The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1926-12-16
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
Written especial yfor The
Courier-Reporter by
Ralph WhippIe Anderson
: + = 4 {. Z. - 4. .. :. :. J.

There is something about the
Workings of our minds at Christ
mas time that is different from
any other season of the year. Not
even do our other days of remem-
Drance stand for the attitude of
mind we assume at holiday time.
It's significance does not stop with
those who celebrate the time with
the idea that its name most sug-
gests. the Christ mass. The thot
OF Master Teacher coming to
earth to give men higher and
broader conception of life; the
beautiful teachings of motherhood
winch have chung to it's celebra-
ton. There are wonderful enough
TO make it an outstanding holt
Day. These. indeed, are matchless
lessons.
Beyond these, however. there
seems to be something in the
christmas spirit that is even more
universal and appealing. That
spirit prompts the wide spread
giving of gifts, and inspires our
souls to become generous. If oy-
erflows the banks of our accus-
toned ideas. 1t spreads a far
reaching wave of happiness.
This spirit. which in man seeks
always the light. that strains up
ward toward a bigger and better
expression of the soul: that has
nodded and given form to all crea-
tive and inspiring thot. that pas
sion for beauty and goodness. This
spirit is, for want of a better
name, called idealism. 1t is the
real and genuine Christmas spirit.
suggesting the atmosphere of
greater world, world yet beyond
our reach.
There have been periods in the
worlds history when the souls of
men shot upward with the force
and power of volcano. They |
broke over the banks of their us
ual habits. and we call them the
Golden Ages. Such time was IL
Illustrated in the life of the Hebrew
nation at the time of Solomon,
when Wisdom and Justice met and |
welded. The age of Pericles in
Athens. The the spirit of Beauty
burst forth in multiform express
sion. Music, poetry, the drama,
architecture, painting, sculptur-
ing and all testify to genius and
skill unsurpassed. So, too, was the
Golden Age of Augustus, when
peace and quiet ruled the usually
turbulent Roman world. and the
teachings of the Prince of Peace
found ground fortified for their
growth.
Such another age came when the
rediscovery of knowledge Weakened
men to the wonderful renaissance
period In Italy. That light spread
turnout Europe, breaking shackles.
and lavishing intelligence and Gull
ture in its path. Then, also. there
came again to men the Princess of
Beauty, and her court held sway.
England, In the days of good
Queen Bess. gave forth the flow
erlng of it's creative geniuses,
Shakespeare and Bacon and many
others. The minds of men turned
on their hinges. Reason spoke to
men. and they wrote, talked and
dreamed of greater life. Nor did
the stream completely return to
it's banks. 1t overlooked into Amer
lea. The Puritan, and his age. was
perhaps not SO truly creative. but
his was necessary to the modern
world. Then, the times called Rev
dictionary, when the right to per-
feet freedom and expression fired
the spirit of our forefathers. and
they, too were idealists.
Through them all runs this .
great urge. The same Christmas !
spirit is the spirit that has brot
the Golden Ages to the earth. If
instead of limiting our expression
to week. we gave them year
round freedom. what great good
might not come to men? The same
golden opportunities await us. The
spirit of Christmas is the spirit
OF mans great self.