Henderson daily dispatch., 1946-12-24
Christmas Again

Just What ~ the setting az the
world comes around again 10
Chris,mas, Let 5 take look.
Worldwide. gIohal fighting in
nls.orys greatest war ended near
IL wear and 4 half ago. But
lighting : still N progress IL sew
sral places IN the world. with
promise Of taking on increased in
,rnsity IN some of them. So
peace. on tnls anniversary OF the
Ire Prince OF Peace. is still but
u,,., more than dream. albeit
with srea. nope and promise than
before.
\ worldwide accord OF the ma
tons has come into being and il
gradually working through its
growing Nains, - gradually elirli-
mating some OF the jealousy and
greed. Is moving TO better under
standing and more tolerance. and.
IN 4 measure ut least. appears to
he recognizing the tutility OF ma
I0- wars az means OF settling
differences Wars. OF course, only
multiply discords.
In tho United State. the greatest
and most widespread r-osperity in
History has trickled down from
the top instead OF being concen-
traccd IN the hands of few. Near
IL everywhere else on the earth
there = need and want and scar
city. Here and elsewhere there Is
inertia, lack of energetic pursuit
OF Ideals. and a growing demand
f.r governm ent. OF whatever kind
= may be. 10 perform the func-
lions OF paternalism and TO in
t"nSify Idlcness and a craving for
case. ard actually. IL you please.
downright !aziness.
Here II the United States there
"aing spirituality. Religious move
ments are receiving larger sup
port than ever before. but seem
in-lv more on; Of existing abun-
dance and for the economic fac
tors involved. rather tina IN
through IN inward feeling of gen
crosby, consciou. devotion and
Loyalty 10 high ideals. and from
desire 10 respect Christianity for
it, true worth. IL has more Of the
appearance OF talr weather al
trnism than OF acceptance Of =
way OF life that builds righteous
and durable foundations that will
resist the swirling storms of chaos
and uncertainty. There seems 70
b" disposition among far too
many people 10 live FOR today and
ts materialism rather than ou,
o. concern for tomorrow and the
days that will follow.
In this atmosphere Christmas
comes again-Christma- whose in.
ward meaning is the liberation Of
imprisoned spirits and whose sig.
nificance lies in the eternal for.
ever. not In the ficeting presrr,
Certainly this il not at all the com.
pick OF the pcssimist. but sober
realistic appraisal OF life AZ one
finds IL In 1915.
Renl Christmas Ia not CONNER.
ci1lism. not the mere exchsng. o,
gifts but the actual giving Of one :
self and ones Possessions. to the
Christ who made Christmas DOS.
sihle and TO whom all sacred loysI.
ties are owed. n IL a worldwide
festival for individuals. and ,or
communities. churches and ma,
tions only as those agencies EN-.
brace persons one by one. with
out this concept. can there he a
true Chrlstmas7
Unless this great event shat
stimulate this consciousness In IN,
minds OF men everywhere. It's pur,
pose will have been missed. I,
Isn't that We do not know. but
rather that We ignore and pas,
over TIE knowledge that we have
Has humanity suffered enough Il
sober It's thinking and its outlook
to the end that II can now draw
closer to the Babe OF Bethlehem
and move and live In the inspira.
tion that created christmss7 Ma,
a righteous God give 10 that 70
solve at this annivsrssrw In tola