The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-12-19
SOMEWHERE A VOICE is CALLING

For its beautiful sentiment and sweet spirit the follow
ing editorial written by Hon. Percy W. Maer late editor of
The Dispatch as Christmas editorial in 1916 is presented
again at this season. It's thought and sentiment mper
shable and enduring AID it is well worth reading 1t as
follows
Somewhere voice is calling Perhaps it is the Masters
voice. calling through the New Born Babe. Maybe it is
calling us to duy-duty Cod home country
1t is calling from worldly things to things eternal 1t is
calling from the ansory and unreal things of life to the
consideration and contemplation Of things everlasting 1t is
calling away from the world to Heaven 1t calling from sin
and the pleasures of the world to realization of relation
ship to God and the hereafter At this the call is
strong and clear and true and may it find echo in
hearts and lives that take the work of the New Year
forth stronger in faith resolved to do better to live
better and to reflect everyday lives of the Dn
ity which is renewed to the world at this
Or perhaps it is the mothers voice calling to the way
ward Out in the world amid the glitter and glamour
of time he has sayed from those paths rectude and
right that her prayers would have him follow Unconscious
almost of her sanity presence back home he is following his
forgetfu the dearest influence of his
life He may be riding ambitions crest-he may be attaining
weah-he may be power among mel-but his life is fail
re unless ne renders love and homage to the who
him life who nurured him to manhood who laid the founda
ton for his lessons of love- and Devotion and sacr
fice and struggle and toll which, perhaps he has
known. How sweet and tender and beautiful is and
mothers voice 1t may be heard here or it may be
gels whisper from the other de Let hear mothers
again at this Christmas for will be the better for it.
Them again, it may be the fathers The stern adj
montion OF duty comes back to The discipline that
he enforced finds its counterpart in habits of today The
lessons he taught of industry, rugaity and economy have
unconscousy shaped the of lives The examples
that he set the precepts that he taught the influence that
he exerted all part of everyday existence Fathers
voice stern and commanding but for good 1t
firm and unyieldng that might acquire lfdena self
restraint and learn to be masters OF ourselves 1t may be
with yet long since sted but among the things we
hear this Christmas in all the sounds of sweet music there
comes back to fathers voice. like blessing and
benediction.
And maybe it is our chids voice-caling from school
coegerom the lawn the nursery 1t is the music of
heaven, and it is to melody divine 1t fills our hearts
with gratitude and fills the cup of happiness the brm
Cold and cherries and empty and desoae the life which
has never known the laughter and tears of little children
Sad indeed is the fate of that whose life
there has not the exquisite JOY of atherhood MOTH
erhood Children the anchors of souls the haven of ref
uge from all the trials of life for in their little world Of no-
cence and love find that peace and consolation and
fort and hope that only from the pure and undeed
Or perhaps is the voice of children calling from the
Beyond may be the prate of baby the voice of boy
girl. What flood of tender memories come rooping up
again hear that voice. The little joys and sorrows the
little cares and trials all that made that part of our
lives renewed hear the angel voice from the echo
less shore 1t is bidding to live that somewhere and
somehow and day you will again feel that kiss know
that loving caress, and again hear that sweet voice
Or, perhaps, is the voice of sister brother calling
at the Christmastde
Or perhaps it is the voice of civic righteousness calling
to you for duty call for better manhood and woman
hood 1t is call for higher and better things our comm-
nifty life 1t call for cleaner and purer city, call for
law and order and peace 1t is call for law enforcement
and the support OF those charged with the enforcement of
the law 1t is call for the suppression of those traffics
which destroy the home and destroy manhood and useful cit
Zenship 1t call to our young men, call to create
and build beautiful moral atmosphere here where re-
lgon and morality and justice, and opportunity, and happ
will prevail.
Somewhere voice is calling YOU