The Hawera Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1924. CHRISTMAS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 December 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1924. CHRISTMAS.

Delivered every evening by 3 o'clock fn Hawera Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatum, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, • Hurleyville, Pa tea, Waverley, Mokoia,; Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Road, ./and Ararata.

Nineteen hundred and twenty-four years ago an event destined to have a mighty influence upon the world occurred; in: ; a. far-off country. For generations the Jews had awaited ,the coining of the Messiah. But- when He came as a baby born in the humblest of circumstances they failed to recognise Him. . When Christ. began Hjis mission on’ earth, He showed the people a .new world governed by principles and ideals to which compatatively little importance had been attached in the centuries preceding His coining. The standard o| life and conduct set before the people wa® far higher than that ; set forward by previous teachers and preachers, • iaoid however one may view the Christ ideal one has to admit that it is remarkable for/ its completeness and the lack of weaknesses or inconsistencies. The central point of Christ’s teaching was peace and goodwill, and the old principle of ‘‘an . eye , for an eye, and .a tooth ifor a' tdoth’ ’ had to give place to a teaching far more! in keeping' with man’s proud boast that his life was governed by intelligence and reason and net by animal instinct. The- appeal, by the. Founder of Christianity, the lab solute justice of His teachings; and the authority with which He spoke—“never man spake as this man’’—‘arrested the attention of the people, and' they took notice qf Him. That those -who were indicted by Christ for their misdeeds; hated Him was .f O' be expected, but after hearing His accusers Pilate had to admit: “I find no/-■ fault in Him,” but fearing the Jews he delivered Him to he put to death. No doubt Christ’s enemies ' thought that the Crucifixion marked the end of His influence, but the fact that people throughout the world k4ep the Christmas festival year by year is clear proof that the action of the Jews did not bring' the end.. As the Christmas season draws near one notes a change in spirit among the great .majority of the people. Everywhere one heats the familiar greetings exchanged;' hard-headed and close-fisted men and women relax at this season, and there is born a ? desire to ‘ offer gifts to others, expressing good wishes and future happiness. True, this spirit remains in many cases for a few days only,, but the fact that it comes each year and that it influences so many people, arousing -in them their better feelings, is indeed remarkable. To those who believe in the teachings of Christ .and- in immortality the Christmas spirit is not difficult to understand, ami throughout the length and breadth of the land to-day, in city or tiny village, in wealthy men’s houses and in the poorest little homes, on great ’liners in mid-ocean - and in solitary " lighthouses anywhere and everywhere, there is present that spirit which changes the people for the time being, and, as it were, takes them out of themselves. Happiness is the keynote, at Christmas, and those imbued with its spirit are at peace with the world. Such a change in man’s nature is indeed good, and, though theological arguments upon the incarnation may take place, the spirit of Christmas persists in' returning year by year, and ■ those who fail to come under its influence must be comparatively very . few. So on this Christmas Eve people throughout this fortunate land cast dull care aside and deck themselves in the gannents of happiness to spend a few fleeting hours with, their friends and neighbours in peace and goodwill. If only that spirit would remain throughout the year among the people, how much brighter and ' happier life would be. Unfortunately, in many cases this spirit does not long remain, but the fact that it never fails to return each year is surely a cause for thankfulness. May it have a. lasting influence upon everybody on this occasion, and to all our readers wherever they mav be we offer the age-long sincere wish that they may one and all spend A MERRY CHRISTMAS.