Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-12-11
Christmas for the
Sunday School .
Bv WILLIS S. EDSON
) Sunerintendent Covenant Baptist Sunday
School, Chicago.
T HERE is no Sunday school but
should have and does have its
Christmas celebration 1t is not

should have and does have its
Christmas celebrate ton. 1t is not
a question, then, of Shall we cele-
brate?" but How shall We celebrate?
Christmas comes but once a year, but
when it comes, it does not always
bring good cheer to the Sunday school
5uperintendent and his helpers, who
along in the fall after the trials OF pic
nic time have passed, become haunted
by this question which comes up and
must be settled. It is an important
question The matter should not be
earelessly considered. Those having
the arrangements in charge shonld not
forget that something more essential
than sweetmeats and gifts. and Jolly
good time, with Santa Claus and Christ
mas tree, to make the celebration an
abiding Joy and blessed memory The
Christmas celebration should not be
The end in Itself. but should be the
means to the end OF honorine the
Christ in memory OF whose birth the
celebration is held Il is so easy IN the
burden and rush Of planning fer the
eyent-the greatest event in the whole
wear for the Sunday school 10 forget
the spirit and purpose which should lie
behind the preparations. and give in
spiration and direction to all the plans.
It is tho birthG2E party of The tEFls'
child, if you please, and II" sA0ald not
be forgotten: all thoGe,ht aud ali plans
shou]d center about m !<no" of
one school that in pretty iittle prayer
service few weeks previous to Christ
was formally invited Jesus to be pres
ent at His birthday party, and asked
Him to help them in making the plans.
And Jesus was there In the person OF
20 or 80 of His little ones from neigh
boring orphanage, and the boys and
girls of a. least one Sunday school real
lied the beauty and force of the words
Of Jesus: "lnasmnch IS ye Gid it unto
ore 0f the least Of these Ee did ii unto
Me- The spirit and purpose OF the
celebration must moi be forgotten.
Bat what shall the celebration be-
There are four divisions in'o which
this subject naturally falls; Decora'
tiors. which includes the Christmas
free. if one is used; the entertainment
rations com prise worry important anc
beautiful part Of the ceiebra)ion. They
create the atmosphere. and Sive the
FIRST impressions. which so far towards
ihe success If what follows Scripture
texts should be liberaliX used. selecting
such as are appropriate 10 ihe ocea
sion. The lettering can be done II
evergreen. or ell or coIorea letters
may be used Tho star should be con
spicuous The extent OF tn" deeora
tionS depends, of course. largely upon
he amount of money to be spent, bu
With a resourceful and tasty person IL
charge il is surprising how FAR feV
dollars can be made to so. The colofe'
paper decorating, which can be ob
tanned a all Sunday school and demon
national supply houses very cheaply
makes a good substitute for the NOR
expensive evergreen and holly. II In
entertainment is held after Christmas
it is easy to secure tree and trimming
from those who have used them i
their homes. and In this Way censid
erabe expense may be saved. Th
work of tbe decorations committee ma
be lie red hy enlsting the interes
IF f-o i@dtvidual classes and Gettin
4 5eW= Gr the older ones to furnish som
feature of the decorations or some teA
IN evergreen or paper 3etterir@. Etf'iz
al tho latent talent and abi'itF in E34
school
The possibilities Of the entertain