A CHRISTMAS APPEAL FOR THE BELGIANS.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13635, 25 November 1914, Page 6

A CHRISTMAS APPEAL FOR THE BELGIANS.

(To the Editor of "Th& Colonist.")

Sir,—The season of the.year is fast approaching when, beyond all others, we delight to feast and show our joy and gratitude as we celebrate the birth of Him who came taring "goodwill to men." It is right that everyone should be glad and rejoice because of all that that wondrous birth brought to the world, and it is right that we should express the joy we feel in the good oldfashioned manner—of the giving, of gifts and of merry-making. But I have been thinking that we all might do much more at the coming Christmastide to show our gratitude'than we usually do. There will be thousands of sad hearts in Belgium at Christmas time. Driven from their homes by this cruel war, shelterless, in the depths of a bitter winter, without food or proper clothing, hopeless, and destitute, these poor creatures, through no fault of their own, will not know a single moment of gladness unless something is done for them. Would it not, therefore, be a gladsome thing, as well as a Just thing, seeing that our own nation is under a deep debt of obligation to the brave Belgians for the way in which they have held the Germans in check, thereby, in all probability, preventing disaster to ourselves-, if we one and all for once went without the luxuries and pleasures and giving of presents in which wo usually indulge at Christmas time, and devoted the money which would be expended in their acquisition towards a Christinas gift to the Belgian poor. My suggestion is that we start a big and real self-denial fund with the object I have mentioned. We are living in the' lap of luxury'as compared with the poor! war-stricken sufferers in Beljgium. It

would do as all good to exercise more self-denial, we should be. giving pleasure and conferring comfort upon those in dire need, and there would be a blessI ing resting upon both the giver as well as the receiver. By such an act I think [we should be doing more to prove our Christianity than by all the churchgoing and carol singing and feasting with which we are usually in the habit of celebrating Christmas. To those of us at any rate who are churchmen it ■seems to me to be nothing less than a question of duty and privilege that we should do something of the kind. Of one thing, however, we should have to be careful, and that is, that in our kindness to others at a distance we do not inflict pain upon those at home. I am thinking of the tradesmen who have laid in special stocks against the Christmas season and whose goods, if my suggestion is taken up to any extent, would have to remain on their shelves, and something would have to be. flone to recompense them for t.lWloss of trade. They themselves might possibly be able to suggest a way •":: of that difficulty better # than anyone else could do. Of one thing, however, lam certain, namely, that all our tradesmen will be in hearty sympathy with the suggestion, and that i*f it isJn" any way possible for them to do so, they will help all they can in carrying it out. Many .of the non-perishable; articles which it is usual to buy at

(Continued on, pag* 7.)

Christmas might still be bought to be sent td Belgium instead of being used for ourselves, and in this way the loss to tradesmen could be at any rate in a great measure reduced. Of course the goods would not arrive in Belgium in time for Christmas Day, but they would he none the less needed, and acceptable when they did arrive. They could also probably be sent freight free by arrangement with one of the shipping companies. I am throwing out this suggestion in the interests of the Belgians only. Our own British poor will be well looked after, as they always are at Christmastide, as everyone who has lived in the Home Land knows is the case, but bad as their sufferings are in the winter, those of the poor Belgians will he infinitely worse-. Their cup of woe is full to overflowing. _ Apologising for trespassing so much" upon your space.

I am, etc.,

G. A. EDMONDS