The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-31
GOODBYE TO 1911
 PROMISES FOR 1912
BY MRS. J. 5. REID.

Tonight at the midnight hour the year of 1911 passes into eternity and amid the
 blowing of whistles and ringing of bells the New Year is heralded into activity.
 The habit of the present age is to eel
 ebrate even the most sacred occasions with noises For instance, we use ex-
 plosives in celebration of the anniver- sary of the birth of a Savior This sea- son of the year brings a message, "Glory
 to God in the highest and on earth peace
 good will toward men," Yet we of today
 make it reign of terror.
 There seems no sacred sentiment up- held by state or authority-the mob holds forth and the holiday is one mad rush at boisterous excitement.
 With the passing of the old year there
 was many tender memories recorded in
 the calendar. Time has carried pleas
 ures and happiness to numberless fire
 sides, yet the Reaper has knocked on the door and beckoned many loved ones to the great beyond.
 There is much that is sad in the pass ing of time, no matter how we trust the morrow, visions Of what might have been confront us. the facts that yester- day cannot be recalled, that we are hur- rying on with a reckless thought of mis- spent time. In the midst of this thought thousands of splendid resolutions are
 made often like the meteor they bright
 en for little while, then dart through space, and disappear leaving the crea- ture ever weaker than if no promise to self were made.
 The individual who realizes the ne- cessity of bracing up, who firmly grasps the moment and makes silent resolve to '1et the dead past bury its dead" ,fr xtrith
 means the making of the best that flesh is heir to, who feels the moral obliga- tion can trust the future, and enter into
 the real spirit of the New Year" because
 it holds a promise to him.
 There has never been an hour in the past or future that hope has not been a component part to peace. There IS hope
 in the heart wherever there IS faith, and show me the man without faith and you
 will find lacking the best part of the na-
 ture of the true man.
 If the ringing in the New Year means to start afresh searching Of self and
 an opening a new life to us who are con-
 scious of a positive need of repairs, then let the glad bells ring, and the whistles
 blow, for they acknowledge Savior IS born, and man has hope.
 To have the opportunity to begin anew,
 with sins forgiven is a glorious promise
 to the world, and the spirit should per-
 wade. The debt is paid in part by a
 faithful pledge--the bank holds the note
 when it is endorsed properly, and it is a
 trust to make good. Conscience holds
 the pledge in like manner, whether it is
 to yourself or the world. A knowledge
 of strength commands self respect. With
 out that respect there is no purpose to be attained.
 And these promises afford the material life. Every sphere Is penetrated by a feeling of hope. It is the foundation of business. We must plan for better and greater things If there were no resolu- tions made the whole world would sim ply be waiting for the end of time. Rom ulus and Remus resolved to build city and Rome was the result-the Roman empire was the foundation for some of the worlds greatest history-it was the birthplace of some of her greatest he-