davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21
Faith Is a Star That Never Sets

The darkness does not satisfy. We look for
a glow in the sky We look for stars 1t IS no
accident that the Christian religion and other
faiths came out of the deserts of Arabia, wnere
even the nights were blessed with multitude
of flaming points of light in the sky. Thus men
have sought to understand
But the light of the mind without light
in the heart would be meaningless. The light to
which we look today, those of all faiths, is a
light of the heart. 1t is light that is warm,
beautiful and full of compassio- and love. The
ethics of true religion come out os human ma
ture itself-out of that human nature which
knows its own evil impulses and yet fights
against them and seeks a lighted path away
from them.
The star in the East, the single candle, even,
is no sentimental illusion. 1t stands for need
almost as primitive as that for food, almost as
strong as the craving for water in thirsty land.
Over nearly twenty centuries this light has
shone. 1t has cast it's radiance into many parts
of the world and into many philosophers, sys-
TENS of ethics and religions. 1t has brought hope
to man.
We know that we can continue to hope be-
cause over all the centuries, in spite of old and
tragic disappointments, hope has not died out of
the hearts of men. In spite of all, the sense
of brotherhood cannot die
We may have faith that it will not die. Gen
GRAFTON after generation of men have fought their
own fight for the good and true, saying, as they
emerged out of their particular blackness, the
words of Job: 81 escaped with the skin of
my teeth"
We too, can have faith that in spite of hatred
among men and talk of there will be light
in our darkness. Faith is star that never sets.
1t is e. candle that no hurricane made by nature
or by man, snuff out.
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21

And it came to pass in those days. that
there went out decree from Caesar Augustus,
that all the world should be taxed.
2. (And this taxing first made when
Cyrenius was governor CT Svria.)
8. And all went to be taxed, everyone into
his own city.
4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee,
out of the city of Nazareth into Judaea, unto
the city of David, which is called Bethlehem
because he was of the house and lineage of
David:)
5. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife,
being great with child.
6. And so it was, that, while they were
there, the days were accomplished that she
should be delivered.
z. And she brought forth her firstborn son.
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and
laid him in manger; because there was no
room for them in the inn.
8. And there were in the same country
shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch
over their flock by night.
8. And, 10, the angel of the Lord came upon
them, and the glory of the Lord shone round
about them and they were sore afraid.
TO- And the angel said unto them, Fear not:
for, behold l bring you good tidings of great
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21

1t was the shepherds on the lonely hilltop,
cut where the night sky lay close and the feel
Of the earth was familiar to their feet, who
heard the angels singing and followed the star.
They followed it over the hills to the hill town
of Bethlehem and it was there, in the stable at
the inn, that they saw the wonder. In a stable
ON a hill in Judea.
1t was there among the hills, that the
story began, where the stars came close and
.he night winds the winds of song. And,
know the later story, che hills and the
open country where He was born were TO be
always there in His life and in His teachings.
His parallels had the strength of the hills
md their simplicity. He knew the land. He
knew it intimately, and its birds, its beasts,
its shrubs and bushes. The sermon in which
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21
The Ill At Christmas

hospital wards.
Throughout this area many healthy
adults and children will have gifts and
attention heaped upon thems perhaps in
more abundance than is wise. If only a
tiny portion of this effort were diverted to
the sorely oppressed in our hospitals, the
Christ Child would, in truth be served
more fully than many seem to realize.
The pity of it is that the sense of
deep regret--and sometimes remorse-over
having failed to go to see lonely, ailing
friend in hospital or in his own home,
doesn't catch up until we hear of his death.
On this Christmas and the days to fol-
low, try to help the hospitalized sin some
little way-with a gift, token of Christ
mas good will or above all a word of cheer
spoken at the bedside.
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21
The Bread of Bethlehem

