“Languid” Attitude To Christmas Criticised

Press, Volume C, Issue 29695, 13 December 1961, Page 2

“Languid” Attitude To Christmas Criticised

A plea for the significance of the word ‘Christmas" to be taken out of its all too common “meaningless and blasphemous” context and exalted io its rightful place, was made yesterday by the Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev. Martin Sullivan) in an address to wives and members of the Christchurch Rotary Club at their annual “Ladies’ Day” luncheon. The term so “carelessly and slovenly used” today as “Christmas” had in actual fact been derived from the words "Christ Mass,” Dean Sullivan said. Whatever the spiritual beliefs of any man or woman, the significance of Christmas need not necessarily be forgotten. There was surely something wrong with any person vzho could not at this time stop and pause in some place of quiet reflection, whether a church or a chair at home, to meditate on the happenings of the last year. The common “languid” attitude towards the season as just being another chore to be gone through could too easily make Christmas a time without meaning or significance he said. Instead far better was surely to try to “rekindle the spirit of Christmas” through a greater giving from the heart. "Whatever else we may do at this season, however cynical we may be, let us all take some kind of personal gift and toss it out to the whole mass of poverty

and despair in the world—beyond the bounds of this happy welfare nation.” Dean Sullivan said goodwill was the foundation of family life and was in essence the whole secret of mankind’s strength. A body such as the Rotary organisation was one in which persons of diverse walks of life could strive together to interpret these ideals, Dean Sullivan said. Tribute To Nurses Many Solomon Island babies bear the names of New Zealand girls. They have been called after New Zealand nurses who have cared for the mothers when the children were born. "It was a great pleasure to me to learn of this appealing waj' of expressing gratitude.” said the secretary of the Lepers’ Trust Board (Mr P. J. Twomey). "It made me feel proud to hear the high praise bestowed on our New Zealand nurses by the Government medical authorities. “From end to end of the 700 odd miles of the Solomon chain of islands, one encounters these dedicated New Zealand women, thinking nothing of the sacrifices they make to help the native people. “New Zealand produces no finer people,” added Mr Twomey.