Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-12-14
The Spirit of Christmas

IN this country of ours, in spite of separations
Land even bereavements occasioned by the world
war which hovers like dark cloud over US all:
there will still be given the old familiar greetings
of Christmas and the endeavor to maintain the
good cheer of the will be made in thousands
of homes Plans made long since have been
carried out to send some tangible bit of the good
cheer of Merry Christmas to the men somewhere
in some part of the world who are under arms
fighting for the right of all men everywhere to
enjoy the homes and fresides where Merry
Christmas may come without let or hindrance.
On shipboard, in the trenches, in training camps
and cantonments the boys who may not join the
family circle at home will be receiving some bit
of Christmas cheer, something to express the good
will and love of the folks at home. Every effort
will be put forth to insure for the children the
happiness which the Christmas day should bring.
Kind hearted people will use means at hand to
supply the pressing needs of those who have it
not some real reason for rejoicing the day that
commentaries the advent into this world Of The
Son of God.
There will be the old time thrill of expectancy
and the old time feeling of good will and desire to
do good in,spite Of the Worlds War with all its
awesome gloom and depression. Why is it? Why
is it that among SO large portion of the worlds
population this season of thesyear seems to take
mems mind from self seeking and sordidness and
sets them at work trying to make some one else
happy, to pass along to others good cheer, some
pleasures and some expressions of good will?
The question is often answered by saying, it is
the Spirit of Christmas that possesses and inspires
the mind and heart of Christmas civilization But
what is the Spirit of Christmas and if this Spirit
may so benefciently inspire men for this one sea-
son of the year why may it not inspire men during
other seasons of the year?
The answer remains for men to work out for
themselves each in his own thought and according
to his own convictions and experiences; for after
all each Of us must answer these questions for
himself if he is to be really benefited by the
answer and the world at large is to be benefited
through him.
The Spirit of Christmas is and always has been
the spirit of the Christi the spirit that impels men
to unselfishness and kindness, to making an effort
to give to others happiness, in word the spirit of
good will to all mankind which must express itself
in such ways as have been mentioned.
The things which in the past have hindered
its demonstration are the same things which are
the underlying causes of the war cloud that en-
velopes the world today human selfshness sordid-
ness, greed, avarice and arrogance.
These years of human stress have given op-
portunity for the development Of this Spirit of
Christmas until in many quarters it may be seen
manifesting itself at all seasons of the year. The
great humanitarian work of the American Red
Cross Society covering many and varied lines of
relief and ministry with it's workers in every city
town and hamlet in the land. The ministry of the
Young Mems Christian Association of churches,
lodges and clubs of all sorts and kinds to
the Armenans; the constant and cheerful help
funess to others which is the contribution of Boy
Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Girl Scouts and other or
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