| Show WHAT WILL CHRISTMAS SEASON MEAN TO YOU with thanksgiving day in all states but a memory we turn our thought and attention to the holiday season ahead As we read the opinions of editors and columnists and consider the pros and cons of christmas giving we find that more attention is paid to the advantages of extensive buying in order that the wheels of industry may be kept k ept turning and those who are employed in the manufacture or the ithe process of selling may benefit but what of those who are unemployed who have little or nothing with which to purchase some of the great array of attractive and tempting articles offered by merchants it is all very well for those with an abundance of wealth to talk about gift buying and gift giving and even our first lady of the land is stressing the importance of making merry at the approaching t christmas season our thoughts z and prayers however ho vever go out to those who are unable t to 0 provide even food or the other necessities of life for their children which may add to their comfort during durin Z the winter months ahead we notice that mrs roosevelt is making extensive purchases and one paper carried an account in detail of the accumulation of costly gifts purchased and the attention paid to her as she made her tour of the shopping district and what she is able to do is being duplicated by hundreds of others in proportion to their income and their purse while it is quite in keeping with custom we wonder if at this most critical time in the history of the world it would not be better to soft pedal the accent on the material side of the art of giving and increase the volume of tone and to accent the spiritual soi ritual meaning of the term too little attention is paid to the origin of christmas and the sacredness of the term christmas spirit and is this to be wondered at when every phase of commercialism has taken precedence and when even our thanksgiving day has been advanced a week in order to give more time and greater opportunity to merchants to display their wares these are things to think about and we also wish to emphasize the need to increase our efforts toward helping those who are in distress in our own and in foreign lands at this hour of great uncertainty and grief there is much talk about the bitterness of war and its aftermath and our so called freedom is mentioned as a reason to be thankful so let us show our gratitude for the freedom we still enjoy by giving the greatest portion of our time and attention and what financial help we can toward alleviating the suffering here and abroad among those who are calling for aid the american red cross is fostering one of the most extensive and humanitarian projects ever before launched be sure to read the story on this page prepared by our coworker suzanne claire dean which outlines the story of the origin of the red cross activities perchance she will write a similar story about the origin of bf christmas for a future issue to return to the work of the american red cross we wonder why this very easy way of helping a humanitarian way is ignored by some of the very ones who talk about christianity and who know what it means to live in accord with the teaching of the christ in their daily association asso cation with their fellow men it is to be deplored that even in our small town there are those who refuse to become members of the american red cross and who speak disparagingly of their work although there are many who have increased their donations in order to bring our total to the required quota at this christmas season let us think first of the children and of those who are in need of food and shelter and warm clothes and when we have given three quarters of what we can afford to spend is time enough to think of ourselves did not the master say it is more blessed to give than to receive and if we are commemorating his birth and are really trying to exemplify his life and the teaching he deft as a pattern to follow we shall not question the call to make sacrifices now for those who are less fortunate now and so will the christmas season bring added joy to our hearts and a great peace to our soul and so shall the true meaning of the term take root in a way that will put to rout the extravagances which some indulge in during a time and season when the spiritual rather than the material significance of christmas should be observed something to think about dear friends as we take into account the uncertainties in our country and if we would continue to enjoy the happiness which so called freedom affords we have it within our power even now to correct the mat mal adjustments which are in evidence but it will not be done unless we turn about from selfishness and self de sire and look first to the needs of others before we think of ourselves such was the masters belief and practice of living and what he has taught and lived so must we if the true spirit of christmas is to prevail now |
