The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1916-12-23

mingled joy and thanksgiving ON
the part of the people of this great
nation of the western hemisphere.
Not every country is blessed with
free government, education, and
right of individual action and
thought. Nor are the citizens OF
every nation free to meet and
greet their friends, relatives and
neighbors in a pleasurable observ-
ance of this ancient holiday.
Christmas, which is so largely
observed in Christian lands, Is an
observance which need be limited
to no sect or belief, for its history
antedates Christendom, and its
lesson has brought joy to all ages.
The birth of new year as the sun
starts on it's northward trip, the
regeneration of nature as an en-
blem of a future life, or the birth
of a Christ marking new era IN
civilizatiOn-all are emblems
which teach man that the future
has hope and life and happiness
for those who conform to the laws
of the universe.
Christmas should be a day OF
cheer to ALTO those who are so
blessed that they may offer bene-
factions to the less favored, and
alike to the unfortunate in find
ing that they have friends in an
apparently harsh world. The man
who gives is the man who receives
when the gift is of the heart.
The petty annoyance OF wonder
ing what to give to this or that
relative or friend, and the feeling
of necessity that gifts be made,
are disastrous to true apprecla-
ton of Christmas. The one who
finds happiness in bringing happl-
ness to the child, to the cripple,
to the helpless, is the one who
lives his Christmas.
The penalties of war are now
being brought home to those ma
tions so engaged. With butter
days in Germany, with meatles!s
days in England, with the homes
stripped of the men in France and
Belgium, with death and desola-
tion in the wilds Of the southern
countries, Europe is surely
scourged. Limitation OF the
courses at meals in England is the
new order. Sugar and flour are
priced for the few.
Militarism and the spirit OF JOY
in warfare are often confounded
with ideas Of patriotism, but the
history of the patriots OF the
United States shows that patriot
ism to our forefathers meant the
security and protection OF the
home. rather than the despoilation
or aggrandizement OF the posses
sions of others.
Discussions of the war are not
confined to finance and diplomacy,
but have found a place in theo-
logical controversies. One inter
esting phase is brought out by the
Rev. John Dietrich, former Uni
tartan pastor of Spokane, now OF
Minneapolis, who is well known
in eastern Washington. He con-
tributed the following to the
Spokesman-Review few days
ago:
"To the Editor of The Spokes-
man-Review: 1 notice in your
Thanksgiving edition an article
asking us to be thankful to God
for having preserved us from war,
or words to that effect; and in the
interest of clear thinking | should
like to make the following sug-
gestion. II we owe gratitude to
God for having preserved this re-
public from war, what do we owe
him for having plunged Europe in
to war2 Why could not being
who could preserve peace in
America not preserve peace in Eu-
rope9 If God deserves thanks for
keeping US out Of war, is he not
to be blamed for pushing the Eu-