The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-12-24
Wants Christmas Abolished.

Kansas City World.
1t always happens. Every year
somebody hobs up with a PROPOSE
ton to abolish Christmas.
Last year it was the Ministers
union OF Hamilton, o., that wanted
Santa Claus bsnished from the
churches because be is e theatrical
imposture.
This year it is preacher in New
York state who says that Christmas
has become completely secularized"
an occasion for extrsvavsgsnce and
overwork, a WEAKNESS and reproach
to religion.
Better abolish the festival" he
says, than make it asemi-pagan sat-
urnalia."
1t Is charitable to assume that
these clerical kickers have mistaken
sluggish iiyers for consciences.
1t is quite possible that Santa
Claus with his sweet traditions, re-
dolent OF brotherly love, charity and
the impartial love OF the Universal
Father OF us all. has done more for
the promotion Of real religion than
have all the preachers in the world.
Take Santa Claus and the spirit,
sentiments and emotions he stands
for out Of the world for a single gen
GRAFTON, and the true message OF
Christ would become incomprehensi
BILE TO the Indifferent human mind.
Too many ministers Of the gospel
belong to that large class who look
upon religion only as the means by
which one secures the eternal saliva
ton Of his own soul, Any meaning
beyond that ia blank to them.
Real, blood.Marm, heart-deep SYM
pa,hy with and love for humanity
such as is represented in and aroused
by Santa Claus at Christmas time
the sacrifice without hope OF credit,
the giving for the mere sake OF the
blessed Joy Of giver and recipient
are all an imposture" and a "semi
pagan saturnalia" in the mind Of
that narrow, incarnated selfi-hness
which seeks in religion only the sal.
vati' OF its own stingy little soul.
Santa Claus may be an ..impos,
ture," but tn, Joy he brinvs to mil
lions Of little hearts is genuine.
Christmas may be u semi pagan
saturnalia," but it mellows the
hearts OF millions of men.
The world cannot afford to lose
either. Nor will it.
There's a charm In the name and a
spell in the air that exhilarate youth
as nothing else can and bring back
to old age the virgin emotions OF
childhood. It's spirit is holy, it's ira
ditions enobling and it's sweet SUPER
stitions are sainted.
Every instinct lying at the source
OF mans moral nature requires that
there be a time in the year when for
a few brief hours self may be forgot.
ten, when the heart may turn tender
and the coarse passions soften,
friends may be drawn more closely
and enemies forgiven, peace may de.
scend upon us and theglad soul revel
naked in the glorious benediction oil
the yuletide glow.
A semi pagan saturnalia, indeed.
1t was a pagan saturnalia once
While the Christ were yet unborn
our sun.worshiping ancestors, ac
cepting the perceptible lengtheninp
"f days at this time OF the year as q
triumph OF their god over the hosts
OF darkness, instituted this festival
OF magnanimity and merrymaking
and it has descended through the
centuries, the growth OF human
knowledge and sympathy adding to
its beneficance and the graces of re
gions perfecting its beauty, until ii
is festival that knows no creed, nc
cline, no age, no people, but is the
glad jubilee of all humanity, as ma.
tural as it is beautiful.