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If} --"--. -_.----. ii: .31"): ilt i 373" ' e----------------- W _----.-.----. My counterpane is soft as silk, My blankets white as creamy milk, The hay was soft to Him, I know, Our little Lord of long ago. Above the roofs In silver wheels The stable-doves them, Mary and Christ drifts, And bright upon my Christmas gifts. They brought Him incense, myrrh and gold, Our little Lord who lived of old. Bright shines the sun across the sings Of Christmas' joys and Christmas Oh, things, God's holy angels sang to them, Mary and Christ in Bethlehem. Our hearts they hold all Christmas dear, And earth seems sweet and heaven seems near, Oh, heaven was in His sight, I know, That little Child of long ago. ---Marjorie L. C. Pickthall. GOD'S GREAT LOVE Golden Tex! God so loved the world, that he Rave his only begotten Son. that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. Jol.n 3: 16. THE LESSON IN ITS SETTING Time.-The time of our Lord's birth is still a matter of dispute, but we follow here the chronology of Samuel J. Andrews and many others, and date it in December, 5 B.C. The visit of the Wise Men, therefore, took place in February. Plaee.-iuualem, of course, was the capital of Palestine, locat- ed in the province of Judea, while Bethlehem was in the same prov- inee six miles to the south. I. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea. Bethlehem was the home of Ruth and Boaz, and consequently was the birth- place of David, from whose royal line the Son of David came, In the day of Herod the king. This Herod was called Herod the Great, the son of Antipater. thold, Wise-men from the east (11:22: to Jerusalem, saying. The word here translated "wise-men" is t u' Creek word "magi". They were mu truly learned in mathe. marks. astronomy. geography, and medicine. Star In the East 2. Where is he that is born King of the Jews? It is a truly great question as to how these men ever knew that a king of the Jews had been born. There was, throughout A Child's Song of Christmas Sunday School Lesson soft and clear our mother LESSON XIII in Bethlehem the pigeons fly across" the sky. they cooed to _'.i"iiiiaT-' .. r-ie - -tr t _ - _s,._>cr---Gir5_a.1e. a ONTARIO ARCHIVES TORONTO the ancient world at this time, the expectancy of the coming of some great king. Suetonius, a famous Latin writer of the first century, said, "There had spread over all the Orient an old and established belief that it was fated at that time for a man coming from Judea to rule the world." For we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him. A great deal of speculation has arisen regard- ing this star. Some believe that it was some conjunction of heav- enly bodies, which the Wise Men recognized as a phenomenon of unusual significance. Matt. 2: 3-8. 3. And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled. The foreigner and us- urper feared a rival, and the ty- rant feared the rival would be wel.. come. And all Jnv-uqnlpm with him. It is Written 4. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where, the Christ should be born. What irony that Herod was compelled to consult the very men. whom, years before. he had tried to extermin- ". And they said unto him. In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written through the prophet, 6. And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, art in no wise least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come forth a governor, who shall be shepherd of my peo- ple Israel. This most remarkable prophecy is found in Mich ii: 2, and was uttered seven hundred years before our Lord's birth. T. Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly what time the star ap- peared. 8. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him. This monstrously cruel king did not want to go to Bethlehem to worship Jesus as he said, but, as later events proved, to put this very babe to death, that there might be no possible chance of a rival king growing up in the land. The Worshippers Matt. 2: 9-12. o. And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. IO, And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. The contrast between the fear of this wicked king and the joy possessing the heart of these sin- cerely seeking Wise Men is a les- son all of itself. and tio: but i'hii'iWati'tiik'a one mm to substantiate such an idea. We cannot help feeling that these gifts do have some spiritual sitrnib came. From the gifts here prissented by the Wise Men undoubtedly comerthe custom of giving gifts at the Christmas season. In all our giving to one another, which is always a joy, or should be, let us not miss the true sirnitieanee of Christmas, but give what we give in the name of the Lord Jesus. 12. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed in- to their own country another way. When Christmas First Was Celebrated The earliest celebration of the birth of Christ, December 25 of each year. took place in the Fourth Century, and the custom spread from the western to the eastern church. Before that date the commemoration of Christ's nativity and baptism took place January 6. First mention of Christmas is found in a Roman document known as the "Philoealisn calen- dar," in the year MI, and the first English celebration of the festival was in 598. when St. Augustine baptized 10,000 converts. In 567. the Council of Tours, France, declared a 12-day festival from Christmas to Epiphany, and later, from MI to 1016, the laws of Ethelred ordained that all strife should cease at Christmas. In Ger- many. Christmas was established in 813 by the Synod of Mainz, and in Norway by King Haakon the Good, in 950. "You can't go out to tend tho sheep tonight. Judah." David heard the choke in " mother's voice. "The lion's claws have wounded you sore. I will find someone to send out with them." “He is hot, so hot," she whisper- ed to David after his father had fallen into a troubled sleep. "lt will make him sick unto death it he goes out on the plain." "Fear not. mother, I will go. Now that I am fourteen, I can prove my- self a man. I wlll go, like my great toretather. David, the king." Rebeccah bade him good-bye ten- derly. "Had I a son older. I should send him. But you are all I have. Take care. The lion may return." So David drove his father's flock herds watched their tloekit by night. The cool breeze from ott the mountains made him draw his cloak close. Suddenly over the hill before him he saw a group of men approach. ing. That was a surprising thing, to see men wandering about at night. But there was nothing alarm. ing in their action. They seemed to be tilled with excitement and joy. Now one of them called: "Who is this, guarding his sheep here.' Oh, is it you David, son ot Judah? Come with us. We have seen you star. brighter than any Mar of the morning. It is moving. and we are following it." David, the Shepherd By Molly Chittick l ' the fact that gifts the tradi- that there were pd only. three, hand, and his sling ready to me, he listened tor a moment. Then he saw the sheep. standing some dite tance from the others, its head raised listening to something he could not hear. But David knew what was to be found there. With the starlight shining full upon it, crouched a lion ready to spring. Swift as the David of old. the lad swung his sling. and the stone went straight into the head of the crouching animal. With I slow yielding of ity body the lion tell in death. “I am glad my son, that you were so falthiul," his mother pram ed him in the morning. "Your fath- er was beside himseli. wild with his illness, and had I not been able to tell him you wore with the (loch he would have gone out, sick as he was. And now you have slain a lion. Your tame will go before you." "Do you not think the king would have scorned a lad who would de. sert his post ot duty from Idle cur- iosity? Nay, my son, you have done your task faithfully and well, and proved yourself a man. Later you may see the king." "risitlther, I did not see the King," and David's voice trembled. Christmas Cards: Custom ls Recent Greeting Card Industry ls Than A Century Old From a small beginning in 1846 the Christmas greeting card in- dustry has grown to gigantic pro- portions. Research into Christmas tradi- tions at McGill University disclos- es that the exchange of printed greeting cards dates back less than a century. Other Christmas customs date to pagan times. The First Card Sent The records at McGill indicate that there is some uncertainty as to the exact date that the first Chrismas card Was actually sent. Most authorities ascrilie the Are You Listening Br FREDDIE TEE first printed card to J. C. Huntley. who in 1846 designed a Christmas greeting end in elaborate propor- tions. It had ailetrorieal designs of clothing the naked Ind feeding the hungry, together with I fun- ily group of three trenerations quamng wine. Only 1.000 of these cards were lithographed and then colored by hand. Moot Artistic In Eighth: The Christmas greeting card reached its artistic height around 1883-84. The collection of curd: at McGill of this era show that many were elaborate and colorful in design. Some have borders trimmed in silk. lace or feathers. Still others are in the forms of sachets. The sentiments expressed in the greeting: are typically Vic- torian. Many of. these would arouse laughter today. There was very little sunlight in the forest. The trees were so his. all the grown up trees. The little tir tree stretched himself. and he tried to imagine himself In full grown. Looking up at the sky and the stars and the moon, he listened to the big trees talk. “isn't the mo! bright tonight," one would say; and there would be . gentle rustling of their leaves as the trees would shake their beach in agreement. "I'm afraid you're golnx to be stunted, because there in so much shade here," a little squirrel aid to the tir one day as he jumped into its branches and brushed the top limbs with his bushy tail. "lt takes sunlight to make anything grow strong and tall." "Oh, they cut down the trees and take them in the house. Ind put candles on them so they look like So the little tir tree stretched himself up, and kept his head just pointed up toward the spot of tum. light he saw clear up through the maze of heavy tree growth. He could be straight and upstanding. even it he hadn't grown tall. Today the ground was all cover. ed with the snow which stayed I" white in the (crest. All but a few ot the birds had gone south. Every once in a while there was the sound of steel striking against the wood, and infrequently a crushing sound of (ailing trees. The tall trees began to tremble. “The woodcuttern are out. But this is a funny time ot year," one mured to the others. Then one of the little snow birds spoke, “Have you forgotten thlt every year they come to cut Christmas trees?" "What are Christmas trees?" the little tir asked. Fir Tree By Henry Hauling Just than n llule ml who wan rldln: In the sled. called to his ta. ther: "Dad, an we tind a little tree tor ulster? Couldn't we find I cute "we tree to put in her wry own room?" day'. “an. and mangle: that look like snow shining In the moonlight. And (to people on; songs and Him each other gifts. and " in I mu. u: beta: M," the little snow bird orittered. 'Sh'. Let's nu be quiet." 0m- 0! the all trem erciaittted. "Ti, woodsmen Ire coming [war us. Ile must be quiet no they won't um tea " Then we won't be cut um" um! left to die. Bat III will of their Mlvuce, ',lis, men drew near. They looked at Hm trees. And one of them said: “on, these are too tall. No homer ur church could hold them. Lot's got on." "Oh. I will: they would take me." the little thee cried In Mom-11mm. "Pd love to Bee it all I'd low 1., nuke people heavy. But I'm ton :w tie." and he “shed unhappily. "Here I III. here I tttrt', come and get me," the little tir tree called out lustlly. And the little boy turn. ed und I" the branches tretu'nlitsg, no! the little lilo. bird (lying um. _ “Ho! Ho'." laughed I big rough In“. “In her room? No little girl will stay In her room on Christmas The lld'l tuber unsure-d. sad. tr. “Yen. my llule girl will. She had luflntlle paralysis last sum- mer. 3nd hun't been able lo walk since. Surely. son. we'll tind a lil- tle tree tor her." The man (at out from the shd_ He walked to the tree Ind [audit-ll it gently. "I never nw a more beautiful tree. it seems to glow, Holly wlll love It." be said with I smile. The little tree wan so happy that he didn't feel the blows from the " that cut him to the ground. And when they put him into the sled, he was still lumpy. The little boy cat. led to " father: ‘It sounds " it the little tree wu singing when the wind blow through Ill branches." And the little tree laughed delight. odly. “Why. dad, there II u cute little tree over there. Such a beautiful straight tree. Wouldn‘t that du?" he culled. In homes throughout the contin- ent this Christmas the holly plant will carry on its age-old duty of spreading Yuletide spirit. I cus- tom that dates hock to the pagan tribes of continental Europe. Current popularity of the holly is a continuation of the custom of the Druid feasts which honored the mistletoe and holly in pagan rites. In Europe the tribes under Roman rule sent holly branches to each other as evidence of good will. Homes and churches Won decorated with holly laden with crimson berries when the pagans celebrated the feast of Saturn- alia. the “turning on of the sun." Fen! of Celtic Sun God Yuletide. the feast made to tin Celtic sun god, Yaioul. finally In» came the celebration of Christ mas. and the holly tree, known in the holy tree, became the sari-m! tree for decorations at our Chrtct mas festivals. t" Ochoa that sum: without dripping t cum Killed. In uph Idio- Instantly h. I not." We“ should . ”an to the tit. l If the equhulrm "N. The Jug ts b that it has a Long realizing 15‘ "Tip jug that th, .A. In!» easier. thc 'ttve Syrup In)“ 3:. m tn retailing m at 31.30 tor a " 07 hr a " oz. 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