New Britain herald., 1930-12-24
CHRISTMAS tHLL.Ii
RICtiRDLE>

Tolnorrow is The day when the mrh Of Christ .s celebrated in all Christian lands. The day has been considerably giyea orer to customs which wer- ,uerat-ad upon chc aa- uuaI auuIryrsary Hhsu Christianity Vas young. end some Of tha cuS- toms harmless and arrae,iv. though they te, originated in pagan times. Bet tuudam.rauy # is a day 10 aommemor4,a the birth ol the norll's greatest ,harac..r. tho Son 9, Mn ~lo aas had greater infln- ,acs 4roa mankind than any othcr.
 It L a l1s.a6a 10 supros. that the r'qtaora Of sJ1t-gjying, the spreading oc holiday cheer and all ,ha other r.easara9la .or-omt5n.- o. The day aul Ha holiday season aztcadns rom Christmas to New Wears, have ruaoI 70 over~ha1ow thu true sig allcaa1e O. Christmas a- an anui- ,grs&ry 5t tc. birth ot tAc Man o1 GaIilo,. Every Christmas carol that We hear sung breathes the love Of the Savior. Tor a week past every Christian church i'll Chrisrendom has rcyer0erat-d with references 10 the Christ child. Tho children have Espod the sroricd stauzas telling Of rls birth. rLe beauty or his teach ;r-s, cac Io-e,f-ess ol h.s character. Only n.4r or women ot no religious response at all could help being ia- fuenced by the repetition Of the grand ol1 story that starts with the three wise men and tha crib al Beth Iehem.
 Words arc uttered and written nowadays claiming that Christmas has been "commereiaIzcd. That per haps would b. important if true, but it isn't, Tn tGa middle ages or there- apouts, when people mostly made the presents that they gasa 10 kin and friends on Christmas day, there pos siuly was 10 commarcausn Tn the process. 94c much work Tn d more specialized modern day when every one is busy with hls own particular speciality and presents must be pur- chased to be siren, the not effect is the same except that the Dorl, Of others 5n making rho presents is purchased ay rae gi,er In other words. he has marely shifted the burden or labor rom making pres oats from !am-l. to somebody elso, 0hom he pays for the service. II this .5 comm4rc,aIisa, ic is ouIy de- vclopment that could not help con- ing with the change n social econ only
 Fundamentally Christmas remains inc same glad day It was at the be- ginning or inc Christian observance. T. is a dav when the beginning of Christz shor, ministry on earth Is 5loriaed by tl,e conscience oc man ]lnd
 This year. i, might ho said with somo snow O. conviction. there is to ae less car,-tmas cheer urcause Of Inc coaItton ot tho times Maybe that is 50 10 a certain extent, But there neyor has been Christmas within memory that jlere have not been peopl. hard up tor this worlds goods. people in need of assistance if they were 10 receive a remote share of the practical Christmas spirit that ergulfs mankind at this tune. The newspapers every year for decades back have printed stories Of econo- mic distress at tho approach Of the Christmas season. This happens primarily hecaa4c every winter is hard ou somebody; and the main difference is that the present winter is especially hard on moro people than is usually the case.
 Comes the Christmas spirit to couuterbalance. as far as human ef- forts permit, the difficulties experi- enced by the less fortunate. At TO time in the history of the country, we are told, have there been as great efforts made to relieve the distress of winter. Relief programs have been current in every city and con- munity in the land as q recognition of social responsibility.
 It is repugnant to the normal per son to see distress cnNolop fellow human beings during the glad Christmas season AS a result. inc efforts made by myriads Of orsaIjha- tons to relieve distress and bring Christmas joy in the hearts Of all is a striking reflection of the spirit of love. brotherhood and fellowship en- gendered by the teachings and ex- arpIe of the Christ whose natal day