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The Clinton News Record, 1943-12-02, Page 10ien Cannons —ave Been Stilled He came, And in His coming men found peace As they before His manger -bed bent low, He comes, And at His coming wars shall cease, And hate shall pass, and man shall love his toe. He snake, And in His word was pardon free, And joy was theirs who brought to Him their sin. Ile speaks, And men today new life may see If they will know His cleansing power within. He called, And men left nets and gold and all, They rose t.nd followed Him where'er He trod. lie calls, �► And they who hear the Master's call, Today go forth with Him to serve their God. —'Frank B. Keyes, • v,. Peace On Earth, Goodwill To Men I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, goodwill to men! And in despair I bowed my head; "There is no peace on earth," I said; "For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!" Then pealed the bells more loud and deep "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep! The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, goodwill to men." —Longfellow "Christmas Bells" YULETIDE II CUSTOMS WHILE in all Christian countries, the main idea of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of our Lord, yet each country has some particular rite or habit of its own, which gives, to the keeping of the festival a dis- tinctive, native touch. Like so many other church holi- days, Christmas has a pagan as well as a Christian background. Decem- ber the twenty-fifth was fixed as the date of our Lord's birth by a Roman emperor, after the Christian religion had been officially accepted by the empire, centuries later than the Na- tivity. This date fell conveniently between the Roman Saturnalia and New Year, and the holiday -making and presentation of gifts, which were features of the Saturnalia, passed naturally into Christmas. Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, however, are not the only dates for gifts. In parts of Quebec, following the French custom, while the chil- dren receive their presents at Christ- mas, the older members of the family wait until New Year's Day. St. Nicholas, in Hungary, pays his call a couple of weeks before Christ- mas, while in other European coun- tries gifts are made on January the Sixth, the feast of the Epiphany, when the Wise Men brought their gifts to the Young Child, or on the Eve of that feast. Spanish children on the night of January the fifth, expectantly put out their shoes and find in the morn- ing that the Magi have visited them, too, with gifts, though probably not of "gold, frankincense and myrrh." Giffs in Italy also arrive on Epiph- any Eve, but they come by way of the chimney, although Santa Claus is not their bearer. "Le Befana," mounted on her broom, comes down the chimney to leave the children's presents on the hearth. Santa Claus visits in person each Finnish home on Christmas Eve, and leaves his gifts, while in Norway he emerges from underground on the nightthe before Christmas with gifts for family. (One wonders somewhat unhappily about the children of the aforemen- tioned countries this Christmas. In- evitably thousands of European chil- dren will look in vain for gifts). In England, Santa Claus comes down the chimney, finds and fills the stockings hanging from the mantel- piece, while here, with chimneys less conveniently arranged, he usually finds it easier to place his gifts on or under the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree may take its origin from the green boughs with which Roman houses were decked at the Saturnalia, or it may have a more religious significance in some way connected with ancient rites of worship in the forest groves, As we know 3t now, it was not seen in Eng- land until the reign of Victoria, when, with the Prince Consort from Ger- many, came the Christmas tree. The old pagan midwinter feast of Jule was Christianized as Christianity penetrated north, and it may pos- sibly be that the Christmas tree is a contribution to the season's joy from Northern Europe. Light and joy always seem to be companions, which is one reason, no doubt, why we light our Christmas tree, but there is a still more beauti- ful lighting custom observed in some country districts of the older lands. That is the practice of placing a lighted candle in the cottage window and leaving a door open all night long on Christmas Eve, that the Christ Child may be guided and wel- comed into the home should He be here on earth again, The Christmas dinner occupies a main place in the day's proceedings everywhere; but, while the North American continent favors turkey, and goose is the main dish preceding pudding in England, in some of the European countries fowl is not the traditional Christmas fare. Buried deep in the English plum pudding, which comes to table with a crown of flaming brandy, is a silver coin, a button, and a ring, to foretell events of the coming year for the assembled family. Particularly in the Scandi- navian countries, the birds are re- membered in the general feasting. For them a sheaf or wheat is set up, Words Of Bele Laud Virtues In "Giving" ALITTLE research reveals that many of the familiar quota - ions on the virtues of "giving" have a sound basis in Holy Scripture. Though they were not all made in connection with "giving" at Christ- mas time, the verses below provide definite clues to the origin of the many more modern "give" slogans so often heard in the holiday season. * ,r e• Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom, For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.—Luke 6:38. * . 4, * I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to re- ceive.—Acts 20:35. * * * Every man according as he pur- poseth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.—II Cor. 9;7. 4, *0 A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whither- soever it turneth, it prospereth.— Prov. 17:8. r, 0 v He that givetlt unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse, Prov. 28:27. 4, n,, 0 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.—Luke 11:41, And now abideth faith. hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.—I Cor, 13:13. * * Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which He hath given thee, —Dent, 16:17. in some high spot in the open, that they may enjoy Christmas, too. Naturally, churchgoing is a very important part of the Christmas cele- bration, In the countries of Southern Europe' the Nativity is elaborately represented in the church, and on a smaller scale in convents and private homes. The Lutheran churches of the north, too, have a strikingly beau- tiful Christmas service, sometimes with a big, lighted tree within the building, while the chilly country churches of England have their grey- ness lightened with the glossy leaves and glowing berries of the holly, A11 these customs, sacred and secu- lar, of many lands, make the Christ- mas celebration a blend of family and religious festival, which like the the first Christmas—the church in the midst, —F. N. Ktaw,S�s'.'°ig*I34efgleir4:dIg-Mgt' :r3fiCSK-+'S',af SKS"v .rm--vmeiecgrzti. w—%:rte' :c THE FIRST 22R.ISTMAS CARD HIS is a reproduction of the first very much in evidence distribution of soup to the needy; and cane -toting, top -hatted ice skaters. In the lower left-hand corner a crowd mills around a Punch and Judy show, and in the far right-hand corner a street group sings carols. During the one hundred years since the appearance of this first Christmas card, the exchange of greetings has become an outstanding feature of Christmas festivity. And probably this year, in a war-torn world, more' Christmas cards will be sent than ever before as an expres- sion of the deep love Canadians have for everything that Christmas pre- sents. Christmas card, designed by W. M. Egley, and published in England in 1842, the original of which is now in the British Museum in London, According to museum authorities, heretofore, the earliest record of a Christmas card was one designed in 1843 by J. C. Horsley. The Egley card depicts the holiday celebrations of the early Victorian period. The montage of four scenes shows dancers- doing the Roger de Coverly, the old English country dance named for the popular literary character; a gay holiday dinner party with the traditional plum pudding RTe Wish You A Merry1 C�ristm�s And A Happy New Year �3artliff'� CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES FOR HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS DURING THE COMING YEAR ARE EXTENDED TO CUSTOMERS 'AND FRIENDS AT THIS TIME WITII THOUGHTS I OF APPRECIATION AND. THANKS FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND GOODWILL Suttee & Perdue h WISHING YOU THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE g SEASON A FEW CHRISTMAS SUGGES'1:'IONS Toboggans, $3.45 to $8.25; Skates $3.99 up; Skiis $5.00 and up; Ski Harness $2.50 up: Ski Poles $1.65 and up Everything in Ski Accessories, Wax, Waxing Corks, Lacquer, Mitts, Goggles, Belts. Socks Ladies' Sport Jackets, Grenfell and Gabardine $7.95 FOR 'I'IHE, CHILDREN 'fable Tennis Sets, with six balls, $2.50 up. 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