The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-20
/ CHRISTMAS Bible STUDY.

The Christ comes most et1ectiveV
at Christmas time. Every neaIe
clean blood, wants to DO something
for eomebody at the Christmas time.
There il no trouble In getting people
to give, for the spirit OF giving covers
the land, The questions that , trouble Mnt
urally. the thoughts Of all turn first
to the needy-to those who have
nothing much at any time. and never
anything for extras. BUT the way 70
manage it seems q hard problem. On
last Chrfstmae day I took q basket
filled with loving hands to a washer
woman with two children. The
mother herself opened the door
through which we saw q beautiful
floor of the small room was literally
covered with Christmas. There was
q tree, three sets OF dishes. eleven
dolls, and many more things. the
mother was radiantly happy ana told
how splendidly she had made this
Chr:stmas count. She told US how
they had been remembered from
every charitable source in town. How
the children mad been to two trees al
ready and even now they were at me
baskets and bundles very graciously.
adding to her story the fact that they
had also been remembered with q lot
of things to eat. She summed up her
ADDTeClaClOu ny SAyA n8S 44A1A6O " q .
pretty good ali around but the Elks
had the best" This IL well in its way
for who would not have children have
all they can get, but at the same time
, it is wrong and cruel. too. Later II
the day found us on the top of high
hill at the home of another washer
woman. There were three little boys
in the home. 10. and years OLD. Ine
mother had been gone all day cooking
somebody's Christmas dinner and the
Z ~ "a had with her
to help with the dishes SO she might
come home earlier, but even then 1t
was o'clock and almost dark. and no
Good Fellows or "Elks'' or SALIVA
many helpers from the Provident as
ISOLATION had found them. and not
one tiny toy CT bit Of candy. not even
anything for dinner had come to them
/ that Christmas day. My basket, al
though well filled, seemed travesty
on the Christ idea with the walls OF
my eyes lined with another picture OF
/, the earlier afternoon. 1t Is not right.
| 1t isn't fair. So many noble men, and
women give their time and money and
energy working for days that no one
may be forgotten on this great day.
| and it does seem as If they might get
| together and plan some means that
might not reach everybody, but II
could keep one family from getting an
overdose. One woman has told the
story all the year that she pulled in
five Christmas dinners beside other
| things on last Christmas day.
| Sometimes I think the only way to
be eligible 20 remembrance on Christ
mas is to be either abundantly in it. or
| else poor in material things. out OF
Job, and generally down and out. The
grey headed children are forgotten. but
| it pays to ind them at Christmas time.
Perhaps n your block or in your pew
in the church is a widow struggling
to bring some little children into a
beautiful manhood and wonanhood. on
whose shoulders ife's burdens are
heavy and whose heart is too sad to
sing. She works with you In the Aid
and helps where she can. She tries
to live true for she must for the sake
of her children. No charitable organi-
zation has her name or knows any
thing about hire children. Christmas
might speak to her If somebody who
| knows, only thought to do 1t. There
are girls toiling all day long. who stay
| in rented rooms at night. Not all OF
! them can go home even for Christmas
| and sadder still, some have no homes
Big strong men and jolly boys will be
lonely on Christmas day and for some
there will not be one Merry Christmas
package or thought.
The best Christmas is not the one
that adorns the external body, nor Is
it always good things to eat that salts
fy. but 1t il filling the soul with g
new aspiration and a new Inspiration
the effect Of which will stay till Christ
mas comes again and sometimes it will
stay always. Christmas giving ought
not to carry the charity idea alone. Nc
self-supporting. vigorous, true health
full man or woman wants charity II
the genera! acceptance Of the tern
and yet it Is the term that meets the
needs Of the world when it is interpre.
ted into love. I would pray that more
Of these truly courageous in spirit
great in faith. noble in deed might bt
found at Christmas time. Love car
give any gift and give it anywhere Il
It be truly in love. Love never fails
to ind a way-and let me remind vol
of that you already know. that wher
nothing else viii ct into your schemes
! l<,xxn yao1xn1