The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULL DIES SINE LINEA." TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1912. CHRISTMAS—I912.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12857, 24 December 1912, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULL DIES SINE LINEA." TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1912. CHRISTMAS—I9I2.

To-morrow,' will be Christmas With what pleasurable anticipations has its--coming been awaited by ■countIct6 thoaisa'nd.Vof people, young and old, in all 'parts of the world! We live in an age of change, of rapidly moving event*, of distractions, contentions, and incessant" turmoil. The world is very busy, moro so than it has ever been before, and from year's end to year's end there is virtually no rest or respite for those who are forced by the circumstances of the age to pay heed to the clamant duties and responsibilities of life. But not all the hustle and .•bustle of'the times .hias served to rob Christmas of its charm. The age-long custom, sanctified by its deep religious significance, hallowed by the sweetest of memories, -appeals to all that is best in human nature! There are come who think that—at any rate so far as this side of the world is concerned—it is not the moral or spiritual significance of Christmas that is most regarded by the great majority of people. In a sense, •parhaps, this view may (bo justified. The- religious (aspect of the great Christian festival is not as prominently emphasised out here as it was. wont to be by tho older generations in the country that we still call" Home." Nevertheless it is still as a religious, anniversary that most people celebrate it in New Zealand. In tho spirit which prompts its observance Christinas means to-day precisely what it has meant ever since its institution. Neither change of clime nor change of time has impaired the strength of the sentiment which &,t this time cajls forth the hearty greeting and the glad hand. There is not a town or district, there is not a community in any part of the King's wide dominions, where the coming of Christir.::e has .not quickened sympathy for suffering, and opened the' hand of charity to the poor. It is, moreover, a season of trace. On-the battlefield, .in' the arena of political and civic strife, in, business., friction and personal animosity—in whatever cause or for whatever reason men may be pitted against each other, they aro encouraged by the message of Christmas to lay aside their enmity and unite in homage to the Prince of Peace. The consequences of men's differences may be terrible, ias in tho case of the Balkan war, but the differences seem small .and petty in the presence of ihe eternal vereties. "Can honour's voice provoke the silent dust, or flattery soothe the dull cold ear of death?" Gray's question, embedded in tho beautiful lines of his Elegy, not only reminds us of the fleeting character of all things human: it serves also the littleness of those quarrels and disagreements by which we too often mar our own and other people's happiness. Christmas proclaims the gospel of universal brotherhood and universal ■peace. Frail human nature is not yet able to attain to such nobility. Tho ■nvillenium is .not yet, and in the meantime tho best we can do is to- strive to bring it nearer by making tho very most of the Christmas truce. In this Dominion, where Nature has been so lavish of her gifts, we should indeed be >a happy people. Our flocks and herds have yielded us rich tribute, our pro-

duce has abundantly rewarded the labour by which it was created, our industries have flourished, and the twin evils of unemployment and poverty have been comparatively non-existent. Here and there the record of prosperity has been spoilt by ill-advised industrial strife; but with these exceptions things^ have gone exceedingly well with the people of New Zealand, and the outlook for the future is bright affld full of promise. There are, of course, some in every community for whom the Christmas sky is clouded over. Some are sitting in the sorrowful ■darkness of bereavement, mourning their loss of loved ones who have passed over to tho Great Beyond. Others, sick and suffering, arc languishing on beds of pain. And still others —though fortunately few in comparison with their moro fortunate fellows—are face to face with the bitterness' of adversity. For the bereaved, the suffering, and those in trouble, this Christmas will lack tho charm and happiness of Chr.'etmases past; but even they who sorrow and suffer will find their burdens feased by the comforting, sympathetic and helpful spirit of the season. With full regard for. the less fortunate ones, and in the"' sincere hope that the coming days will bring them solace, relief and prosperity according to their several needs, we extend to all our Teaders our heartfelt wish that it may be theirs to

spend

A HAPPY CHRISTMAS