The Semitic word beth means house or
tent, or sometimes abiding place. To pas
toral and nomadic people it may have had
something like the emotional and imagina-
tive connotations that once belonged to our
own word home, which has a forgotten
kinship with haunt 1t is not hard, at any
rate TO see why this word recurs again and
again in Biblical place-nan1es and on the
maps of ancient Palestine, though in the
course of a somewhat violent history, mark
ed by successive invasions. many of these
names have been lost and others survive
under the Arabic form of BETH. The word
also occurs with some frequency here in
the eastern United States, owing to the
practice of giving the names of places asso-
ciated with events of the Gospels to rural
churches or chapels which were later ex-
tended to the settlements that sprang up
nearby. Thus we have, for example, Beth
any (the House of Poverty'), Bethsaida
(the Place of Fishing'D and Bethesda (the
House of Mercy''), from the porch bordered
pool near the shepherds gate of Jerusalem
that was the scene of one of the last and
greatest Of the Gospel miracles. More ia
which, though it does not occur in the New
Testament, means appropriately the House
of God"
Beth, or Beyth, was also the name given
by the Phoenicians and the Jews to the sec
ond letter of the alphabet In the ancient
Sinaitic writing of Palestine, which was
apparently adapted from Egyptian models,
this character has, indeed, the general out
line of a house; and, with some help from
imagination, a yestige of the original can
be discerned in the earlier forms of the
Greek Beta, and hence even in the Roman
b; though in the squared letters that we
now associate with Hebrew-and which
were borrowed by the Jews from Babylonish
scribes during the epoch of captivity-the
semblance has been all but lost.
Thus the name Bethlehem, given to the
scene of the tremendous event in human
history that we commemorate next Tuesday,
translates into the House of Bread; and
because the Eucharistice feast has become
the central act of Christian worship, some
writer's have made much of this happy an
alogy. Yet by an interesting coincidence,
Bethlehem has also given us the English
corruption of Bedlam-from the .oto,ious
madhouse of 10th and 18th century ondon
and to many, no doubt, this must seem an
appropriate word for the confusion. the
stridency and the tinseled vulgarity of our
modern and materialistic Christmas cele-
bration.
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21

The Wise Men who came to Bethlehem from
the East long, long time ago. probably passing
across what is now Jordan and around the nor
thern end of the Dead Sea, were guided by star.
This star as st. Matthew says, went before
them, till it came and stood over where the
young child was"
ST. Luke tells the story of shepherds keep
ing watch over their focks by night" and how
''the glory of the Lord shone round about
them"
star, glory in the night sky-it was by
light in darkness that the coming of the Man
of Nazareth was made known.
This happened in past so far that it is
hard to imagine it. Who can believe in the COM
ing and going of sixty generations? But next
week, the bells will ring and candles will be lit
all around the world because of it.
Candles and bells-these more than gifts
and trees are the symbols of Christmas. For
the bells arc a kind of light turned into musical
sound, and light is kind of music seen instead
of heard.
There have been many periods of darkness
during the centuries since the Wise Men came
to Bethlehem. But in the darkness men long
for light and all the years they have search
ed for it.
There are two kinds of light. There is the
light of understanding, the light of the mind.
Over all the centuries, even before the Christian
era, men have yearned to know the cause of
things. The best and wisest of them have found
it impossible to think of human beings passage
through this world as meaningless.
There is old story of a Saxon thane, ris-
ing at the years end festival as a bird flew
through the empty upper spaces of the drafty
hall in which the feast was held. Such" he said,
lis human life. We pass from one darkness into
another"
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21

joy, which shall be to all people.
IL. For unto you is born this day in the
city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the
Lord
II. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye
shall find the babe wrapped in, n,swadding clothes,
lying in a manger.
i2. And suddenly there with the angel
a multitude of the heavenly host praising God,
and saying,
IA. Glory to God in the highest and on
earth peace, good will toward men.
Is. And it came to pass the angels were
gone away from them into heaven, the shep-
herds said one to another, Let us go now even
unto Bethlehem. and see this thing which is
come to pass, which the Lord hath made known
unto US.
16. And they came with haste, and found
Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a
manger.
II. And when they had seen it, they made
known abroad the saying which told them
concerning this child.
49,. And all they that heard it wondered
at those things which were told them by the
shepherds.
19. But Mary kept all these things, and
pondered them in her heart.
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21
The Greens

