Evening star., 1941-12-25
President Sees Need
To Fortify Hearts
At YuIetide
The tert OF President Roose-
pelt's Christmas message at the
tree lighting ceremony yesterday
afternoon tollorS:

There are many men and women
in America-sincere and faithful
men and uomen-wllo ask them
selves this Christmas:
How can We light our trees? How
can We give our gifts? How can
we meet and worship with love and
with uplifted hearts IN world at
war, a world of fighting and suffer-
ing and death?
How can We pause, even for day,
even for Christmas Day. in our
urgent labor of arming decent hu-
manity against the enemies which
beset US?
How can we put the world aside.
as men and women put the world
aside in peaceful years, to rejoice
In the birth of Christ?
These are naturai-inevitable-
questions in every part OF the world
which is resisting the evil thing.
Even as we ask these questions, we
know the answer. There is another
preparation demanded of this Ma
ton beyond and beside the prepara-
ton of weapons and materials OF
war. There is demanded of us also
the preparation of our hearts; the
arming of our hearts. And when We
make ready our hearts for the labor
and the suffering and the ultimate
victory which lie ahead, then we OBJ
serve Christmas Day-with all its
memories and all its meaningless
we should
Day of Prayer Set Aside.
Looking into the days to come.
have set aside day of prayer. and
in that proclamation have said:
The year 1941 has brought upon
our Nation war of aggression by
powers dominated by arrogant rulers
whose selfish purpose is to destroy
free institutions. They would there
by take from the freedom-loving
peoples of the earth the hard-won
liberties gained over many centuries.
The new year of 1912 calls for the
courage and the resolution OF old
and young to help to win world
struggle in order that we may pre-
serve all we hold dear.
I'VE are confident in our devo-
ton to country. in our love Of free
DOM in our inheritance of courage.
But our strength, as the strength Of
all men everywhere. is of greater
avail as God upholdS us.
Therefore, " do hereby ap-
point the first day of the year 1912
as a day of prayer, of asking for
giveness for our shortcomings Of the
past, of conservation to the tasks
of the present, of asking Gods help
in days to come.
I'VE need His guidance that this
people may be humble in spirit but
strong in the conviction Of the
right; steadfast to endure sacrifice,
and brave to achieve a victory OF
liberty and peace"
Our strongest weapon in this war
is that conviction of the dignity
and brotherhood of man which
Christmas Day signities-more than
any other day or any other period
Faith Set in Human Love.
Against enemies who preach tht
principles of hate and practice them
We set our faith in human love anc
! in Gods care for us and all mer
| everywhere
| 1t is in that spirit. and with par.
| ticular thoughtfulneSs of those. Oul
| sons and brothers, who serve in oul
armed forces on land and sea, neal
and far-those who serve for us anc
endure for us-that we light oul
Christmas candles now across thi!
continent from one coast to tn,
other on this Christmas eve.
We have joined with many othel
nations and peoples in great cause
Millions of them have been en-
gagged in the task of defending goos
with their life-blood for months ant
years.
One of their great leaders stand
beside me. He and his people il
many parts of the world are havinl
their Christmas trees with their littl
children around them, just as we d.
here. He and his people hav
pointed the way in courage ant
sacrifice for the sake Of little chill
dren everywhere.
And so I am asking my associat
and old friend to say word to tn
people of America. old and young
tonight-Winston Churchill, Prim
Minister of Great Britain.