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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1937 pan --_ Tn mp ot UE te | A! MC | er pan omg j= - GIVE CHRISTMAS A CHRISTIAN MEANING. Another Christmas season is at hand! No matter how disturbed and trying con- ditions may be during the year, the loving The Russell Leader RUSSELL, ONTARIO. Established 1899 227 Vie a . ee . The Only Newspaper In Russell County exchanges of the Christmas season seem |i _To St. Francis, the Spirit of Christmas : to make young and old forget their |§ was essentially gay and joyous. His own Published iBvery. Tharsday miseries and their heartaches. Discord 15 heart leaped at the very thought of the ? and enmity cannot thrive in an atmos- ii celebration--to him Christmas was a living GARLAND HALL, Manager. phere of peace and goodwill. It is well i reality. that the Christmas of 1937 should be fit- tingly observed in every land, for in public and private life there is much to forgive and forget. The crooked needs to be made straight and the rough places plain. Yes, there is the welfare of the needy, but we are not going to stress that at this _ In the thirteenth century, however, when St. Francis lived and labored, men considered Christmas a very solemn event. No games, no merry-making, no joyous carols to mark the season--nothing but solemn services. a RET # Telephone 38. = Subscription Rates--$1.00 to any address in Canada, §f n=id in advance; $1.50 if not so paid. $1.50 to any address in the United States payable in advance; $2.00 ff not so paid. Advertising Rates on application to this pffice. CHRISTMAS IS A WITNESS OF MAN'S FAITH IN HIMSELF. Amid the crashing walls of man's material world Christmas stands out as the supreme Security. Hard times have not robbed Christmas of its value but, rather, have increased its value. Over field and factory, over mansion and cottage Christ-- mas pours its light and joy, melting the hard heart of man and akening the seeds of kindness and hope. This is the secret necessary. Then let the spoken word and Vi Christmas since then has become the OS A npn the written word convey the messages that i children's holiday. It is our custom now paris are good Nature, Sonetest y the heart prompts. i to indulge in all sorts of games and fun- pestany tower Tae OLS aa is a date It is wonderful how much sunshine i] making on Christmas Eve. The night be- The ied ays a more. it is a senti- there would be at Christmas-time if people i] fore Christmas is perhaps the happiest of the ano t uv maet of old took expressed kind wishes to each other in a 5 evening of the calendar. Throughout the mei ® hear fs as went out-of real way. This is true for husbands and 3 celebration, songs, carols and hymns are a a, pits and homage wives, for parents and children, for em- 4 sung to commemorate the glad tidings. to a mother and a child. They went out ployers and employees, for teachers and | Following are a few of the most popu- of their way to evade the crafty Herod SRE Drenchens Pid people, Thers i lar of those songs and hymns. We would ¥ho woul SHUG ont thas ge of Drove. 2% goodness, and goodness it most oasily i suggest that you clip this section to join er ¢ oy feeline has beconte 4 Whiver- shown in a simple little act or a kindly Wi Christmas Eve with the music that will be Ep : That is what makes Christ- word. Therefore, let us give Christmas a i] flling ihe alr-from a. thousand tudio- sia. mas a good time even amid hard times. Christian meaning, again this year. i tions, pianos, house gatherings, ete. A kind time amid cruel times. A for- Y giving, charitable time in the very citadel 5 Bf hardness od les Cishras shold GREATER NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION ; O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT have perished long ago. There is yet GIVES ADVERTISERS CHEAPER RATE. : O little town of Bethlehem, Silent night! Holy night! more. Vision belongs to this Day of Days. i How still we see thee lie! All is calm, all is bright From vision springs the challenge--It can ? . e The silent stars go by; Holy Infant so tender and mild, be done! What can be done? Anything United States and Canada during 1937, [1d Yet in thy dark streets shineth Sleep in heavenly peace! that man imagines in his heart. Specifi- newspaper circulation surpassed all pre- i The everlasting Light; Sleep in heavenly peace! cally, to wish everybody good cheer. To forgive enemies. To stop senseless feuds. To revive old friendships. To build a better world. To one not insensible to dreams Christ- mas brings a vision of what life might be like if we lived every day at our best. The trouble is that we live for most of the year on so low a level that Christmas comes upon us suddenly and surprisingly. But in that surprised awe as we see again the invincible power of good will, we act a little better than we are, because every- body acts a little better than he is, which gives us a better chance. Beyond the mood of Christmas, bevond its good offices to date there is a prophecy. No longer can sincere people share the Christmas spirit for-a day or two and then turn immediately away to the pursuits of war and violence. The time is coming when the meaning of Christmas as a standard of living may displace the mean- ing of Christmas as a commemoration of something which happened far away and long ago. The magi are not ancient wise men but modern thinkers, the guiding star is not an astronomical portent but a moral influence, and the Bethlehem Inn is not geographically located but is found