Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-12-25
.FAvORs PLACING
LIGHT IN WINDOWS
PASTOR BERsELL WRITES OF
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM; SAYS
TOWN is BETTER.

Commenting upon an article appear
ing in The Courier a short time ago,
which told of the plan Of Ottumwans
to use lighted candles in their win
dows on Christmas eve in keeping tho
old world custom of showing the way
to the traveller and calling to mind the
star Of Bethlehem, Rev. P. O. Bersell.
pastor Of the Swedish Lutheran
church, has penned the following COM
munication to The Courier:
To the Editor of The Courier:
In the columns of your worthy
paper noticed recently an article con-
tanning suggestion to the people OF
Ottumwa to make this q light and
bright Christmas. like the way
your paper has been getting under and
supporting various movements which
will mean a better and bigger Of
tumwa. And the suggestion to place
lighted candles in the windows Of our
homes on Christmas eve Is good one
and ought to meet with q hearty re-
Spouse on the part OF our citizens.
1t is a time hallowed custom in
many parts of the world where they
make Christmas great festival in the
home and church. 1t is a beautiful
and suggestive custom to celebrate the
birth Of the child of Bethlehem, Gods
great gift to man, with the interchange
of Christmas gifts. But it is equally
fitting that we should also celebrate
the great event with profusion Of
light, for thus heaven heralded 1t to
us-'and the glory of the Lord shone
round about them; and they were sore
81 he sit,O writ
the light In our homes that night, the
holy night, the night of heavenly light.
Christmas is no ordinary holiday. 1t
has gripped the world with a loving
hold. And no matter how much men
have commercialized it's celebration,
we will never get away from it's mes
sage, it's inner import. Be our re-
ligious beliefs what they may, Christ
mas is to the world the night Of heay-
enly mystery, the mystery Of love
that can not be told, the answer to the
heart-cry of the world. 1t brings to us
an echo from another world. 1t fills
the darkness with an effulgence of
A glory that is not Of this world.
Therefore, Christmas should not be
celebrated in an ordinary way. Our
festivities should be symbolic of the
message of Christmas
On with the lights! Let us all
place lighted candles in the windows
of our homes on Christmas eve. The
light will shine both in and out. Your
candles will carry a message to your
neighbors and as you look out at the
answering glow from his windows,
YOU will both feel in mystic way that
YOU are fellow citizens in the kingdom
of love. And the way-farer on the
street, the sojourner from another city
will pass between the rows Of illumin-
ated homes, and his heart will be
warmed and he will carry the message
to other cities, telling of Ottumwa,
where they do such wonderful things,
Ottumwa, which must be good.
neighborly place to live in.
I have been resident of Chicago
for several years. A campaign was
begun there a few years ago for this
same worthy purpose. But 1T did not
make much Roadway. 1t is too big
town. They don't care very much
for their neighbors there. | have
been a resident of Ottumwa now for
several years l state my honest opin-
ion when l say that Ottumwa is get
ting to be better place to live in day
by day. There have been and there
are under way great improvements.
One of the best things is growing