lay long and cold and deep over the land,
as reminder that life and leaf would, without
fail, return and endure. And when the new
faith born with the Child in Bethlehem,
came to those lands it gave new and deeper
meaning to old customs and beliefs. The
wreath and the tree of evergreen took on
symbolism that reached beyond the solstice
to the soul itself
Thus the beginnings of a solemn festival
of peace and hope and understanding in which
nations the world join next week. A
festival of life newborn when the year is at
its nadir of faith and hope in the midst of
winter dark A festival of lights and green's
and gifts and prayers. for its symbols and its
ceremonies are many and diverse among the
nations But everywhere a festival Of peace
and goodwill, vigorous and verdant as the
green's we gather now.
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21
Christmas Is Tomorrow

They want and they need something that
each of us individually can give--and feel
the better for giving.
standing. Patience. Tolerance Good will.
You could probably coin thousand names
for it-including love-and never really name
it.
You know, though, when you've given it.
For you feel better inside knowing you've
made someone else feel better inside.
It's warm feeling. It's wonderful feel
ing It's feeling Of. Christmas
Yes, Christmas is a good name for it. And
every day in the year is a good time for
seeing to it that you feel it-by making some
one else feel it.
And you can. For Christmas is always
tomorrow.
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21

surrounded by such large body of ira
ditional and transcribed musical litera-
ture. In this respect the Christmas cele-
bration is culturally unique. There may
be several reasons for this.
For one thing, of course, there is
the fact that the whole system of musi-
cal notation came into being in Europe
at the time of the spread of Christianity
and was fostered and developed under
religious auspices. Thus the Christmas
festival was inevitable associated with
one of the worlds profound cultural
advances. The writing of musical ideas
OF a page has been one of the more i'm
portant changes in the way in which
persons approached life. 1t has made it
easy to span continents and to bridge
generations.
1t should be natural that a great
religious festival that is dedicated to
joy should have it's musical literature.
1t is also valid to assume that some
considerable part of this musical ex-
preston will have meaning to persons
who do not share the Christian faith.
The beauty of the Christmas music has
no basis in doctrine. 1t is universal and
fundamental.
In this light it can hardly be acci-
dental that Joy to the World" should
be one of the most important of the
Christmas hymns But this great JOY
takes in more than one hymn. 1t takes
in the world of which the hymn speaks
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21
The HiIItops

the enduring principles for which He stood
were probably most simply and 'eloquently
set forth is still known the Sermon on the
Mount He knew the seaside and the valley,
but best of all He knew the hills. And in the
end He climbed the fearsome slope of the hill
known as Gethsemane.
The story is both brief and simple. Luke.
the physician set it down in four hundred
words. Others expanded it, but always and ever
it had the thread of the hilltops running through
it, the everlasting hills, where it began. 1t was
on the hilltops that the unforgettable words
were heard: Fear not" And the enduring song:
"On Earth Peace Goodwill Toward Men. We
read the story again and again, and always
with the hush and the awe. and with the
sense of stars cleaning on the hilltops.
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21
Miracle of Christmas

1t has been said that a miracle is that
which happens only once We live in a
world of miracles, but their marvel is for
gotten because they are familiar. Dawn and
darkness, the cycle of the seasons, the mys-
cries of life and death are recurring mir
lcles The growth of a flower, the birth
Of a baby the understanding laughter of
L child all these are miracles, the won
Ter of which is lost because they happen
often.
1t is an old saying that Christmas comes
but once a year, and when it comes it brings
good cheer" 1t is an annual miracle, old as
Christmas faith and forever new, that on
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21
Music At Christmas