in human hearts, too often trivially over- crowded by things that do not matter. Christmas is a witness of man's faith in himself. There is an elemental pro- mise in our human lives, even at their worst, which the past and the present have not fully manifested. From the humble manger, and from every cradle, life looks up ever hopefully expectant. It's coming yet that men shall brothers be, everywhere and all the time, in even the most grievous circumstances. Maybe, because of the grievous circumstances. IT'S WORTH IT When Christmas is two weeks away Some of us stew and fret, And wonder if it failed to come We'd miss it with regret. There's so much this and that to do, And so much cash to spend, We get a feeling it were best The habit had an end. The days of steady labor when We plan the Yuletide meals, The hours spent in search for gifts Until one surely feels That when at last the day appears And we should whoopee make, We're too done out to cheerful be And of its joys partake. But when at last the midnight bells Peal in the gladsome day, And twinkling stars light up the night We have no heart to say That anything should stay our hand, Or quell a worthy thought To meet and greet the day of days time. It is possible for each individual to consider what he may do even though short of funds, to bring comfort and good cheer to all about him. A kind word, a word of encouragement to a depressed soul may mean more than the richest treasure. A word of forgiveness and of hope to one that has gone astray may mean restora- tion and peace. It is the offerings of sym- pathetic and loving hearts rather than the contents of white-ribboned boxes--yes, they are- appreciated too--that are most In Canada during 1936, and in both the vious records. Where many other business activities declined by 30, 40 or 50 per cent. during the depression, the decline in news- paper circulation amounted to only about 5 per cent. in Canada and 11 per cent. in the U.S. This loss has been more than overcome and the characteristic expansion has been resumed. The steady growth in demand for newspapers should be of par- ticular interest to merchants and manufac- turers, since it indicates that in spite of the competition of news broadcasts the news- 2 paper is continuing to make headway in popular esteem. Between 1926 and 1937 the gain in newspaper circulation in Canada amounted to 23 per cent. according to figures com- piled by a leading advertising agency. It is notable that the rate of expansion during these 11 years was in excess of the rate of growth in population. With this report of increasing circulation comes the natural one of increased news- print consumption by the trade. In the U.S., Great Britain, Canada and other Em- pire countries the newspaper occupies a position unparalleled in other countries. The statistics of newsprint consumption in the countries just mentioned and in a num- ber of other democratic countries, such as Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Argentina and The Netherlands, suggest that the newspa- per is an important instrument of demo- cracy. Is it true that where the people must make economic, political and social decisions for themselves, there comes an almost automatic demand for a wider scope of information? The political philosopher might find material for an interesting study in a detailed comparison of per capita newsprint consumption in democratic and absolutist countries. Does it follow that in democratic countries newspapers show- ing independence of editorial opinion, should receive the support of all those who prefer the present form of government? « Per capita consumption of newsprint for important countries is given at: United Kingdom, 60 lbs.; U.S., 57 lbs.; Canada, 36 lbs.; Scandinavia, 26 lbs.; Argentina, 27 Ibs.; Netherlands, 23 1bs.; France, 18 lbs: Now consider the figures of the absolutist countries from which freedom has been banished: Japan, 13 1bs.; Germany, 11 lbs. Italy, 3 1bs.; Russia, 3 Ibs.; Austria, 9 1bs.; Mexico, 3 1bs.; Brazil, 2 lbs. One indirect effect of the increase in the circulation of newspapers in Canada is that in most provinces advertisers are get- ting more for their money. In Nova Scotia, for instance, lineage rates have increased 25 p.c. and circulation by almost 60 p.c. In Ontario, with an increase of 23 p.c. in. circulation, the advance in rates has been less than one per cent. Which means that all merchants are getting 23 per cent. greater return on each dollar invested in newspaper advertising than in any other form, and this striking benefit promises to continue in 1938, although daily news- papers are advancing rates early in the 2 SEA SATS S SAE SUSE BT, os, S- SSSR EAR REST eA SAS SR SESS & > w 2 ERR -- wh i Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight. For Christ is born of-Mary; And gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Theil rwatch of wond'ring love. O morning stars! together Proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God our King, And peace to men on earth. O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today! We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; Oh, come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel. ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID'S CITY Once in Royal David's City, Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a Mother laid her Baby, In a manger for His bed; Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ that little child. He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all; And His shelter was a stable, And His cradle was a stall. With the poor, and mean, and lowly Lived on earth our Saviour holy. And thru all His wondrous Childhood He would honor and obey, Love and watch the lowly Maiden In whose gentle arms He lay; Christian children all must be Mild, obedient, good as He. For He is our childhood's Pattern, Day by day like us He arew; He was little, weak and helpless, Tears and smiles like us, He knew; And He feeleth for our sadness, And He shareth in our gladness. GOOD KING WENCESLAS Good King Wenceslas look'd out On the feast of Stephen, When the snow lay 'round about, Deep and crisp and even; Brightly shone the moon that night, Tho the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight, Gath'ring winter fuel. "Hither, page, and stand by me If thou know'st it telling, Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?" *'Sire, he lives a good league hence, Underneath the mountain; Right against the forest fence By Saint Agnes' fountain." "Bring me flesh and bring me wine, Bring me pine-logs hither; Thou and I will see him dine, When we bear them thither." Page and monarch forth they went, Forth they went together; Through the rude winds wild lament And the bitter weather. "Sire, the night is darker now And the wind blows stronger; Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer." "Mark my footsteps, my good page; Tread thou in them boldly. Thou shalt find the winter's rage A St. Francis desired to bring back to his people the picture of the "Heavenly Child" rather than emphasize the generally accep- ted picture of "The King Who Sits In Judg- ment on .the World." His object was to de-solemnize Christmas. And he planned. He made Christmas in his parish a holi- day for young people. He dramatized the story of the Nativity in a happy little play. He had the young folks sing native chor- ales in praise of Christmas. In short, St. Francis made Christmas a joyous season. Ge ee Ee a 0 t= re Round yon Virgin Mother and Child! Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight! Glories stream from heaven afar, Heav'nly Hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia! Christ the Saviour is born! Christ the Saviour is born! Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love's pure light, Radiant, beams from Thy Holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth! Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth! AWAY IN A MANGER Away in a manger, no crib for His bed, The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head: The stars in the heavens look'd down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep in the hay. The cattle are lowing, the poor baby wakes, But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes; _ I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle to watch lullaby. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray: Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And take us to heaven to live with Thee there. Away in a manger, no crib for His bed, The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head; The stars in the heavens look'd down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep in the hay. JINGLE BELLS Dashing thro' the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh, O'er the fields we go, laughing all the way; Bells on bobtail ring, making spirits bright; What fun it is to ride and sing 2 A sleighing song tonight! Jingle, bells! Jingle, bells! Jingle all the way! Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh! Jingle, bells! jingle, bells! jingle all the way! Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh! Now the ground is white, go it while you're young! Take the girls tonight, and sing this sleighing song. Just get a bob-tail'd bay, two forty for his speed, Then hitch him to an open sleigh And crack! You'll take the lead. 'HARK, THE HERALD ANGELS SING Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" Joyful all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th' angelic host proclaim "Christ is born in Bethlehem." Hark the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King!" Christ, by highest heav'n adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord; Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the Virgin's womb: Veil'd in flesh the God-head see; Hail th' Incarnate Deity, Pleas'd as man with man to dwell: Jesus, oar Emmanuel. Hail, the heav'n born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Risg'n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise 'the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord, 0 sing, choir of angels, sing in exaltation O sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word. Give to our Father glory in the highest; i CT : E " : In spirit that we ought. new year. | Peers ay bloe less coldly, O come all ye faithful, joyful'and triumphant All effort's nothing to the light i is mame sels he Tod 0 some ye to Bethlehem with one glad accord. : : : Sra Si : : e ; ; o! in lies th i ; Whos: Shines Ta Hib Those who insist that Christmas is not |! Ho ra in the very sod Rs Bing ot Angels; : Hes, . 4 2 " ! Vhich the saint had printed. And nothing to the sigh Sn without a "dash" of snow, have 2 Therefore, Christian men, be sure, Of quiet gladness when Tolk feet ad their w ish. The snow-storm of the = Yeah or Tank Possessing With kith and kin around past week buried the landscape with i Shall and a 4 The festive board on Christ's birthday about two feet of snow that has all the ear- % : & t Where peace, good will abound. marks of remaining with us. B 5 5 :