The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-26
666T7HE Christmas spirit'' which has

so happily pervaded the whole
 wide world for the past few days is exquisitely pictured by pr. w. R. Hendrix. the beloved pastor of Highlands Methodist church, who, when I asked him to express his views in regard to the celebration of Christmas and "The Christ mas Spirit" has done so in his usual graceful, gracious manner.
 Dr. Hendrix is spending his first Christmas here after many years ab- sence. having recently come back to his old home as pastor of Highlands Meth odist church, and by shis inimitabe gen. tleness. his deep piety and his beautiful Christian character. he has already drawn to him every member Of the con gregation of which he is pastor, well as many from outside denominations.
 Dr. Hendrix's life is one of ebutient joy-a beautiful example to all who know slurs over; there is not an hour, even when almost insurmountable objects are in the way, that he has not found it good to be alive.
 I recall few mornings ago I called him over the telephone, one of those black, gray, dull days, when the rain was coming down in torrents and the very bottom semed to have dropped out of the world and when I said to him in greeting:
 How are you today, Dr. Hendrix"
 The answer came back reiuvenating me with it's optimism and gentleness:
 T am still alive, praise the Lord"
 This delightful exuberance fills the world about him with it's sweetness and it's gentleness as if populated entirely with the singing of birds and the laugh ter of children.
 So human, so kind, you feel that pr, Hendrix is not only your pastor but your friend, one to whom you could go at any time and find that sweet sympathy which only the true Christian can ad- minister.
 \ You've asked me about The Spirit of Christmas and just what constitutes this attitude" said Dr. Hendrix in answer 10 my question. Tn the very first place must say that I am fortunate victim. l am smitten through and through with that contagion of gladness which IS echoing around every freside from the humble cottage to the luxuriant palace. l am infested with that epidemic of gen. erous altruism which is opening hearts and purses throughout the wide world | Whatever may have been our disillusion- meut about the Santa Claus myth, the 1 hardest skeptic among us is forced to ac- ! knowledge the prevalence and potency or the Christmas spirit Even old ScrooGe Is behaving in a surprising way.
 s.One of the plessedest things about the Christmas season is that It gives us a rest from the Irritating pessimist and his provoking question, Is the W orld Growing Better?' The Christi mas spirit is full-chested assertion of triumphant optimism. Under the fluttering banners of goodwill to- ward men we come to know most surely that our fears are liars, ana fthat our hopes are true prophecies Nalready int process of gfuiffilment'
 "of course, you have noticed the pronounced tendency in recent years toward making the Christmas season a Christian festival in fact as well as in name. For centuries this holy sea son has been desecrated by revels and excesses, which were more befitting the pagan deities than a Christian fes- tivaI So prevalent were these unseem- ly Christmas practices that thousands dreaded to see this season return. But these things are happily passing away and Christmas is coming to be an oc- casion of great joy to all people. I would be willing to stake the whole question of moral progress upon the changes taking place in our manner of ceiebrat- ing the Birth of our Lord. Our Christ mas disappofntments are chiefly due to our limitations in helping others; our joys arise, not so much for what we have received, as from the burdens we have been able to make lighter for others. -ws arc all potential mystacs and rthe Chris tmAs spirit is Christian myst- icism at Its best. This contagion of gladneas and kindness cannot b. ex- plained as mere mass psychology. We may not be able to formulate an analy- / sis of our emotions, but the plain , truth is that our hearts feel the pres , ence of the heavenly guest, and hence our peculiar Christmas joy. His pres | ence makes the feat. The very words of our :Gloria in Excelsis' are bor- rowed from the hymnody of angels,