The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
CH|LDRENS HEARTS MADE GLAD BY TIE SPIRIT IF SANT \
Minds of Adults Turn to Christ as Author of Every Good and Per-
 feet Gift
DR. IRA F. HAWKINS (Pastor of Walker Memorial Church)

tPastor of Walker Memorial Church) with" Its mention inspires chain of ideas. revolving around home, chil- dren, the church as centers, with Christ as the ultimate center.
 With little children the overshad- owing personality Is Santa Claus. To them he is a perfect synonym for goodness, and is an incarnation of benevolence, kindliness and all other noble characteristics.
 No character appeals to the imagi- nation of childhood like SantaFclaus.
 What Santa Is
 To them he Is multimillionaire, dispensing with a lavish hand pres ents to rich and poor; to them he's the the greatest manufacturer in the greatest manufacturer in the world, with headquarters at the north pole. or on the Isle of Somewhere. making millions of dolls and drums and balls and buggies and bugles and all sorts of toys; to them he Is an expert hor- ticuiturist and agriculturfss combined, growing in profuse abundance the finest fruits and flowers and nuts and retailing them without price to all good children: to them he is imper- sious to heat or cold. rushing in his
  without discomfort of body; to them the worlds tragedies and shocks and sorrows only cause him to pop his whip louder over the backs of the reindeer. so that with tinkling bells he can reach quicker the broken hearted with his remedy of jolly good cheer; to them he is an imperial WIZ ard, who, though Of portly mein. can, at will, so contract as to glioe without friction or scratch or person, through the smallest keyhole, or though of clumsy appearance, can climb with grace the tallest building and go tumbling down the chimney easier than. smoke goes up 1t, ana makes his landing on the hearth stone, without single sign that he came by way of smoke and soot; to them he is here. there. everywhere, always the same grand old. young man with a big bay window and with a big gay heart. with room in 1t for every child in the big, wide world.
 Yes, Children believe in him. Let them do so. It Is Cnly step rom childhood to manhood. from faith Tn Santa Claus to trust in one who IS even better than he, in Jesus, who took little children in his arms. and who loves them with a devotion more delicate than the tenderest mother.
 Ultimate Center fs Christ
 The ultimate center of Christmas Is Christ. Over 1000 years ago He came into the world. He brought every good and perfect gift. On every bless ing is written 'From linn.
 If Santa appeals to the imagination of childhood, Christ appeals even more to ,the imagination and reason of the adult mind and heart.
 He is the one universal character, coming to all, at the same time, who place their trust in Him. He stands at the door of every heart and would enter every home. He holds in his great big, benevolent hand good things for all his children. He scat ters broadcast his wonderful pres ents. He placed in the mountain side coal and iron and gold and silver. He flung the sun in the sky tc give us light by day. He decorated the trees with luscious fruits and cov- cred the fields with golden grain. He studded the heavens with twinkling stars and hide the earth with car pets and druggets of green.
 Imperial in Human Heart
 He is the imperial wizard of the human heart. He hushes the sob of the broken-hearted. distills tears into smiles, transforms demons into angels. filings the light Of hope across the path cf despair. and bright ems the grave with the assurance or immortality.
 We may outgrow Santa Claus, but Christ looms larger with the flight of time as the one paramount figure of all history and as the one univer- sal character adapted to every age and. people, and able to supply cur individual needs.
 This Christmas may He catpure the imagination and reason of all the people.
 His reality Is intensified by time and experience.
 Look! Children 0 fthe Heavenly King! Your Lord has come. He Is new here in Birmingham! Joy to the worldi And to you! Celebrate according to His will
 He brings gifts unto men. Every thing except sin and it's resultant sorrow. He bestows upon you. Again I say, enjoy His manifold blessings and worship the Giver.