The Nenana news., 1917-12-22
a @errp.
Dappp Cbrtstmas
By John c. Murphy

The chronicler of history gives to Pope Liberius, 353 A. D., the honor of adopting December 25, as the
 feast of nativity. But historians date of Christ. What matter as to time or place? We know the pearl derives not its value from being found in a certain sea or bay, but from its own innate lustre and purity. What matter, since We know
 that the teachings of the little Child at Bethlehem have on the whole, civilized and humanized and made the world better by coming.
 Reason as we may, doubt who will, view from all angles, this Babe of Mary's stands forth incomparable
 History, ancient or modern, can give us no being like this noble, heroic and tragic figure, this Jesus of Nazareth, whose simple life of in- effable tenderness and love, is the one everlasting romance in a very prosaic world
 Before the birth of this manager child, the world had no conception of the rights of human liberty. He gave new thought and a new trend to human action, by life of purity and sublime teachings. Ignorance and slavery pressed and throttled the human race. Only two classes, free citizen and slave. The former knew neither pity nor misfortune It knew the reign of might and plti- less cruelty. Then came this God man or man-God, call him as one may, and began teaching a new doc Urine, one of charity, of sympathy and hope. Of the wonderful great ness of man and that labor was honorable.
 Passionately pleading for the lib- critics and rights of humanity, plead ing with courage sublime, for the deliverance of mankind from the tyranny of rulers, kings, autocracy and hereditary oligarchies; ia nand- ing for all righteousness, justice, equality and liberty, so that none be fettered, whether of mind or body, with slavery's chains. Master architect. This and more, he did for humanity and democracy. See, around and about us have arisen a series of orders and institutions un- known before His coming. Hospices of mercy, orphanhges, Red Cross and asylums for every species of human misery, these ana more, were made possible by the birth and life of the Child at Bethlehem. And so, what matter. The spirit of Christ mas is more important to us than any historical exactness of birth. We know that precisely at this date is the Winter Solstice, which was the pagan's Sun Feast
 We know that the Christian church sought and finally turned this sun feast to their Christ, whom they called the light of life We know its the time, when day begins to lengthen and light .riumphs over darkness. The musty pages of his tory, centuries before the Christian era, tell us that among the Irish Celtic and Germanic tribes the win ter solstice was the really important point of the year, and so celebrated as it's chief festival Yule, in lonor of the return, the rebirth of the burning wheel"-the sun-the God Sol -.- ::....=. =:: :...* ::>~. ....-: =-:."
 Our cherished Christmas tree is traced to the Romans, Celts, Franks and Germanic tribes. So too, the Yule-log, holly, ivy, mistletoe and wassail bowl, all belong to pagan, rather than Christianity. Even the custom, so universal among us, of making presents, comes down to us from an ancient heather usage, Time has consecrated it and assists us in making this festivali enc of sweet Christian love.
 With us there has grown up a beautiful custom of friendly and loving greetings. In the earlier days of our country this day was relig- iously observed by the Roman Cath ! olic, Episcopal and Lutheran church es, but now there is a strong ten dency to observe the same in all churches. Memory is willingly car ried back tonight to personal re- and history. There is