The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-12-14

running on the joys of Christmas in the home
joys which have no end. For, aside from its other
manifold aspects, Christmas Day is prominently
a holiday of the home and the family. And Its
symbol is the Christmas tree, as its basic idea is
the Christmas cradle in Bethlehem. And the sof-
tening influence of Christmas in the home radiates
its influence everywhere until he is queer man
indeed who does not wish in all sincerity his neigh
Dor Merry Christmas"
Yes; Christmas time is veritable contagion of
happiness overlooking into merrimenr. Childhood
thrills at the thought of it. Youth halls it with
delight. Maturity gives it 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 'gainst that comes
Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,
The bird of dawnng sngeth all night long,
And then they say spirit dare stir abroad;
The nights are wholesome-then no planets strike;
No fairy takes. witch hath power to charm.
So hallowed and so gracious is the time.
Another picture-that of a great turkey ranch
in CalifoInia-sets mouths to watering for
the Christmas dinner. And why not? The man
or woman child who doesn't await it with
eagerness is not normal and should be put in soli-
tary confinement for the day. Nature gave us the
Joy of satisfying a healthy appetite and it is not
hard to believe that the good old dame created the
turkey especially for Christmas-and ThaHksgiv-
art in the presence of the Christmas turkey-oh.
what's the use
Great is the good cheer" of Christmas time
But there is to it than the Christmas tree
and the Christmas feast. And in 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.
1t 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, says 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
fine devotion to the cause of the helpless and the
hapless which through the spread of Christianity
brought ray of illumination into the barbarism
of the Dark Ages; and finally, under the caves of
our own years tie recognition of the rights politi-
cal and economic and iuman. OF all men and women
and children all humanity to participation in
the great hope of n. tnkind. These things have
been affirmed by Christianity from the day of its
founder; and 1t is the vigor of this affirmation
and living fore
The World war tore away the foundations of
our conceits" and "strpt us of sufficiencies."
But the world has attempted to supersede the
Gospe with various articles of reason and logic.
who shall say that man does not believe in and
want goodness and beauty and feel the dearth of
themp Who shall say that the salvation of a cha
otic world is not 1.-The Golden Rule"-the spirit
of Christmas extended to every day of the yeari>
saws Will Irwin in Christ Mars:
To all the Christian sects. combining with
another and with Judaism on this single issue
should start the Wort. of educating their sons and
daughters in the ilusion and immortality OF war;
we should within a year marx the changing MOOD