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Show - 1r vi ,- -- .. , , fr .. , 4 ft , , , . , . - , '''' 3 I THE , CHRISTS NEWS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER. 1937 18, , ., . lommoopont, o c7he Christmas news : , q 1 Christmas A Time Of Rejoicing For All 3ten qtlike all .1)1 Tie :(,T(, ro.p is lovelier Mthichfm. Itc(aa,:e r;f prrpe Druir,i,;17 .1 Nit n n(,)! T for one Childs , wig ccnturics sincr that tiJ' 1)10 sJ: Imiaer,7 ,!Ltiht mleirim.c In a lowly place IL lace. 1.1.wt 7,() i skiefl !or fl;It yrrater glory in men S lint r;rnn radiance of Ifix crib a41 iqrth !:rcA round the earth! Far charles Hanson Tou murkerping. K. (it.. ie 'It Is itore Blessed TIP Give Titan To Receive' speak with the tongues of tra'n Of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass. or 4 tinkling I This time of the year when men ,ounding brass" and 'tinkling cymbal" of byp1K3r1sy and turn for a v,hile '0 the pure simplicity of charity and 1olit3g kinanest Christmas is the symbol of the spirit. of the t;olden Rule, of the ,limiction that ileS deep in our bear s that all men are brothers and that our hearts should open full to love and good work, so that there :s no room for hatred, envy or M.idice. There ic no greater satisfaction, no !tiller contentment, than the ,uxurv of giving t;ive is the ,hen :,tfs in money, in goods; give gifts to your ovent ones. to the poor and the needy, lila more than that. gcse hi ail rn.inkind the lumpiness and Jkly nf .your suiging 333.. 11110 hittitry itinind mankind that Christ tc.dh us charity and loe. Uved anu t1tn fc3r Aould 1w wre-tto from the hurry of our lives tor tune for reflection at Chrisum.s one Reflect not on, the giving itself, on the thought behind that giving. Unless We give 3n !he true Christian spirit our gifts are for they should do more for the giver Lii;in for him who receives. what we nPfd ti to realize th33t joyous thrill that came to us when we found for' the first time that life consisted not in getting, hut in giving. It's a wonderful this gning of one self, and pope do not apprec.ate it. When you have ministered to a person's seifrespect, when you have contributed to his when you have inspired him , to you have given him something. iNnd you are conscious of it. and so is he. though you both find it hard to express in the oid terms. All the old Christmas cheer is fl these reciprocities of friendship that have lost every touch of condescension. We need some genial imagination to picture to us all the happiness that is being diffused y people who have come to look upon themselves not as t;oct's almoners, hut as sharers with otherr,. in the common good. This :s the hoiliav season. Let us open our hearts. give of ourselves, and let w and peace enter into 3.. It h It , self-help- are informed in :tailthew 2nd chapter that when Jesus was horn wise Inert, or Magi, frohtthe East came to Jersualern. They announced that they had Sisen Jli tar !n !he East and had eome to Worship !inn. 4ln entering Jerusalem they :ivituted: Where is he that is born King of !he We !earn flirther that K;ng Herod. :e3rningof their vest, sent them- to to :4tareh for the infant JCAu.r, and ns they made their way there 'the star. which they saw in the East went before them until it -- iZtitrri, Chapter xiii anything. but to love one that Irweth another hath o Atiiticr: for !ie fulfilled ;he iaw. Awl 'tluvt, knowing the !Inv, t.hat TIMV it iN high time to awaks out (4 sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than whervwe believed. the young child 7,4as." PTi 71:144tertittl: A' ,. t i - r principle of freedom. He said thatthis country would be thus established becauae-if-w- as the will of God. "It is wisdom in the Ftaher", he explained, "that they should be established in this iand, and be set owes a free peopie by the power of the Father." Students of history agree that we actually were "set up as a free people by the power of the Father.'" Washington reeognited it, declaring throughout the Revolutionar?."Nar that victories came to hi3 men only "by the direct interposition of Providence," Each succeeding president has similarly acknovkledged the divine will in the direction of our national affairs and in our birth as a "free and independent" power. In granting us liberty, then, what did God give us! First of all. freedom from oppression. Beo the tyrant cause Of ,t, sve shall neither bc within or without, nor to iny group claiming picturred mit ilegee "No flag on earth shall n,tilt this nation. Juolice and right hali u'ur be our relation, No to or ore e Cr re:gn, WhOe floats the sTiirs and Aripes Witi,out sme With tt ramp 'the 'gift of freedom to grme ')r.10:11i, 41:r:tuariy nas hrought, ,0 is ()Ur ;ntel1e( tuid frceo,-:ut the he degree of iteri-icour re,iglois freedom has gi en us :he 1entment which al:ine an come !o :hose who feel at peac.e with their Maker. Our economic freedom has earned 113 Alt() the heart of agean