Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-12-17
The Christmas Tree
It's Lights and Shadows

4 L is not a difficult thing for any of us to WIS.,
- ualize The Christmas Tree; it's like our ma
tional flag or the Cross of Christianity, the mere
mention of the name or even the thought of any
one of these three objects, Immediately brings
that object clearly before the vision of the mind;
don't wonder what it is like we know!
There are many of us, who at the mention of
the Christmas Tree will travel back over the path
way of the years and recall the Christmas trees
that have come into our lives, even the youngest
among us, who have been on earth long enough to
have a Christmas or two to remember, will think
of the Christmas trees that have been and see
them again and the thought and the sight always
makes keener and more delightful the joy of an
ticipaton of the Christmas Trees that are to be-
The Christmas Tree as it stands in all it's marvel
Gus glory of light and tinse the glitter of arti-
ical frost and the cheer and warmth which is
real, the festoons of snowy popcorn and the
wonder and mystery of strange fruit it bears, the
smiling faces of friends and loved ones and the
music of happy voices; how all these things COM
bine to make the picture that is framed in our
minds at the mere mention of the Christmas Tree
The tree at home" not pretentious as some
we have known perhaps, but o, so precious in
our memory today that we would part with the
memories of all the grand and glorious trees we
may have been privileged to in all life
time, rather than part with the memory of the
Christmas Tree "at Home" The tree at the
church! Have some of us "Out grown" the Sum-
day School? The mention of the Sunday School
Christmas tree awakens the desire to go back to
the good old Sunday School days that we used to
know.
With all these Christmas trees Of the past we
will remember, there were lights and shadows
and we all know that the Christmas trees that are
to come will also bring with them their lights and
shadows. The lights, to be sure, claim the lions
share of our attention, as they most certainly
should. Those twinkling taper lights, how each
one of them radates JOY and peace and good cheer
and how they seem to be working together, each
contributing its share toward making brighter
and better the light of "Good Will to ALL" But
there are the shadows; down in the depths of the
tree and underneath the heavy boughs where the
light does OF penetrate Don't you remember, how
you used to wonder if maybe those shadows might
not hide some unexpected gift for you? Some
mysterious package for somebody? Shadows al
ways have mystery, they always seem to be hid
ing something but light does not hide it reveals
The Christmas Tree, like the flag and the Cross
is a symbol, it represents something greater than
itself. What that something is, is so well known
that we do not need to spend much time telling
and yet it never be told too often too much
1t is the symbol of the presence of The Christ on
earth and among men; of the FatherhOOd of God
and the Brotherhood of Man; of Love as the ul-
timately victorious power on earth and of Peace
that shall finally fill the hearts of men with its
blessings.
If the Christmas Tree itself is a symbol, no less
are its lights and it's shadows symbols and in or
der that the full value and benefit Of the Christ
mas Tree may be received and enjoyed by men,
they must know what these lights and shadows
symbolic. 1t is not difficult to understand the
symbolism of light, it stands for truth and JUS
tce, it represents knowledge that brings happi-
ness. It's the symbol of JOY and gladness. It's the
light of the Christmas tree that brings 10y tt
the World and happy laughter to the hearts Of
young and old. What do the shadows represent
Are they really necessary? Can they be Danish
ed?
One of the shadows of The Christmas Tree il
that it does not last. The lights are extingushed
the happy voices are silent, the CHEEKY greeting
are not heard and the Tree is dead! Unlovel!
words and deeds take the place of kind words ant
deeds; open hearted generosity seems to die witt
the Tree and dark faced selishness or hard hand
ed greed seems to have taken it's place. Christ
mas symbozes a happiness, peace and low
that are continuous thru every day in the yeal
This shadow is not necessary; it may be banishe
if you and me and all the rest of US will cheris
and practise the spirit of Good Will which is tn
Spirit of Chrstmas-all the year round. Better
not so lavish gifts of things at one season of tn
year and more of our selves given in kindness an
helpfulness all the year round.