The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-02
By CAROLYN B. ELLIOTT

 what could be more fitting than a word of greeting from the shepherds who tend their flocks by day and night?
 What could be more fitting than a word of greeting from a few of the pastors who not only represent some of the denominations of Birmingham, but who represent "the watch CTS on the tower" the keepers of the city, those who stand for the promotion of it's high est ideals, the development of its finest character?
 Whether their creeds are understood from the standpoint of a Salvation Army brgadier, a Catholic priest, Jewish rabbi, a Presbyterian minister an Epis- copal rector, a Methodist, Baptist or Christian pastor, they hold a common faith in God and in their fellowmen, which they have themselves expressed In the New Year messages that follow:
 GREETINGS
 Rev. Joseph T. Ware, rector of Saint Andrews Episcopal church, sends greet ings:
 May tho new year bring Birmingham industrial peace, not the peace of a triumphant unionism with it's ideal of the least possible work for tho great est possible wage; not the peace of a triumphant capitalism careless of all else except profits unionism and capi- talism each in it's own way would sub- ordinate men to money, but the indus trial peace of a Christian order which knows that efficiency and conscientious work is a means of grace, and that the success of engagement lies only in- cidentally in dividends and chiefly in the good health, growing intelligence and developing character of the worker May the Christian churches stimatize as un- holy every industrial stacker on the one hand and on tho other every manage ment which fails to make a maximum effort to secure for the workingman strict justice, a living wage, decent housing. schooling for his children, an environment which makes for the life God ward.
 May the new year bring Birmingham sane social leadership. May both the theory that all pleasure is of its very nature sinful and also the practice of seeking pleasure and popularity as the chief ends in life alike perish! May the churches learn that rational pleasure is . means of grace, and may the people learn that no conceivable popularity can compensate for even the slightest vul- garity! May our people of leisure realize not merely that viciousness of thought and conduct will send them back to the shirt-sleeved class in three generations but also that by failure in the solemn Cjh lea hev are condemning thousands of silly per sons who initiate them to mpoverish- ment of life and loss of soul
 Enough will wish that the new year bring Birmingham prosperity-great or ders for iron and steel high wages, building activity. Instead. may what ever God sends us-prosperity or adver- sity--bring us nearer to Him. Let us pray not for easy lives but for great ones. Instead of repining that we may not live life in flowery beds of ease. let US rejoice in the faith that the world as it is is the best possible world: not to make us happy, but to make us grow strong and noble. May every man and woman in Birmingham so live this next year that at it's close he or she shall have made maximum progress along that narrow and toilsome road which leads to the kingdom of heaven"
 TODAY
 The Rev. Fl. C. Walton, pastor of tho First Cumberland Presbyterian church. sends the message:
 Again, in the great march from time to eternity, old Father Time has an- nounced that another year has passed into history, and that we stand one year nearer the great judgment seat of Christ.
 "The year that is past has, in some ro- spects, been great year, bringing many blessings for which God be praised. One prayer especially that was answered was that John Barleycorn was dethroned, and that in the year 1920 our nation became . saloonless nation.
 "As we think of the many opportuni- ties overlooked, the first impulse Is ro grieve or worry, but lot past be past and live for tho present and tho future To worry is the waste of moro time Standing at the threshhold of the New Year, let's consider the statement: Don't worry about the future, the present is all thou hast; for the future will soo,. be present and the present will soon Dc past Today is all we shah ever have. We should try to live one day at time As Dr. Dad Sears says, If you can help it, help it; if you can't help 1t, don't worry about it.
 s.If all will push we can make Btr- ningham the best city in 1s1 in all her history. Today is the time to act AS was said, Today is the day of salva- tion' All together let's work and pray that Birmingham may be city set on hill,' and that it may ever receive the smile of the Father Omnipotent. realiz- ing that we shall have aN eternity to celebrate our victories, but only a few hours before sunset to win them.
 FATHER COYLE'S WISHES
 Said Father James E. Coyle of st. Pauls Catholic church:
 Samuel Lover, a poet who sang m Ireland when Ireland was less dis tressed country than she is today. tells what he would fain do if he ever found the magic r-leaved shamrock:
 "T'n seek a four-leaved shamrock
 In all the fairy dells.
 And if find the charmed leaf.
 Oh, how I'll weave my spells!
 I would not waste my magic might
 On diamond, pearl or gold.
 For treasure tires the weary sense
 Such triumph is but cold;
 But I will play the enchanters part
 In casting bliss around;
 Oh not a tear, nor aching heart,
 Should in the world be found.
 sTo worth would give honor.
 I'd dry the mourner's tears,
 And to the pallid lips recall
 The smile of happier years;
 And hearts that had beer long estrange0, And friends that had been cold. Should meet again like parted streams, And mingle as of old.
 Oh! thus I'd play the enchanters part
 In casting bliss around;