age of light and speed, invention, inechanized servants, sanitation and great industries. From them all have come a new America, virtually a new civilization. Through their own enterprise men have risen to heights rail never hefore dreamed of A splitter became president. a SI.20 per veek a poverty-strickelaborer became a steel smigrant boy became the '.vorid's premier journalist. Tile masses enjoved the miracle of radio. Workers, even in the low wage brackets, became owners of motor ears and toured the eountry on paved roads reaching from c004 to coa,,t. Millions every slay enjoyed the picture and other entertainment. Automatic light, heat arid refrigeration came to lie homes of the Commumeation developed so t hat mereiy by going to a telephone, intercity. Interstate or international conversation was opened to all who desired it. Transportation was provided on railways, highways or airways. One had breakfast on the Pacific seaboard and dinner during the evening of the same tiay on the Atlantic coast, with every comfort and eonveniente in travel. Me remarkable thing about this marvelous ;lee is that these blessings are not reserved for the few. but are distributed among the eommon pebple in all parts of the land, raising the standard ot- hying to a point where the common man of today lives better than the kings of a few generations ago. What has brought to us this high standard of living? Enterprise born of freedom. It is to a eonsAeration of this subject that the Christmas News for this year is Deseret The publishers of The devoted. news are convinced that our present high standard of living is 10 a large extent the result of the free status of the people, of the high constitutional government to which this The Christmas Ncws land is dedicated. briefly reviews the origin of our nation. the incidents which gave rise to the Declaration of Independence, and later to the C. S. Constitution, and shows how these instruments have been conducive to the creation of our present happiness. At this holiday season therefore. we as a nation should be grateful to Providence for the liberty which has brought us to our high estate. May we ever Ile - A' e , ,,,, ! f , 'LT ,))' trtri:Ai I , -- , r . ,' vwv.4 i., ,4 tl,;...,,, ''''l ' I 1 4 , , , 4 k ii ' ...",.... I tl .4 . 1 , 1 t.- 7 ' ,. I '; I . 1,1', 'L .: 14 ,., , 44' - ''' WA '. ' ' ' e, ...'", ,, I's t '..., ,. , , 1 .,,,-,R- , 4''''..t.e,.r' f4(i-.- 4 tI As,t i 1 I 1 I The Star Of Bethlehem Why We Celebrate Jesus' Birthday On Dec. 25th Yuletide Lights Shine On indeed, is the sight Of the Clirlstrnas lights decorating the streets and husiness hOilSeS of Salt Lake 's shopping center. Aliove each Mtersection on I NSPIRiN, THE atvient Christians believed that Jesus second time in the heavens and lirmg to an end the secular order of the world, before that generation passed is .t hv t did not ocreacon or to fix dates, cur to them to write v letermined to celethr,t. whrn at ast were very brate the birthday of .4.,1:,.-7hervarious branches widev liffering opinions in of the Church as to what day :,hould be iN'aS Of BetideInir typifying the he Wlse 1rn o thq manger ktiv Cluast Child. That tuditdit was :he iielz:nning of a new era ,.n the history he i,vor.il an era -- ulminating ,11 he cvcr ilevclopeei lig trtstikind. est Lgrits ,ignify :ayousne,s rind gi.a.liess for ihe hlessings of the past, It be a contintiation and faith that tl,ere ot those blessings in the future. They personlfy the spirit of !nail, burning 1)rightly irt storms and darkness, as the spliat of man has glowed and aspired through the ages, undimMed bY the clouds of adversity. Eat!' year these (thistmas lights are strttng, ymbolizalg the Yuletide spitit. Ildsiness men sponsoring these decora1lhilC tion.i are to be commended for :heir spiritedness for the lights fill a definite tnismon, They brighten the streets, they cheer the spirit. they tast out gloom. They remmil the beholder :hat the season of rejoicing is at hand, that the festive days of the year are here once more. of he ocLet us all enter into the casi(n with our hearts filled with revernt gaie 'mon joy and thanksgiving, and as those lights and stars :ct Ili think iS!';1;t1 of the sife of service and sacrifice of Hun 1)2 th we are commemorating. is a laige leTn cliosen. For example, in the West it was at first thought that Jesus was born on the 20th of .M0.: others favored the 20th of April; in the East almost all perzis favored January ti as !he probable Ilz.te. In brief, there appears to have been no authentic record of the birthday of Jesus and it was as late as the fourth century, and the last part of the fourth century at that, before there was any general agreement as tp the day which should be adopted and fixed upon in the Church as the birthday of the Christ. The following is generally regarded as an author.tative statement a !o vny ',his date Was at last fixed. Chrysotone. Ite ,.IdChurcn Fat her, one of