Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-27
sET THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
ABIDE

/WELL, it's all over as a formal cclebra-
q ton for this year and. thank you, it
= was merry despite the war. Perhaps he.
tause Of the war we democrats and cham.
plons Of liberty insisted on the slogan,
sChristmas as merry as usual" The feast
sond it's past for this declining year. Why
should not all of us carry. even in this
year of sacrifice and grave issues, the
typically cheerful, hopeful Christmas
x philosophy over and beyond December %
into each one of the other 36+ days of the
annual round? Pettiness and peevishness
trivlallties Of our wonted life are dwarfed
even beyond their usual tininess by the
great battle for freedom 10 which we are
pledged.
y Stout and brave is the Christmas spirit
when manifested lovingly in accordance
with its true essence. Now more than ever
better things, the eternal verities. It can
and should be displayed not as an exotic
blossom, Towering in the SHOWS of our life,
but as perennial bloomer. permanent n
spiritual beauty, rich in the enduring fra.
france Of the SOUL It should and can abide
now and hereafter if we bring to it a
tolerant attitude toward the things that
press and perplex these days more than
ever before in the history of the world,
patriotic acceptance of the sacrifices laid
upon us. inevitably to be enlarged large as
the burden now seems; an unselnshness
end Willingness in our appointed tasks, a
sfefnistent optimism in our inv!ncible cause
thaf Bisnines victory-in short if we bring
= barge and fine idealsm.
3Of course, every one follows this week the
good old custom of reading "The Christmas
Carol" It's lesson Of spiritual beauty
sarbed in homely raiment, its imagna-
ton touched TO fine issues despite the hum
t1eness OF the folk whose Yu.etide it sings
An its several slaves, is far more, this year,
than the wonted holiday perusal. So let us
bring into our daily life, our work that IS
part OF winning the war for democracy,
Vital for the victory, the beautiful spirit
cf Tiny Tim. Let us found our sacrifice
On cheerfulness, bear the suffering that is
tor all OF US with calm content, make the
burdens lighter with buoyancy of SOUL
put enthusiasm and, above al. faith in the
power Of right over might into all we do
and think and say.
Let us through the ensuing year, on he
brink of which we stand hesitant, the
chasm Of which we must inevitably cross,
spGpetuate in our private relations, our
|pnblic affairs, our military ofrensives, our
.gtfal war work and patriotic service at
hc1ne. the spirit Of Christmas--its
<aciousness its charm, its tolerance, its
rnass, its sweetness; for then we shall
~ Immune to the brutalizing taint Of Pr,.3.
|onnism the demoralizing blackrot, cancer.
'ep1 and foul, of the foe that stands armed
aGainst all we hold dear, the cherished
ftings we fight to preserve.
~ surely tne gracious remembrance of
christmas Past, the current joys of Christ
ms Present, the future cheer, happily an
8c3pating the coming of world peace and
51omestic calm, again, Of many Christmas
1ocome, should make the essence of the
y and tide, the genuine Spirit Of Christ.
~ enduring and pervasive Long after
0Ala feasts are digested, long after the
arc outworn. long afte: the t,ys are
on. the gentle memory Of these all
nnger pleasantly and inspiringly in
"a not fallow but fertile to seeds thus
41s ana distress of mind we have
~ surrnsunted this season to make
mas as usual 1t has not been an
tpal csmounase. but sincerely the
epy Of a new birth of freedom and
oeiity in our people. Let it endure.
through the trying days which the
fear wilt bring in. our Calvary up
- shall mount to the heights of
% eaa.h, good will to men,"