In the various elements that surround
our celebration of Christmas none is more i'm
portant than the Christmas music. There are
the traditional carols. There is a truly aston
ishing body of Christmas hymnology. And
there are the major works in musical ltera-
ture, many of which, incidentally, are the
products of musicians who are not of the
Christian faith and many of which have again
and again been beautifully set forth by per-
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21

this day comes brief festival of goodwill to
change the ways and thoughts of men. Prob
lens and perrlexities are put aside until its
spell is lifted The promise of peace on earth
is made eternal truth again. and the minds of
men are lifted to hear message from the
skies
Once a year it happens, and so it is
miracle. In the strange radiance that sur
rounds it the stars shine brighter and the
lights of home more cheerfully and hope
fully For a little while men have love, one
for another, as was commanded by One whose
birth was the true miracle of Christmas, long
centuries ago.
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21

followed.
Few things can be worse than to be sick,
lonely and forgotten by family and friends at
the Yuletide. Yet although the Christmas mess
age may be echoed throughout this land not
only from millions of caroling throats but am
plifed and reproduced on record players, radio
and TV sets, the i'll in the hospitals of the land
are sorrowfully neglected.
1t is estimated that more than half those in
the mental hospitals not visited in this
son by friend relative, and similar deserton-
for that is what it amounts tots evident in other
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21
The Nativity : St Luke 2, l-ls>

or the Arab Kingdom OF Jordan. About
hundred miles to the north, Nazareth of Galilee
also predominantly Christian town. dies within
the Zionist state of Israel. Between them, in
what in Gospel times the country of the
Samartans, is long stretch under Arab control
Thus the pilgrims who attempt to follow the
itinerary of Joseph and Mary the ancient
Roman road that leads through Jerusalem and
out by the Mandelbaum Gate, must cross, recross
and cross again borders that are protected by
barbed-wire barricades, mine fields and heavily
armed and jttery soldiers. They must submit
again and again to the inspection of suspicious
Jewish or Arab guards, and must keep in mind
that at any moment the whole countryside may
erupt into general war;
No doubt, then, they think wistfully of the pax
Romano that prevailed in the days of Caesar
Augustus when Quirinius governor of Syria
But perhaps too, they remember the hysteria of
Herod and the sudden flight of the Holy Family
into Egypt, and how they must be prepared to
emulate them in this.
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21

How Bethlehem came to acquire name
so rich in suggestion and symbolism no one
really knows, though we may, if we wish.
ascribe it to the poetry of Providence. Per-
haps it was the contrast of relative fertility
in land that was even then generally arid
and stony In still earlier age, before the
Israeitish invasion, the place was known,
as we learn from Genesis, as Ephrath
(Ephratal. which means the "fruitfuT'-and
so it must have seemed to a generation of
desert wanderers. At Bethlehem were those
rich fields of wheat and of barley that be-
longed to Roaz, that mighty man of wealth. -
who was ancestor to both David, the great
king, and to Joseph, the humble carpenter
of Nazareth. 1t was there that the Moabitess
Ruth followed the cleaners on her knees,
and in these same fields on the night of the
Nativity the shepherds kept their vigil
At Bethlehem, too, was the grave of
Rachel, progenitrix of all the Jewish tribes
1t was the birthplace of David, and, accord
ing to prophecy, was to be that of the Mes
siah, or Anointed One, who would deliver
the race. Otherwise, it seems not to have
been a place of great geographical or po-
litical Importance in ancient times nor is it
so today, despite the unceasing stream of
pilgrims. 1t remains as Bishop Brooks found
it in his memorable visit nearly 80 years
ago pleasant and peaceful little town." It's
inhabitants are, as they have been for many
centuries, predominantly Christian, though
divided in worship among the various Ori-
entail and Western rites
Jerusalem, now lies just inside the border
of tho Aroh L<iu0dor, Of Torda,1 About n
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21

sons of some other religious background.
This, in ITSELF is an eloquent testimony to
the universally of the Christmas music, as
well a tribute to those who seek and find
beauty in variety of aspects, regardless Of
the confines of a given religious faith. We
share and enjoy something, here, that is part
of the whole human heritage
1t is interesting that perhaps other
major festival of the worlds great religions is
Milford chronicle., 1956-12-21

There are many ways to observe Christ
mas, and party-making festivities may serve
their purpose. Besides being a season for
special religious observance and devotions,
Christmas is a time when the example of
Christ's compassion should be most widely
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-11-30
MACS HEAD c OF C. is
TO HAVE BENEFIT PARTY

