The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-12-24
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
From Tuesdays Daily.

From Tuesdays Daily.
Rev. Edward Constant on Sunday
night read from the pulpit OF the Con-
gregational church expressions from
n number of Mankato people on the
Christmas Spirit" They are as fol-
lows:
w. ]. Rother: OF all Christmas joys,
the spreading OF gladness among the
poor is the most profitable and Christ
like. There are many barren homes
in every town the size of ours where
the gladness of the Christmas day will
have to be enjoyed second hand thru
the window OF some other person. The
very thought of the wretChed poor
around Us brings n pang of sorrow as
We enjoy the Yule Tide i'm our homes
unless we are doing something TO help
these people. 4 very practical way TO
help is with the Municipal Christmas
Tree. placing a large tree in some
public. central location. procuring a
director OF music to lead the singing
OF songs and II possible gathering a
choir from the different churches to
assist. An hour song service Is held
for a couple OF nights before Christ
mas. and then on Christmas eve. fol-
lowing the service. candy and gifts are
given to all children present. Every
one who desires can bring money, toys
or candy so that no child need go
away surrOwing Many cities are do
ing this every year and we could get
the same hearty response from cur
good people who are anxious to pass
on the Christmas cheer 10 others.
Mrs. +. II. Foley. President of W.
c r. l.: One way TO bring about a
rational observance of Christmas
would be- 20 stop the use of liquor.
How foolish to celebrate the birth OF
the holy Jesus by using those things
which are cOrrupting and debasing
and are calculated TO promote
wretchedncss and poverty. We do not
honor Christ by freely passing around
the wire cup and the whiskey bottle.
Alcohol is the foe of happiness. This
cannot be- too strongly said.
Mrs. y. ID. Smith: II we possess the
true Christmas spirit we shall have n
desire to make other people happy.
one way TO do that is TO shop early,
not waiting for the last call, and be
considerable of the clerks and store
keepers. Act out the angels song.
BE charitable TO all and think the best
OF everybody Be hopeful. be cheerful
and keep smiling That is my recipe
for a merry Christmas You cannot
a., ~ oil md n sod faro
never gives light TO another.
f. F Soaring: The practice of
Swing gifts AT Christmas time TO rela-
tiyes and friends has been sanctioned
and sanctihed by time, and carries
with II so much of real JOY that there
docs not seem TO be much room for
discussion of the subject. Probably
the practice is often carried too far,
becoming a burden upon many house
holds and individuals. but this is Who'll
o. Is unnecessary. Strife in giving the
COs,liesr gifts takes away the pleasure
NfrOm the custom and reduces an
otherwise wholesome practice to n
mere competition in expenditure. II
the real Christmas spirit accompanies
the giving. the gifts need not be ex-
ponsive.
The JOY Of giving may not be with
in the reach of all. but that OF re-
ceiying ought 10 be so placed. and
organized charities are making this
poss Die to a constantly charging de-
gree II ought not 10 be possible for
any child. no matter how poor or neg
lected. to be overlooked by Santa
Claus. but neither should the needs of
II these little ones be lost sight OF dur
ing the 36i days that follow Christ
mas
As TO methods of indulging in gift
giving and Christmas cheer. each fam
lily or group should choose its own
way. Probably the family firesides
will continue 10 be the most popular
place for primary observances: but
for secondary enjoyment, church,
lodge and other groups, where all are
acquainted, offer opportunity for let
ting happiness become contagious
There can well be variations. to in
clude larger groupings. with the mu-
nicipal Christmas tree i'm some form,
appropriate theatrical entertainment.
NOliaFAt' vi OthtT lOtm vi
whole some entertainment or amuse-
ment, 10 bring about community
mingling. Whatever brings the differ
Ient sections of a community together is
helpful the whole year through Small
towns and cities often become divided
generally through misunderstand-
ings. once in awhile through selfn-
terests being permitted to obscure
broader views. No season of the
year is better adapted TO open
the heart and soul than the
present, and municipal celebra-
tions that bring all the divisions
together cannot have other than a
helpful influence. The nature of these
affairs is a matter of detail-the
great thing is the fact that all get
together.
ID. NJ. Jones: Christmas should
always be a season of gladness and
good will. In some of the old countries
they have customs which tend to pro-
70 mote a joyous observance of the
Christmas festival Why cannot we
adopt some of those customs, such
as choral singing by bodies OF singers