The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-12-07

running on the Joys of Christmas In the home
joys which have no end For, aside from its other
manifold aspects Christmas Day is pre-emlnently
a holiday of the home and the family. And Its
symbol is the Christmas tree. its basic idea Ii
the Christmas cradle In Bethlehem And the sof
tcning influence of Christmas in the home radates
its influence everywhere until he Is queer man
indeed who does not wish in all sincerity bis neigh
bor Merry Christmas"
Yes; Christmas time is veritable contagon of
happiness overlooking into merriment. Childhood
thrills at the thought of it. Youth halls 1t with
delight. Maturity gives 1t welcome Old age
grows young again in its Joys. Our social instincts
have fair play for once. Hospitality comes into
its own. 1t is beautiful season. Writes Shake
speare:
Some say that ever ,galnst that season comes.
Wherein our saviour's birth Is celebrated i
The bird of dawnng singeth all night long,
And then they no spirit dare stir abroad:
The nights are no planets az strike;
So hallowed and SO. gracious is the time
in Caiiforna-sets our mouths to watering for
the Christmas dinner. And why not? The man
or woman or child who doesn't await It with
eagerness is not normal and should be put in soil
tary confinement for the day. Nature gave us the
joy of satisfying healthy appettes and It'll not
hard to believe that the good old dame created the
turkey especially for Christmas-apd Thanksgiv-
ing If anyone dare deny that cooking is fine
art in the presence of the Christmas turkey-Oh
what's the use!
Great is the good cheer" of Christmas time
But there is more to it than the Christmas tree
and the Christmas feast. And In our heart of
hearts we all know it-every one of US. That
is why all the world celebrates the day. The
spirit of the day is kindness. gentleness forgive
ness liberation This spirit appeals TO all of us
II could not appeal to US if we did not believe in
our capacity to respond to it, Century by century
the gospel Of Jesus Of Nazareth has forced home
these points. sqys Prof. Hartley Burr Alexander,
in Mature and Human Nature:
First refuge for the weak, aims to the poor.
freedom for the slave then chivalry. and all that
6ne devotion to the Of the helpless and the I
hapless which. through the spread OF Chrstianity
hro,,rht a raw of illumination into the barbarism
Of the Dark Ages and finally. under the caves OF
our own years recognition OF the rights politi-
and children. Il all humanity. to participation In
the great hope of a. tnkind These things have
been affrmed by Christianity from the day Of its
founder; and it is the vigor OF this afirmation
which has put into democracy spiritual power
and living forc
The World war tore away the foundations OF
orr conceits" and rstript us Of our suficencies.
But the world has attempted to supersede the
(,ospe with various articles of reason and logic.
Who shah say that man does not believe in and
want goodness and beauty and feel the dearth of
themf who shall say that the salvation of cha
otic world Is not The Golden Rule'--the spirit
Of Christmas extended to every day OF the yearf
says VIII Irwin in Christ or Mars:
IF all the Christian sects combining with one
another7and with Judaism on this single issue
should start the wort OF educating their sons ana
daughters in the illusioh and immortality OF war;
we should within a year mark the cnanssns @ooa