young- | sters of the area with visions of | holiday goodies and recitations and | | shiny toys it will be the greatest day of the year, but to the older folks, it will have a deeper signifi- cance than any Christmas in many | years. i | Will Attract Hundreds | | There is a joyous spirit in the air and a brave defiant attempt in home decorations and out-of-door lighting to make the season unusually fes- tive, but there is a deeper uncer- tainty and apprehension that makes more mature minds seek the reas- suring presence of the Christ Child. For this reason, the churches of the region as well as those all over the country, expect larger Christmas at- tendance than any time during the past score of years. Dallas Dallas Methodist Church opened the holiday season with their annual Christmas musical, given by the choirs, Sunday evening. Mrs. Har- ‘old Rood was director. The program: Prelude, processional hymn, “Joy To The World’”, anthem, “Bell Carol”, sung by Junior and. Senior Choirs, accompanied by Richard Oliver on i the bell lyre; solo, “Jesu Bambino”, i Mrs. Henry Kraybill; anthem, “There's a Song in the Air”, Junior and Senior Choirs; anthem, ‘Lo, There Is Born a Savior”, Junior Choir; hymn, “Silent Night”; an- them, “The Shepherd's Vision”, Chancel Choir; offertory, “Voices of the Sky”, violin, Lewis LeGrand, piano, Mrs. Wesley Oliver, organ, Mrs. Harold Rood; solo, “O Babe Di- vine’, Mrs. Henry Kraybill; anthem, “Ye Shepherds, Wake”, Junior and Senior Choirs;*hymn, “O Little Town of - Bethlehem”; benediction, post- lude. Tuesday evening members of the Junior Department presented a Pageant of the First Christmas, “The Promised One”. Beryl Colwell acted as reader and the following were. members of the cast: Joel, a shep- herd boy, William Waters; fruit vender, Joe LeGrand; Samaritan; Donald Besecker; Rebecca, Barbara ark; Sarah, Marjorie Elkins; Sarah’s children, Carolyn Shaffer and Edward Johnson; head shep- herd, Glenn Roberts; Joseph, David Joseph; shepherds, David Evans, David Kunkle and Jerry Machell; angels, -Ann Peterson and ‘Mildred McNeal; Mary, Ruth Scott; group of voices, Robert Hislop, Nancy Schooley, Robert Stair, Robert Body- comb, Wesley Brudy, Polly Lazarus, Nancy VonArx and Barbara Leon- ard; choir, Junior Department. Mrs. Peter Clark and June Colwell served as pianists and Richard Weidner gave a trumpet solo. Shavertown Shavertown Methodist Church opened the holiday activities with a pageant, “The White Christmas”, given by members of the church school, last Sunday morning. Next Sunday, the combined choirs of the church, Adult, Junior and Girls, will present a special musical service, under the direction of Mrs. C. Wayne Gordon. Mrs. Wesley Oli- ver will assist at the piano. “Gloria from the Twelfth Mass”, by Mozart, will be sung by the Adult Choir; “Jesu Bambino by Yon, Girls’ Choir; “Under The Stars” by Brown, Junior Choir; “Silent Night, Holy Night”, special arrangement, the combined choirs. The Chirstmas sermon will be given by Rev. Felix Zaffiro at the evening service. Sermon subject, “The Hopeless Cog”. Lehman People of Lehman will gather at the church Christmas Eve for their program and worship service. Reci- tations by the young folks and a pageant have been arranged. The program: Opening hymn, “Joy To | The World”; Recitations, “Wel- come”, Beverly Morgan, “Little Christmas Spirits”, Edith Ann Nagle, Harold Mekeel, Lenora Swan and Dana Ide, “A Little Speech”, {Mary Dennis, “Our Christmas Thanks”, Esther Ide, *‘Tribute”, John Nagle, “Happiness”, Alma Brown, ‘Little Girl”, Marion Elston, “Tiny Things’, Jack Hendricks, Rus- sell Major, Emerson Brown and