The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-24
Sacrifice Needed If There Ia
to Be a Christmas of the Soul
SaysVice-P President Marshall
WILSON EXTENDS HAND
OF SYMPATHY TO ALL
Baker Sends thoughtful Mes
sage Laden With Comfort
and Good Cheer to Mem
bers of Expcditionary Force

Washington. December st
American government. through the me-
dunn OF the International News Service.
sends Christmas greetings tonight 10
the people Of tho United States
They are sent out by the highest
officials Of the government in tie nope
that they might carry into every home
Tui measure OF hope. OF confidence, Of
comfort and Of cheer On the occasion
of this the FIRST Christmas that Amer
Tea appears a. belliserent IN the
mighty world struggle for human
rights and the principles Of freedom,
Awaiting themselves of the opportu~
nifty offered members Of the diplomatic
corps at Washington have Joined in
these greetings
President Wilson himself, girded az
he IS with 4 fun determination to see
/ the purposes of America in the war
carried out 10 the end. looks forward
with sfeAdfsst sagerress to the day
wAeu q just and 8 permanent peace
can De Sc UP In the world Conscious
as he ls OF the ultimate might Of this
countrr IN the war. nevertheless he ak
tends the hand Of sympathy 10 every
individual 10 every mother and 70
every wife, 70 every man and every
woman urou whom the burdens q
sacrifice must rest
Vice President Marshall sees ahead
the resurrection OF peace anu has wiz
ten this message for the thought Of
the nation.
The first Christmas meant more
than BethIehen. II meant also Cal
wary Il foreshsdowed that sacrifice Is
always needed II there f. 20 be .
Christmas or the FOUL. the only per
feet gisdness. the Joy Of the well done
"&ayhap This yes- there are myriad
more souls than ever before agoniEinS
kx re nA n
tioual suffering. Ana yet at the enc
Of il all we see the. resurrection OF
peace sad good viii among men.
Anybody may he merry with the
laughter Of the thoughtlesS To the
wise II IS given alone to rejoice amid
sorrow when we'll assured Of the JUS
lice OF the cause for which they suffer.
Let us be worthy 70 be among the
wise. Let this indeed be the merriest
: ~ al tsay FRET masses tr the hope and
fnitn tnkt makes US glad and not
ashamed of our present sorrow and
signed THOMAS r. MARSHALL. q"
Secretary Of state Lansing sends
THIS message
The world celebrates Christmas be
cause IL IS commemorative Of the birth
IF HIM who taught to rrar},iud the
principles OF lite bn which rest our
,neaern civilization.
To-day We arc engased tn a mighty
struggle To preserve those principles
and 10 save 7nsrksud from the evil
mower which would destroy them.
"The world even In tile midst Of It's
agony and woe can celebrate with
gratitude an6 reverence. YES, and with
iov. the advent aruouc men Of the au-
: thor af tSorc dfv'~r truths, which Will
>e triumphant when these days Of
madness are ended and viii give to
the nations an enduring peace founded
upon liberty and justice,
fSfgned) ROBERT LANSING
Secretary al war Baker Inns n big
though, for the men abroad in this
greeting
'Iu tais tllae Of holiday We do not
forget that heroic number Who have
gone to far foreign shore that our
Institutions may be preserved undts-
turbea N1ay they find comfort in the
krowieGss that our aobered ohservs nee
Of thta day is not lacking ia appreeia