God's holy night

White Ribbon, Volume 28, Issue 7, 1 December 1956, Page 1

God's holy night

Twas through that blessed Beacon bright God pierced the night of doubt and fear, To say from Heaven’s holy height, “Have faith my child, for I am near.” For through the Babe of Bethlehem God cante to meet the sinners’ need, To save, sustain, and comfort them And be a Holy Friend indeed. WHAT LIES BEYOND ? The Venerable Bede, meditating upon the problem of Me and death many centuries ago, came to the following conclusion: “Life is like a bird flying out of the dark night into a brilliantly lighted banqueting hall —flying across that brilliance for a brief moment, then out at the window into the dark night again ” So man observes bis brief existence, coming into consciousness out of the unknown, living a brief span of restless years, then out again into the dark unknown. As we watch life fly through that farther window, and approach it ourselves, too, we cannot help but ask “What Hew beyond?” The materialist ,looking into the night, has said. “There is nothing out there but black oblivion.’’ The agnostic has shrugged his shoulders and concluded, “We can never know.” The •entimentaliut has sighed, “I hope there is something there.” But the Christian, standing at the threshold with his eyes upon the living Christ, shouts exultantly with glory in his soul, “I see beyond the window the gleaming portals of Heaven and the \erv Throne of God !” —“King’s Business.”

It was the night, God’s holy night. When through the hallowed darkness shone That jewel of celestial light In royal brilliance, all alone It glowed in glory o’er the earth, Imprisoned by the cords of sin. And there proclaimed the Saviour's birth And hade the world to welcome Him.

Again, it is the night! Dark clouds Ot sin and war, of hate and grief Now form the sepulchres and shrouds Of faith of love and of heli* f. But through the darkness Gc.A «pp* ars, And words of grace He whispers low, "Have faith and cast away thy lears, For I will re' er let you go.” —James A. DiPon. LIQUOR COURTS TRAGEDY Ihe Festive Season with its accompanying holiday period greets us once again as another year is closing. New Zealanders are making preparations for the enjoyment of freedom f»om the routine working days of the year and \ery many will tra\el throughout om* lovely land to revel in country or seaside life, while yet others will find pleasure and recreation as they enter our cities and towns. And yet, amidst all this pleasure, there will he danger on our roads as liquor is mixed with driving, for we have conic to know ad too well that alcoholic liquors deal out death and injury, turning happiness into tragedy and sorrow. Dr Andrew C. Ivy of the Institute of Scientific Studies gi\es us warning that, “Judgement and skilled movements are impaired at a concentration ol .01 to .01S per cent. A drop of alcohol, the size of a drop of water in each pint of blood yields ? concentration of .01 per cent.” Liquor is always a menace—even in small quantities!