Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, MONDAY, DEC. 24, 1934. CHRISTMAS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18588, 24 December 1934, Page 4

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, MONDAY, DEC. 24, 1934. CHRISTMAS

Once more it is Christmastidc and people everywhere . arc passing from one, to another the old, old salutations. Postmen laden with letters and pareels, telegraph wires humming with greetings, shops thronged with customers making their last-minute pureliasos —all testify to the reality and permanence of the Christinas tradition. Soon Christmas bells will be ringing round the world. By the use of radio many homes', the world over, may listen to the bells of almost every nation ringing ft joyous peal as another Christmas Day dawns. From the Church of the Nativity at Bcthlchoira, the bells which take the place of the Angels’ Song of long ago are again'to be’ Iteard, telling the world that the wondrous message that was sung to the Shepherds still has its power to lift the world from self to, service. Christmas messages will be broadcast from all parts of the Empire, culminating with the personal message from King George to hi s subjects, always so thoroughly appreciated. What does it all mean the hectic rush to exchange presents and greetings and the eager awaiting of the bells and the carols on Christmas morn? Though there is nothing new in these salutations, somehow it heartens us to send and receive them, and though the day comes round far too quickly for many of us it revives memories of youth and by prompting to thoughts and deeds of kindness sweetens our lives. The Christmas bells ring out the mesage “On earth peace, good will to .men,’’ which has come down through the ages and was never more in tunc w’ith human sentiment than it is to-day. With a full knowledge of the horrors of war, the people, of all nations eagerly desire peace, and despite the fact that armaments have been growing apace and that nations have been regarding each other with jealousy and suspicion, there is, we believe, a general 'tendency towards the promotion of international understanding and the realisation of world peace. Storm clouds have gathered at odd times during the year, but to-day the sky is much clearer than it was and there is no reason to fear that patient diplomacy, aided by the influence of the ChrisL mas message, will- not be able eventually to overcome all obstacles and to produce conditions of amity and co-operation which will make for a better world. Much of the trouble the world suffers from to-day is due to the tendency —when it is not Christmas —to divide the world into little compartments and to think only of those who dwell in ours. It is nationalism that arms the nations and raises high tariff walls. The nations are finding, one by one, that this rigid nationalism does not pay, and before another Christmas passes we hope there will be a much more generous and helpful attitude one toward another than has been shown in the lastfew years. One of the bright spots of Christmas has always been the desire to bring cheer to the people who are poor and down on their luck, and who can hardly have anything like a happy Christmas' unless their neighbors do not forget. This manifestation of the old Christmas spirit has been creditable to Gisborne in the past, and we feel sure will be maintained to-day, when so many are still in straitened circumstances. _ Lastly, of course, wo shall not bo allowed to Forget that Christmas is the children’s festival. Do we oldsters remember how wc used to count the days, the excitement of Santa Claus, and the joy of our family gatherings? Let us do our best to preserve and foster these happy traditions, so that our children may be able in their turn to pass on to their children, and children’s children, the happy spirit of Christmas which is capable of doing so much to brighten and ennoble human society. Once more then we pass to our friends and readers —“A Happy Christmas.”' May all be merry to-day witli the happy laughter of children to cheer their feast and may their enjoyment of Christmas be the prelude to good days to come.