t he most famous orators -On among all the Christian fathers says : this is the 2,;t1i day of December "the birth of t7hr:st Nvas lateiy fixed at Rome, in order that, while the Ileathen were the busy wit h their profane ceremonies, Christians might observe their holy rites undza---th- C musTmAs of it.. I we is here: let's !mike the most can hnve it but oTve a year. what" of its 'warmth and cheer hold and see how long we enn radiate I le!'s WP k'an disturbed." In practically all It. of thing the spirit ofroil. And the angel said 1.11110 therm, l'or Whold I bäng you good tidings joy. which shell be to ail people. For is born this tier ix tie rity of D.ri which ä Christ the of , of Met unto you a Savior, il t Is. ' .,. t 7 - .at . I . ' -- stm-gn- , chrtstmas?... fear not: , - Of the Northern nawe find the people celebrating a day alter the Ivinter solstice as the birth of their EVP11 in Egypt. about this time, they el( litated the birthday of their virgin hot n Horus. the son of In Greece they celebrated the birth of Rendes. the god especially dear to the public heart, because he bestowed so many favors upon the common people. In Rome about this time of the year they held their three days Saturnalia. which continues under another name unto the present day. So all over northern lands the heathen WPM engaged at this time in celebrating their joyous festivities and it was at last decided to fix upon the same (late in order that the Christmas might, undisturbed, celebrate their peculiar rites. In other words, the Church in the finding .a festival, rooted strongly hearts of the people,too strongly to be torn upthey decided to accept it they simply renamed it, rechristened it, and adopted it as their own. P,ut on account of the pagan origin of this festival It was some time during the early history of the Church before it was looked upon any favor. But gradually, Christianity found it easy to absorb paganism because what was then heathen was human and the pagan element in,Christtnas was not very far from Christianity. When Constantine had made Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire, that religion could have suppressed any heathen thing it really wanted to suppress7 The im. portant point to note is how few things it really did want to suppress, In the old childhood world this day was celebrated because It the coming back of their sun- god light and warmth and healing in his beams. When Jesus came it broadened and deepened and exalted this idea because he was the source of spiritual light and life as well. This is the glory of the Christmas time. s The mesage of the firrt Chri,tmas .wp.s nf 'wave - peace on earth. .k rid the way of peace was prescribed; it was good will to men. That has been the spirit of Christmas through all the ages. Even in the hatred and turmoil of war it has had its P. Armies seldom fight on Christmas day. In the hrief cessation of hostilities sometimes the men of opposing armies fraternize, exchatig'ing gifts of tobacco, and sweets. But the thought of war brings a discordant note on Christmas day. This is good Will day And good will is a frame of mind that can he cherished and cultivated. Each one may say for himself. "If. good will brings to me and to those about me peace today, why not tomorrow? "nut shall we be exchanging gifts every day?" someone will ask. In reality, why not? The joy of the gifts at Christmas time is not in the possession of the things: it is in the sharing of the good will. of the friendship which prompts the giving. And the hest gifts in this world are not things: they are sentiments, sympathies. encouragements, inorai and sfilritual support, all the kindly deeds and sharings that are prompted hy true friendship and love. It will he a sad world iildeNI if at the clo.e Christmas day these are laid by for another year. Why not make every day keep some- light. Love worketh no ill to Ms neighbour therefore loYells the fulfilling of the law: a U, ;ippon! :ir-toi- Keep The Ch ristas Spirit -, P o At ' n-; .1;ri.n-gi-- j t 1 . . -- I 4 I ,., 1.. a , '4 : :f ' t y ' I1, ' 'fr' Wit4r".' a ' It , 0, , ,1:".'' '''' 11 ,, - , 1 1' , - t t - i - , ' ,,i'' ,," A.,... t ' 4, 0 :, , ,, The night --rnik4ar spent. the day is at hand let us therefore east off the works of darkness, and let us put.on the armour of , 1 I , 1 If it , I 11 t, ; hack-wood- . , I ' , I i-- , 1 Anti there wore in the otimorountry, shop. heift obishag in tho JiriA, kooping welch over thoir !laths by night. Anti, lo, the angei of di 'Lord range upon thi nt. end rho glory of this Lord oboist them: on4 Mtv mere sort 41104.. St ,,, ,,,i.,1, , i I 4 ,,,s, 'i nv cherish I .; !' ; n Santa CI,ius .s myth. Inven'ed for cnnoiren: ,s he o331 f 3.31r.tto03,, the smtvil of generosity Oli ear he each wit ,if the !tf.51 1r07en of the notch rro,.,,,e our The Will Of The 31agi ' hirt,h. e 4,ittf4 4 f this great continent and announced that in modern times our nation would be