HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-08-31, Page 6editorial page
Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, August 31, 1983—Page 6
LUCKNOW SF.NTINP:1.
"the Sepoy iown" Established 1873
Ietters
To Whom It May Concern;
Last week at dusk one evening, our dog was killed by a hit
and run driver, It grieves us to think this person lacked the
courtesy and consideration to come in and inform us of
his/her misfortune,
This was a good medium sized dog and one would
obviously have felt the impact. Also, we live on a sideroad,
not a busy highway. We have sorrow for our lost dog but
what would this person have done if it had been a child?
Our dog was our guardian and friend. We miss him and
will think of him often,
Signed,
A family who respects
animals and mankind.
RCAF reunion in Dunnville
Dear Editor:
There are no doubt readers of your newspaper who would
be interested in knowing of the forthcoming 38th annual
reunion of No, 6 Service Flying Training School, R.C.A,F,,
Dunnville, Ontario,
For the past 37 years Royal Canadian Air Force personnel
who were stationed at No, 6 S.F,T,S, during the war have
gathered in Dunnville to celebrate their station reunion,
This year marks their 38th get together which will take place
September 16, 17 and 18,
The event begins with a reception Friday evening, hosted
by Mayor Frank Marshall, A golf tournament will be held
Saturday morning and in the afternoon a demonstration of
ultra -light aircraft, a parachute drop, a parade, memorial
service and fly-past of wartime Harvard aircraft are
scheduled, followed by the annual banquet in the evening.
Group captain A. J, Bauer, C,b,, national president of the
Royal Canadian Air Force Association, will take the salute
and inspect the band and air cadets of No, 150 White Tiger
Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets of Hamilton, Ontario,
The weekend closes Sunday morning with an outdoor
„flapper and banger" breakfast at the Riverview Motel,
All wartime personnel are invited to attend, If not on the
mailing fist, please contact Frank Scholfield, Bots 187,
Dunnville, Ontario,
Yours very truly,
PrankScholfield,
Adjutant -General
In A division slow pitch action on Sunday, Kingsbridge beat
Lucknow by 30 to 9, Here, a Lucknow player sails over first
in plenty of time as the Kingsbridge player reaches for the
hail, r Photo by Darrell Kloeze)
il1)!\1AS A IHOMI'S()N Adsertisung Manager
SHARON .1 DIE I/ Editor
PAI I IVINOS"I ON Office Manager
JOAN HELM • Compositor
MERLE E:LLIO'I'"E • Typesetter
Hu'ines5 and Editorial Office Iclephone S2M.2422
Mailing Address 1'.0 Ho.+ 40(), l.ucknov+ NO6 2H()
Second (lu,,s Mail Registration Number 0M4'
Subscription rate, $15.25 per year In adhance
Senior Citizen rate, S12.75 per year In ad'anec
U.S.A. and Foreign, $38.00 per year in ad%ance
Sr. Cit. U.S.A. and Foreign, $36.00 per year in advance
Members of the Lucknow Boy Scouts in 1931 included front,
from the left, Rex Ostrander, Harold Min, Bud 'Thompson,
Don Smith, Jack McLeod, L. MacDonald; second row from
the left, George Joynt, W. MacKenzie, Harold Ritchie,
Hobert MacKenzie, A, Aitchison, J. Button, Dinnle Mac.
redtrees
Donald and E. Solomon; back row, from the left, E. Haswell,
E, Webster, D, Clarke, S. Cameron, J. Henderson, G.
Johnstone, George Whitby, R. Thompson and E, Baker,
(Contributed by Len MacDonald)
To the people of Redtrees, Christ-
mas was not to be celebrated by eat-
ing, drinking or frivolous behaviour
usually associatedwith that season,
On the contrary, although it was a
time for the joyous remembrance of
the birth of Christ, it was essentially a
period of prayer, thanksgiving and
"goodwill towards men"; the long for-
gotten but true spirit of Christmas,
On Christmas Eve, a Night Watch
Service was held in the Presbyterian
Church of Redtrees and all the
community gathered together to hear
the eloquent sermon of the Reverend
Duncan MacLeod. There in. the yellow
light of candles, and as if inspired by a
message far greater than the one he
had so carefully prepared in his
beautiful copper plate handwriting,
the minister held his audience spell-
bound; if nothing else, MacLeod was a
master of speech!
