Show be 1 br c tar ly RAYMOND PITCAIRN And flAnd shen they saw the Star they rejoiced Since time immemorial men have looked to the stars for comfort and for hope In the beauty and the mystery of those pure high fires the ancient world sought augury and guidance In the vague outlines of distant constellations constellations constellations con con- mythology sought immortality immor immortality immor- immor for its heroes On the bright sentinels of the night wanderers over trackless plains or uncharted seas relied for beacons that could show the way vay home Then twenty centuries ago those ancient hopes were justified Under the white light of a new and miraculous Star Stai men found the promise of peace and comfort which they had sought ought throughout the ages And at this time in every land landon on which starlight falls that discovery discovery discovery dis dis- dis- dis covery Is celebrated in Joy and reverence reverence reverence rever rever- ence as the Christmas message sends a new flood of faith surging through the hearts of men Everywhere men remember again that however dark the prospect somewhere there is room for hope There was no room for them at atthe atthe atthe the inn inn says the old old story story story- but room was found when the manger manger manger man man- ger at Bethlehem cradled a King There is no room for peace lament the faltering today today but but peace can be cradled in surroundings surroundings surroundings surround surround- ings no less humble and obscure Out of the lowly manger has come all nIl that we know of altruism and mercy Out of it have sprung great churches great deeds of love and kindness Out of our humble for peace and brotherhood can come results re results results re- re similarly great similarly in in- in Always there is the Star if we will see sec it always there echoes the Angels' Angels Song Song- if we will ill hear it And their message of peace and will good-will never changes It K is the message of Christmas Ilchester Badger Feast ILCHESTER ENGLAND One of the strangest surviving Christmas customs is the Ilchester badger feast started by poachers in Norman Norman Norman Nor Nor- man times Soon before the feast the village lads catch a badger killand kill killand killand and dress it On Christmas eve it itis itis itis is strung on a spit over a huge fire firo in the inn When it is ready the party party party par par- ty attacks it with W fingers fingers no no cutlery cutlery cut cut- lery is allowed Singing and toasting toasting toasting toast toast- ing accompany the feast which attracts attracts at at- tracts practically all the villagers and n nearby arby farmers farmer |