Committees in charge of ar
rangements for a card party Dec.
z have been announced by the
Mays Head Chamber of Commerce.
The party will be in the Pine Room
at the Carolinian, at 8 o'clock.
Bridge, canasta and other games
will be played, with a prize for
each table and one grand prize.
At the close of the evening, light
refreshments will be served.
Mrs. w. H. Jackson is in charge
of securing score pads, pencils
and napkins; Mrs. w, H. Daughtry
and Mrs. George Sides will arrange
for prizes; Mrs. Bill Harrington
has baked a fruit cake for a spec
ial price; Mrs. Warren Thompson
supplied tickets. Mrs. T. H. Briggs
will look after the seating Of the
players, arranging tables for those
who do not have their own group.
Mrs. W. A. Williams was named
in charge of posters, while refresh
ments will be the responsibility of
Mrs. Julian Oneto and Mrs. Sue
Ballowe. Mrs. Briggs also will see
that tickets are distributed to
members to sell.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-11-30
COLINGTON MAN COMPLETES
COURSE AT FIT. BENNING, GA.

Fort Benning, Ga. (AHTNC)-
Pvt. Robert D. CAMEL, son of Mr..
and Mrs. J. r. CAMEL, Route 2,
Kitty Hawk, recently completed
the Infantry Schools airborne
course at Fort Benning, Ga.
CAMEL received his parachutist's
wings after completing the course
which included five training jumps.
CAMEL entered the Army in
April 1856 and cmopleted basic
training at Fort jackson, S. C.
The Rev.. A. G. D. Noe of Bath,
who has been priest in charge of
st. Andrews, and Mrs. Noe will be
present for the meeting. The Rev.
Mr.. Noe will conduct the services
at st. Andrews on Sunday morn
ing at II o'clock at which time
there will be a celebration of the
Holy Communion.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-11-30
FREE GRACE DISCIPLE
CHURCH HAS HOMECOMING

Homecoming Day was celebrated
on Thanksgiving at Free Grace
Disciple Church in Manteo. The
sermon was by Rev. T B. Hoyle,
Elizabeth City; theme Gratitude
and Courage" The message was
inspiring and encouraging. Rev. T.
B. Hoyle is a native of Manteo
and is widely known and loved. He
has been in ministry over 40 years,
and holds the executive office in
the union meeting of the North
Albemarle District.
At two o'clock the guest
speaker was James Barber, d.
D., who was presented by
Rev. w. s. Keys, the pastor.
DR.. Barber and Rev. Keys both
live in GAINESVILLE.
The members of Free Grace are
grateful to Haven Creek church
and all who helped to mike the
day a great one, spiritually and
financially. Several down town
business places helped to finance
the event.
Mrs. Erince McClees was spon-
sor; Mrs. Amy Mann, Mistress
Of Ceremony. and Rev. w. s. Keys,
pastor.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-11-30
BRIDGE
Continued from Page One)

along these roads.
While many benefits will come to
the Dare County mainland in the
way of real estate improvements,
it is not expected that the bridge
will boost mercantile business in
the communities thereon. 1t will
tend to make possible easy travel
to the largest shopping centers, and
will bring new business to Manteo
and the beaches.
The bridge will shorten the trav-
ell time between the Dare County
seat and the mainland by some 40
minutes, not counting time hereto
fore lost in waiting for boats.
Several men now employed in
the operation of the ferries over
Croatan Sound, will be forced to a
change of scene and habits. Those
men who remain with the ferries
will have to take jobs crossing Ell
Their the Alligator River or Ore
gon Inlet. There will be some
changes Of residence to make this
convenient to the men.
Some of these men have been
employed on the ferries for up
wards of 20 years.
The completion of the bridge is
one great step in a program that
REQUIRES two bridges. It does not
shorten the travel distance to Ra-
leigh, unless one crosses the ALI
gator River. The distance from
Manteo to Raleigh by way of Swan
Quarter, due to the long winding
road, is just about the same as
that by way of Elizabeth City,
Edenton, Williamson, etc.
But nevertheless there will be a
tremendous jump in traffic through
Hyde County because it will give
the traveller another route to fol-
low and new scenes to see. It will
encourage a detour Of north and
south traffic which naturally seeks
routes near the sea. And IL will