Perhaps the thoughts of the forth-
coming birth of the first wee MacLeod
influenced the trend of his oration.
Certainly, his wife's name (Mary), and
the fact that she was so close to
delivering her child. could not have
been mote appropriate for the occa-
sion.
"The little Jesus, King of kings,
Lord of lords, was not born in a
palace," MacLeod said in a loud clear
voice, causing the candle flame by the
pulpit to lean and flicker from the
force of his breath. "There were no
fine silks ao line His first bed. Here
was our Lord, wrapped in swaddling
clothes and lying in the manger of a
byre." MacLeod shook his head to
er,tphasize his point.
"Not a place we would expect the
most important person on this earth to
occupy immediately after birth! But
there is a message here. It is my belief
that God wishes to show to the world
that great men are not necessarily
wealthy. Poverty is no disgrace but
do not have to tell vont that. We all
know the meaning of poverty. The
wealth of a man can only he found in
his heart' Yet there were three wise
men who brought gold. frankincense
and myrrh; gifts which would appear
to me to be totally inappropriate for
the occasion, The greatest gift our
Lord had at that time, was the love of
His Father in heaven and the love of
Joseph and Mary on earth.'°
Duncan MacLeod was a man who
interpreted the Bible in a unique and
logical fashion and his revelations held
his audience spellbound. In contrast to
his previous delivery, he clasped his
hands together, rested his elbows on
the tough pulpit and, looking directly
at his wife, continued in a soft sincere
voice:
"The name Mary will be blessed
until the end of time. It symbolizes
motherhood and reminds us of the
love and devotion which all true
Christian women give to the men they
marry and the children they bring so
joyfully into the world."
MacLeod was more than just a
minister, he was the personification of
hope confidence and courage, not only
to his own people, but also to the
Indians who roamed the forest. They
recognized him as a worthy servant of
the Great Spirit and he was known as
"the little spirit who rides the horse".
He recognized that the greatest
deterrent to settlement in Canada was
homesickness. Even amongst a people
who had been so cruelly treated in the
land of their birth. the glens and
mountains of home were pictures
painted upon the memory and could
not be completely obliterated. Thus,
on every possible occasion, he remind-
ed his congregation just hove fortunate
they were to live in such a bountiful
land.
"Let us give thanks unto our Lord
for leading us to a place where a man
may find soil which he can call his very
own." MacLeod said. his voice filled
with emotion. ''We should ask Him to
our prayers to teach us to appreciate
small mercies, to remain steadfastly
united. and love our neighbours every
day of the year. Peace on earth and
goodwill towards rnen should be
incorporated into our lives throughout
all seasons
He paused and gazed at the con-
gregation as if his eyes had difficulty
in reaching all the people in the dim
light. "We have the opportunity, with
God's help, to create from the forest, a
land which is indeed flowing with milk
and honey, and perhaps some may
find riches beyond imagination."
1 -le wagged a warning finger at his
audience and concluded: "But never
let us forget that the flower of our
good fortune grew out of the filth of
poverty and persecution. Whatever we
achieve, we must strive to remain as
humble as that sweet Christ child who
was born in a stable and never forget
our untedeemable debt to Almighty
God!"
When the service ended, the
Reverend Duncan MacLeod stood at
the church door with his wife and
spoke a few words to each person as
they passed by. It was a bright moonlit
night. The snow in the church yard
was a footprinted carpet and upon the
branches of the trees it appeared like a
dusting of white powder. The sky was
bejewelled with a twinkling array of
stars; a celestial and natural Christ-
mas decoration for the ceiling of
Redtrees.
People gathered in groups as if
reluctant to return to their homesteads
in spite of the cold. They stamped
their feet and rubbed their hands
together as they tacked. When at last
they were reluctantly forced to depart
in order to bring back the warmth of
their limbs, they called out their
goodbyes and wishes for a merry
Christmas. They dispersed in all direc-
tions and soon the sound of their
voices passed into oblivium and
became lost in the broad expanse of
the bush.
Duncan MacLeod closed the heavy
church door and. turning to his wife.
he put his arms around her full soft
body and drew her gently towards him
in a loving embrace. He planted a
tender kiss upon her forehead. then
whispered ever so softly in her ear.
"llappv Christmas my dear. dear
"Marv, to you and (air cht6d.