The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-12-23
Christmas for the
Sunday School 3
by WILLIS S. EDISON
Superintendent Covenant Baptist sunday
school Chicago.

T~HERE IS no Sunday schoo, but
should have and does have its
Christmas celebrations 1t is not
question then. at Shall We cclo-
brate?" but How shall We celebratr?'
Christmas comes but once year, but
when it comes h does not always
bring good cheer TO the Sunday school
superintendent and his helpers who
aloug in the fall after the trials OF pic
mic time have passed become haunted
by this question which comes up and
must be settled n is an important
question The matter should no ha
carelessly considered Those having
the arrangements in charge should not
forget that something moro essential
than swcetmcats and gifts, and jolly
good time with Santa Claus and Christ
mas tree, 70 make tine 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 n honoring the
Christ, in memory OF who3c birth the
celebration IS held q is So easy in the
burden and rush Of planning for the
event the greatest event in the whole
year for the Sunday snhuDi-iO forget
the spirit and purpose which should lie
behind the preparations. and give in.
spiratiOn and direction to all tho plans
II Is the birthday party of the Christ
child, If YOU please, ana II" should
be forgotten, all thought and all plans
hould center about HIM ] huo" OF
one school that In pretty iii'.N prayer
service a few weeks previous 20 Christ.
was formally Invited Jesus to be pres
cnt at His birthday party ana asked
Him TO help item ~ making the plans.
And Jesus was there in Tine person 81
~ or 30 Of His little ones from q neigh
boring orphanage, and the boys and
girls Of at leas, ono Sunday school roa-
Ecd the beauty and force OF the words
OF Jesus; "lnnsmuch as yo did 1t unto
one Of the least Of those yo did 1t unto
Me- The spirit aud purpose Of the
celebration must not be forgotten.
IN, ubo, sboll tho celebration hoo
rboro ,ro ,,rr dlvisi,na into which
mic sublc,t noturollv falls. Dornr,.
,i,rs Witch includes tho Christmas
,r,o ~ ,ro is used. tho cntnrtainmcrt
,ho oIgte and rho offerings Tho decn.
ro,iars cor,rrigc a ,nrv inportapt and
hoontisr, mari NJ tho celebration Thoy
,ro,to tbo atmosnhnro and piva tho
leo, tr,nreesio,s which ca ro- towords
Tho srccoss Of what follows Srrinturc
.,ov,s shouId ho rybcr,IIv usod seloctino
ench 40 arc annronri,te tn tho coca.
clio, Tho Ie.teri,o ran no d,ro In
evergreen, or gilt or cOlOrcd letters
may be used. The star should be con
spicuous The extent of the decora.
tuns depends, Of course, largely upon
the amount Of money to he spent. but
with n rcsourceful and tasty person in
charge it IN surprising how far n few
dollars can be made to go The colorcd
paper decorating. which can be oh.
tanned at all Sunday school and demon.
national supply houses very cheaply,
makes n good substitute for the more
expensive evergreen and holly. II the
entertainment is held after Christmas,
It Is easy to secure tree and trimmings
from those who have used them in
their homes, and in this way consid-
cradle expense may he saved. The
work Of the decorations committee may