The Spirit of Christmas

The Spirit of Christmas By Clarence Baird, Teacher of History and Civics, Tooele High School

Each year as the Christmas-tide conies around, our hearts beat faster, our faces become more jovial, and life takes upon itself new meaning. There seem to be unseen forces about us which cause us to be happy, and to desire to make every one else happy. There is something in the very season of the year which gives an added charm to the festivities of Christmas. At other seasons we derive a great portion of our pleasure from the mere beauties of nature: The song of the bird, the murmur of the stream, the breathing fragrance of spring, the delightfulness of summer, the golden pomp of autumn; earth with its mantle of refreshing green, and heaven with its deep, delicious blue and — cloudy magnificence all fill us with mute but exquisite delight, and we revel in the luxury of mere sensations. But in the depth of winter, when nature lies despoiled of every charm, and wrapped in her shroud of sheeted snow, we turn for our gratification to moral sources. The dreariness and desolation of the landscape, the short, gloomy days, and the darksome nights shut in our vision and make us more keenly dis- posed for the pleasures of the social circle. Our thoughts are more concentrated and our friendly sympathies more aroused. We feel more sensibly the charm of each other's society, and are bound more closely together by dependence upon each other for enjoyment and pleasure. Heart calleth unto heart, and we draw our pleasure from the deep well of living kindness within the quiet recesses of our bosoms. Of all holidays there is none that enters so fully into the human heart, and stirs so many of the higher sentiments. The thoughts, memories, hopes, and customs linked with it are bound by antiquity and nationality collectively; and by childhood and old age individually. They embrace the religious, social, and patriotic sides of our nature. The holly and mistletoe entwined among the evergreens, the habit of giving gifts to those we love, the presence of the Christmas tree, the superstition of Santa Claus, all combining to make Christmas the most longed-for, the most universal, and from every standpoint, the most important hoil day known to man. Amid«t the general call to ha£>ainess. the bustling of suirits.

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the stir of affections, which prevail at this season, what bosom can remain insensible? It is, indeed, the season of regenerated feelings; the season for kindling not merely the fire of hospi- tality in the hall, but the genial flame of charity in the heart. But the presence of the Christmas tree, the story of Santa Claus, and the gift habit, are but outward expressions of some- thing lying within the uttermost depths of the human heart. The true spirit of Christmas lies deeper than all of these, and is the mysterious key that explains our outward actions. The real, genuine Christmas spirit came into the world, in a definite tangible form, over nineteen hundred years ago, when the New Star stood over the manger at Bethlehem, and the shep- herds of Judea heard the heavenly chorus singing, "Peace on earth, good will to men." The birth of Christ represents the greatest gift that this world knows. His mission brought an end to the "Carnal Commandments" and ushered in the higher law of the "Golden Rule." Christ taught that it is more blessed to g!ve than to receive, and ever since, men and women have demon- strated that he was a worthy teacher. He brought a message of brotherhood and service and this spirit is embodied in our modern Christmas. What is the spirit of Christmas? What is this mysterious force in the universe which is proving such a boon to humanity? The answer is found in the life and mission of Christ. That is the true spirit of Christmas. It is a desire to sacrifice for others, to render service, and to possess a feeling of universal brotherhood. It consists of a willingness to forget what you have done for others, and to remember only what others have done for you; to ignore what the world owes you, and think only of what you owe the world; to put your rights in the background, vcur dutie3 in the middle distance, and your chance to do good — and aid your fellow-men in the foreground to see that your fellow-men are just as good as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts — to close your book of grievances against the universe, and look about you for a place to sow a few seeds of happiness and go your way unobserved. This is the true spirit of Christinas, and is the only one whereby the human race can attain a state ot perfection and be redeemed. How well the great apostle expressed this when he said "Though : I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. * * * And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to^be burned, and have not charitv [love], it profiteth me nothing." The spirit of Christmas should cause men to stand beside sick beds and make them cheerful; by struggling men, and cause

— — 156 IMPROVEMENT ERA them to be patient in their greater hope. It should go into alms- houses, hospitals, jails, and, indeed, in misery's every refuge, and bring a larger hope, a more satisfied heart, and a greater trust in God. All this should be done for the sake of doing good. The Great Teacher said: "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it." The greatest satisfaction comes through unselfish service to others. Mankind should be my business; the common welfare should be my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevo- lence should be my business. The dealing of my trade is bul a means whereby I carry on the great work of service; a drop of water in the great ocean of my business. In me should be a certain nerve attuned to every man, a certain sympathy for every man, a certain consciousness of every man. To develop this nerve, this sympathy, and this consciousness, is the purpose of life. For this the world was made and the spirit of Christmas instituted. This spirit bids my wealth, power, or influence, bring a mes- sage of more clothes for the naked, bread for the hungry, schools for the ignorant, hospitals for the ill, asylums for the orphans, and joy to mankind. Linked with my giving should go the spirit of brotherhood and good-will. In "The Vision of Sir Launfal" the beggar spurns the gift of the knight in these words :

He gives nothing but worthless gold, Who gives from a sense of duty: But he who gives but a slender mite, And gives to that which is out of sight, That thread of all-sustaining Beauty Which runs through all and doth all unite The hands can not clasp the whole of his alms The heart outstretches its eager palms, For a God goes with it and makes a store To the soul that was starving in darkness before. All these things are taught me by the spirit of this holy day. The spirit of Christmas bids me resolve: "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it throughout the year. I will live in the past, the present, and the future: The spirit of all three shall strive within me, and I will not shut out the lesson that they teach." I am indeed grateful for the spirit of Christmas. I am thankful for this legacy which the past has left me; and I hope that the Christmas bells, as they ring out through the crisp air, shall waken an echo in every soul which will say, with the poet: Ring out, glad bells, and let thy chimes Be echoed loud through all earth's climes; Ring out thy glorious tidings still, Of peace on earth, to all good will.

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Shine on, ye Star of Christmas morn, Bright heralder that Christ is born; Shine on, ye Star of Bethlehem, Thy message still is love to men. Tooele, Utah