Rolland Dennis, “Hurrah for Christ- mas’, Joan Sidler, ' Alice Ide, Adams, : “Worship”, This Year “Christmas Bells’, Thelma Kem- merer, Sandra Ragno, “I Am So Glad”, Patsy Ide; prayer by Rev Frank Abbott. The pageant is being directed b: Judith Simms. Choirs are in charg of Mrs. Howard Hendricks and Priscilla Cooper is narrator. Cast of characters: “Two Angels”, Mae Jane Brown; “Mary”, Eleanor Ide; “Love”, Mary Lou ton; “Faith”, Shirley Elston; “Kind ness”, Priscilla Swan; “Service” Kathleen Davis; ‘Praise’, Goldie Ide; Anna Ide; “Knights” Tommie Naugle, Arthur Carichner, Donnie Carichner, Alfred’ Adams, Bobbie Rice, Francis Wentzel; “Shepherd”, Tommie Elston; “Friendship”, Florabel Brown; “Loy- alty”, Polly Lou Cooper; “Helpful- ness”, Janet Wright. Closing hymn, “Hark! the Heralds Angels Sing”. Trucksville White Church on the Hill will conduct a candle-light communion service Chistmas Eve. Special mu- | sic will consist of: “O Little Town § of Bethlehem” and “Glory to God in 1. the Highest”, sung by the choir; “Service Music”. by Eyre; Anthem, “Calm On the Listening Ear of Night’; postlude, “Meditation”. Of- fering will be for “The Fellowship of Suffering and Service” which is used for overseas relief and for the commission of Camp Activities and Chaplains. A Christmas Cantata, “The Mys- tery of Bethlehem” by Willan will be sung by the Senior Choir, Sun- day morning. This will take the place of the usual sermon. Special music will include, “Fantasia” on “Adeste Fidelis”; offertory, ‘“Christ- wis Cyadle~ Song”; postludg, Dulci Jubilo”. Sunday evening fa- miliar carols will be sung by the congregation prefaced by explana- tory remarks by Rev. Hoag. & Idetown Christmas program at Idetown Methodist Church consisted of two short plays, “The Glory Beaming Star” by the Junior Department and “The Christmas Fantasy” by the old- er folks, presented Thursday eve- ning. They were in charge of Mrs. Leona Moore and Mrs. Charlotte Calkins. A’ special carol service by the choir was directed by Mrs. Helen Husted. Sweet Valley Children of the First Christian Church will present a program of recitations and musical selections on Christmas Eve. Special Christ- mas music will be rendered by the choir Sunday morning. Church of Christ’s program was scheduled for Thursday evening. Huntsville Christian Huntsville Christian Church cele- brated Christmas Tuesday evening with a playlet, “The Kings’ Gold”, given by members: of the Intermed- iate Class and a Cantata, “The Mu- sic of Christmas”, by the choir. Tak- ing part in the play were: Charlotte Culp, Mildred Culp, Richard Culp, Car] Warmouth, Mary Dargoy and Arnold Price. Mrs. Walter Covert, Jr., directed the cantata and Miss Elma Major the playlet. Monday afternoon from two un- til four o'clock, the children will enjoy their annual Christmas party and Wednesday evening, adults will have a congregation meeting, fol- lowed by dinner and party. Huntsville Methodist Huntsville Methodist Church held their Chistmas service at the church last Sunday evening. A candle light tea at 5 o'clock was followed by a pageant by members of the church school and the service at 6 o'clock. St. Therese’s A Solemn High Mass of Nativity will be sung at midnight Christmas Eve at St. Therese’s. Rev. John O'Neill, of Mt. St. Emmitsburg, Md., will preach the sermon. Special Christmas music, under the direc- tion of Fred Hannelbaul, will be sung by the choir, Other Masses will be read at 8:45 and 10:45 Christmas Day. Masses at Our Lady of Victory Chapel, Harvey's Lake, will be sung at midnight Christmas Eve and 9:30 Chirstmas Day.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers