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Vem Port Perry Star Co. Limited Serving Port Perry, Brooklin and Surrounding Areas P. HVIDSTEN, Publisher WM. T. HARRISON Editor Member of the Ontario Weekly Newspaper Assoc. Member of the Canadian 'Weekly Newspaper Assoc Published every Thursday by The Port Perry Star Co. Ltd., Port Perry, Ontario. Authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, and for payment of postage in cash. Subscription Rates: In Canada $3.00 per yr., Elsewhere, $4.60 per yr. Single Copy 10¢ A Christmas Message By Rev. R. C. Rose Fads come and go, styles change, but for almost two thousand years the "Feast of The Nativity of Our Lord" has been celebrated. The mode of celebration varies from family to family, place to place, and generation to genera- tion, and yet the theme of joy and rejoicing seems to be common to all. It is almost contagious; for at this season agnostics and athiests even adherents of other religions share something of the spirit of good will that is experi- enced by the Christian. Perhaps there is that in man which when confronted with darkness and despair seeks an occasion and a course for joy. We know that the Church of an earlier age was quick to clothe the pagan winter festivals with Christian significance. When Calvanist Piety frowned upon Christ- mas the ingenious Scots transfered their celebration to Hogmanay. We are told that in Modern Russia a new winter festival had to be invented to take the place of Christmas. All too often humanity finds itself burdened with sorrow, distress and problems of many sorts. Some- times they are personal and at other times they seem to involve the whole human race. At such times just to exist, to go on requires resources greater than we possess. We may allow ourselves to drift on a sea of despair, or perhaps we give way to wild abandonment, but with- out real joy. It is against such a background that the message of Christmas is so vividly outlined. Here is the note of hope of joy and peace. In Christmas we do not see man reaching for God but God stooping in love to man. For Christ Jesus "who had always been God by nature, did not cling to his prerogatives as God's equal, but strip- ped himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as mortal man". Philippians 2:6 --Phillips Modern English) This divine concern for man is so richly expressed by the story of the Child of Bethlehem that theological argument and philosophical speculation seem cold things. For God's gift of His Son to man gives man a new be- ginning and dignity, yes new life! When we look into the face of our brother we see the object of God's concern, which also should be ours. Thus we can find love, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his 3on to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another" (I John 4:10 & 11. K.J.V.) May this love be the root of your joy, peace and re- joicing this Christmastide. BR SO OOO SOE ORO OSS OZ Og Og Og OOO ORO ORO OSOSO020 20 PU VV VV VV VV VV VV VOY PON <> a aa (aa a a a a a a a a a alata apt aC t gCateaCy "GEE, MOM, LOOKIT THAT HAIRDO - -- AND HES A SAINT! Yee te u O20. OROSOZOROROIOT RR REMEMBER W 50 YEARS AGO December 23rd, 1915 A meeting in the interest of local option will be held in the Town Hall on Mon- day evening. Willie Norris the noted boy singer will en- tertain the audience. Cartwright --. Miss Pearl Wright has secured a posi- tion teaching Public School in Orillia. In the Port Perry Star subscription contest the lucky winner of the piano was Miss Corrin, Port Perry. New Ford Touring Car, made in Canada, Price $530. Subseription Rates-- Globe (daily $4.00), Mail - Empire (weekly - $1.65). Manchester--A sleigh load of young people took in the Christmas tree on the Island last wok, 25 YEARS AGO Dec. 19th, 1940 One of the brightest finan- cial reports in the history of the Village of Port Perry was presented at the final meet- ing of the 1940 council. The treasurer G. F. Manning re- vealed that the tax collec- tions exceed 100% of the current levy. Mr. Herb Brooks has pur- chased the Beatty Block, on Queen Street. Mr. Wm. Cawker of the 0.A.C. at Guelph ,is with his parents for the holiday. Lucky Winners of the LO.D.E. draw were: Jas. Irwin, Miss Jean Hopkins, Mr. Wilson Gerrow and Mrs. I. Hayes. Mr. and Mrs. George A. Raines, Port Perry, celebrat- ed their fiftieth Wedding An- niversary on Oliristias day. OR0R02080; EN? 10 YEARS AGO December 22, 1955 Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Hunter, Prince Albert, celebfated their 50th Wedding Anniver sary. The Port Perry Junior Farmers will hold their an- nual Christmas party in Manchester Hall. The waterworks depart- ment in Port Perry have found it necessary to raise the water rates. Scugog--Mr. and Mrs. Ro- bert Tetlow celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary. Dennis Woods, of the Cana- dian Navy stationed at Corn- wallis spent Christmas with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Irving Boyd, are spending the holiday in Ottawa. SUGAR and SPICE By BILL SMILEY BENEATH THE TINSEL ~ Ave you one of those birds who goes around in a perpetual grump at this time of year? = Whether we like it or not, the celebration of Christmas has changed drastically in the last generation or so. Mary people resent this and regret jt. They feel that commercialism has taken over the festive season. that the true meaning of Christmas has been smothered in a swirl of electronics and gimmickry. of advertising ard noise and vulgarity and pure greed, T don't agree, Admitted, Christmas is no longer a simple ob- servance of the birth of Clrist. In a complex and neurotic age, it has become complex and neurotic. Physically, the holiday is exhausting, and financially it is crippling, But it's a little too glib, and certainly naive, to suggest that the spirit of Chrismas has been lost. Certainly, Santa Claus and Rudolph are pagan figures. Certainly. some of the "Christmas" songs are nauseating. Certainly, many Christians are utter gluttons at this season. Certainly, many of the decorations and cards and gifts are in the poor- est taste. But these are only material things, the outer trap- pings of the great festival. Beneath these gaudy robes, the bones of Christmas--the grand old carols, the simple, enthralling story--are as strong as ever. And the great heart of Christmas -- the real desire for peace and goodwill -- beats as warmly as ever. Brownies and Cubs go carolling to homes for the aged. Service clubs and church groups and women's organizations hustle around with boxes of cheer for the sick and the poor Firemen and legionnaires re- pair toys and wrap gifts for under-privileged children. Almost everyone, however temporary: it may be, begins to glow with a genuine desire to give, to love, to be one of a great human fellowship. No, don't . tell me the true spirit of Christmas is disappearing. Come, now, all you Scrooges. Admit it. You en- joy giving at Christmas, even though you grumble a bit, and even though you have to do without things vourself, | Until next June. And one of the great things about Christmas, the real Christmas, is that the gifts that really count don't have to be wrapped, and don't cost a cent. What finer gift can we give our children than the teaching of the lovely carols, the telling of the thrill- ing story? And what greater gift can they give us than the look of wonder and delight in their eyes? Think of all the other incomparable gifts for which no charge account or credit card is involved: An invitation to Aunt Martha to spend Christmas Day with you, even though she's 86, deaf as a stone, belches like a Hottentot, and always carries a crock in her purse. A warm smile for your husband on Christmas morning, and the heart-felt statement that you al- ways HAVE liked Christmas trees leaning at a 45- degree angle. ' A warm smile for your wife on Christmas morn- ing, and the fervent remark that she's never looked lovelier, even though she resembles a camp-follower in the Crimean War. A simple announcement from your wife on Christ- mas morning, in the twentieth year of your marri- } age, when your kids are in high school or college, "Guess what, dear. We're going to have a baby." A sincere, sympathetic phone call to your meigh- bor on Christmas morning, when you discover that his front-lawn display, featuring Santa Claus and the Seven Dwarfs, has blown down in the night. Interspersed, of course, with a few jolly "Ho! Ho! Ho's! in the spirit of the season. These are the gifts that give real joy, whether you're giving or receiving, if you have the true spirit of Christmas. Now wait a minute. Don't rush back .to the stores with your wife's mink stole or your kids' toys. Just in case . . . --Toronto Telegram News Service | ve [J > » [ 4 S] a » ° EJ | L & J s 1] a 1 Ld L] v LJ a .) | LJ]