Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-11-11

- - country at Christmas time, one g
which would be best for it and would
most enhance its general welfare, what gift would you
give! Would be something in connection with religion
or science hnance. political social reform? The
characteristic replies answered this question in no unccI
tain yet in three of them were we especially at
raced
Miss Elizabeth A. Phillips president OF Philade phia
oana Claus As sociaon Ia society originated by this
noble woman who receives from the postal authorities all
the letters addressed by little children to Santa Claus and
them a answers the question most to our liking
as follows:
Santa Claus is the embodiment of the beautiful
words OF the Savior 1T is more blessed to give than to
receive and So it were the nations Santa Claus and
possessed unlimited power and means, would consecrae
all zeal and energy in extending the truth and influence
OF those sublime words,
There are tens of thousands who know from personal
experience that investment brings large of
happiness as sheer giving. There other tens Of
thousands, yea Millions who give nothing and get bless
ng is these who need b. induced invest experl-
mentally little, in this ioy-producng enterprise.
And so, w,re the nations Santa Claus, would, on
my trip the world Christmas evc 1908 drop in
to every heart the gift of the spirit Of giving would
visit each home where ve and affection had grown cod
an kndle the fires would see tha every orphan
had only pair OF shoes his little feet but
love that might take the place OF mothers love to warm
his little heart would that he had not only coat
to protect him from the Winters cold but sheterine
that might take the place Of fathers in protecting
him from the blasts OF freezing world of thought
people.
Were the nations Santa Claus the spirit Of giving
would exist every heart every day. and there would be
desires for riches and power no employer grind
ing down the wages OF his employed; public official
ing his trust for private gan and religious creeds and
doctrines save that embodied in Chrsts words; DO you
love me, Simon? Then feed my lambs" And so, if it
in my give would leave only in every
city, street and home, but in every heart, living, loving
Santa Claus, and the world would awaken on its Christmas
Day in Paradise, with Love King"
The following answer given by Gov R. B. Glenn, Of
North Carolina, is also to to thinking. If
had the power TO give this country the one thing that
think most truly needs next the religion OF Jesus
Christ, and which in my judgment would be most condu-
Give to the industrial education and moral upbuildrg Of
nation would unhestangy give strong Nato 1al tenn
perance law, and compel its enforcement by the proper
officers. here that all the wrongs and niquities
Of the tariff and the robberes oppression and greed Of
monopoes do not compare with the sorrow the run the
misery the crime the poverty the madness; the vice. the
degradation the death and damnaon produced by strong
drink destroys home life; breaks the hearts of mothers
and wives; takes the clothes off the backs Of little chill
dren and substitutes rags degrades manhood makes ewd
out Of virtuous madens, stiles ambition destroys
hope, weakens the body, bghs the mind and blackens
the soul until it turns this EARTH made for mans happiness
and into hell for his ruin and m sery
In the interest," therefore, of BUSINESS for the protection
OF helpless and chidren for the suppression Of
crime, the ameoraon OF and poverty the prevention
OF disease; the preservation OF e the salvation OF human
souls and tor the sake OF than eghysix millions Of
true brave and noble American men, women and children
would bestow this gift Of national temperance thus de-
sroyng fearful curse, and restoring man to the Godke
image in which he created would offer this gift to
the American people"
This given by that brilliant pastor of the Fifth
Avenue Baptist church. New York City, Rev. Charles F.
Aked D. D. is equally pertinent:
Il should elect to endow the people Of this country with
great and absorbing passion for some moral cause
do write at random. This cheap sentiment tossed
off at the bidding of magazine editor trepresents one
Of the deepest convictions Of my e The supreme need
Of the individual and OF the nation in this hour glowing
enthusiasm for principle believed be eternal ano
some cause worth living and worth dying for
Save for the last year Of financial stringency-a
purely temporary thing mere bubble on the stream Of
the nations fe-the prosperity Of the country has for
long been OF the astounding Incredible commonpaces
Of the whole worlds speech And prosperity has its dam
gers-s itself real and lasting OF danger. Critics
in the Old World envious, perhaps and certainly in.
formed take the American people for horde OF mstera.
ss their standard OF values always expressed in terms
Of stocks and bonds their eyes tangible, i'm
mediate gains. lf you have writ your annals true moth
ing could be further removed from the facts Of our history
This nation was brought into being under compulsion
Of the IDEAL Men who loved liberty better than life
women whose hearts bed prophetic spirits that watched
through night OF tor the dswnng OF the
ing have made US what we are They say the light and
whence it flowed. They followed it in JOY. And il we
and our children alter hold intact tor future ages
the large estate Of virtue Of faith and freedom Of which
we are trustees must keep the flag flying in the blue