established upon it, having for its foundation the 14 of 1 of hitt s' 1 r!! ft, vu,;t, r :or ;tic T 1 stem that uhtte star that does of ht,1 Tio The Now hy this very road to Bethlehem, and at a distance of a little OVn a mile from Jerusalem as one travels southward, there is a well still popularly known as the 'well of the Magi" because of the tradition that as the Magi followed this immemorial route they paused there to draw water. and seeing the star of ,Bethlehem reflected in its depths, they were guided and encouraged to press on -toward their goaL 1 on its 7lat foster-fathe- came and stood over,Where flowcrs brighter wr-t- nat " Mori: tears And T this holiday period, when the hearts of all are turned to the Author of Christmas, and when the eaStom begun by those who brought to the manger gold, frankincense and myrrh still finds expression presenting of Yule gifts, it is refreshing to dwell, even for a moment, on Gods gift to America. lie gave us freedom. Centuries ,ago, when Christ stood upon American soil, he foretold the future destiny "A years, to-i- d WE legend runs across the The deathless story of Christmas Tinhyson calls a :oory both human and divine. !t told more often than any other both ,n and in fiction an every country ii ihc world frAn. has in some fashion made the ,:tory Two thousand 'arc lo !ri '11ic-- a a girl was turner1 away from an .i.n. ,vhcre there was no roorri for 'ler o lodge: A stable close at hand reered refuge and lt was here that the Babe Aas lAwn thoo, was destmed of sorrow. pierce her heart won he sword iIi ody with Beasts of the their hieath- and :n the canopy that hung It led the over !he earth. a .tar rmri TrTsse humble shenherM 'from rival r to the Inanger men and ki fes. fro; where Mary watchcd over her Som. In the heavens the .ingP!S The birth of this Child. whose mother t as a :ar was poor and whose years penter, was destined to die thirty-threlater on the summit of.Calvaty for the salVAt tOn 4)1 men. But Ilis birth .vas the hirth of !he Christian faith: and it was aiso the source of all that is best in the world, all that-itrue And beautiful, all that is nobie and sublime. thirtythree yuars. !hat intervened between the beginning of .ife a atable and the consummation of h e great sscrifice, gave to mankind everywhere ,ihe promise of eternal IN,. It Is. not strange, therefore. that out -- f when the the darkened skies of sun has receded far to he soutk, that :here should come the brightest and mom, s,0yrris season of all the year, with warmth and light and happiness, for rich and poor, for old and young. The day would, indeed, he one of poignant irony, if the poor were not remembered, when the Child who left to the world this priceless heritage had such humble hirth. Christmas is not alone a day for he cxchange of gifts arid for festivity. .It ;s an ot: casion for rededication to Christ's ourpo.ses. and if this spirit does not animate the day Unless ,Ae it loses its proper significance, take the road that leads from Nazareth to Bethleheni, see in spiritual vision the Child in the Manger and contemplate the purposes for which He came to earth, Christmas will not mean all that it ought to mean to us. The lesson of Cthistmas !settle same for the rich and the 'poor. It Is the only lesson of life that.iszood in times of Joy end times of sadness. in cities and towns, in the mansiont of the great anti in the liorne if tie bumble. It teaches us that not riches but generosity, not conquest but kindness. not fame but love and humility, not the dust which rises from the road, inn the star which shines from the skies aboveill these is the real value of life. To the wondering shepherds two thousand years ago the angel declared: "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall he to ali people." Christmas, then, is as wide as the rate. It belongs to man. This is one of the peculiar anti linghtest glories of this Christmas time and' he zninriest reason why we .hould take it to our hearts with love and joy, because it is the friend of cry son of man. "Hope sprIngs eternal In the human breast," as the old poet has stmg It. This is the great hope that lies at the heart of !tie EhriMmastime; the hope, the belief,, that God is ever coming- into the life of His children, coming with'new promise, coming with finer and higher triumph over the things that have trampled them down in the dust of tin r weakness and their despair. And, this is the reason why on the 25th of December we gather so gladly in our homes, making the children happy, wishing each other all sweet and glad and merry wishes and feeling our hearts swell with thankfulness for all the brightness. peace and blessedness ttit have (vine into our lives through the mediation of the Christ Child-'Glos,to God in the highest. and on earth peace among men in whom He is well pleased." - :God Gave Freedom As Special Gift To America Christmas-1- 937 THE :1 rf.:) EDITORIAL PAGE 1 4 'A - 1 |
