a 4The Canadionn tatesinan, I;awmanvITe, Dec. 24, 1069 In lune With the (Salvation Army War Cry) It is the season of goodwill se we refuse te be persuaded to harp once more about putting Christ back into Christmnas and te complain about the -corniercialism that kills the true spirit of the festivities. In this we are not complacently shutting aur eyes ta obvious conditions an the pretext that :love is blind; instead we want to invite our fellow Christians to look again at their own hearts to make sure that na symptoms exist there of the sins against which they want us ta inveigh. Our *Lord gives us this kind af caunsel in the Sermon an the Mount, and those *who called for His denunciation of the -sins which shocked themn were usually discomfitted when they were reminded that they themse]ves were not immune. High-powered advertising. mav be new but commercialism is, of course, as old as commerce, which is based : argely on supply and demand. Don't we expect cheaper rates for everything Soff-peak or out of season? Can any -hotelier be criticized for making the rnost of an influx of visitors, whether SIt be Banff today or first century Bethlehem? The scurrying around which fol-1 lowed the decree of the Emperor * It Is Not The rising popularity of the snow-i mobile in Ontario has created a new area of concern for police departments and safety organizations. Disregard for bath traffic regulations and public safe- *ty by snowmobile operators has become a problem of expanding proportions. Clearly, the snowmobile must be treated -as any other mechanized conveyance by bath the aperators and the law. We are encouraged to sec that pro- vincial police have warned that snow- mobiles cannot be driven on highways Sother than secondary roads designatcd for their use. Snow vehicles are permit- ted on roads under municipal jurisdic-. tion except where specîfically prohibit- ed by municipal by-law. The police point out that under the1 -Motorized Snow Vehicle Act no one1 under the age af 16 is permitted ta oper-1 ate a snow vehicle on a highway, sec- ondary road or township road. Ontarioa law now dictates that snowmobilcs must carry licence plates and have a white or amber light on the front and a red light1 on the rear. Insurance is necessary. The O.P.P. also reminds al nw mobile owners to check with their local' police before driving their units on any1 Season Augustus gave opportunity for honest traders as well as thieves and robbers. No doubt there were many who went out af their way ta show kindness, and bent their rules on behaif af those for whom the upheaval brought a measure af distrcss; and many more, like the inn-keeper in Rosemarie Aitken's poem who would have if they had been warned. But we are flot warned. We have ta be proddcd into doing something about thie underprivileged and the starving (who are always with us) by horrifving pictures on the TV screen. Even then it usually requires a repeat performance to remind us about the good intentions araused by the first shoxving. And we can get used ta hor- rif.ving pîctures and news about hungry people and homcless people. Christmas has always been carn- mcrcialized but, maybc, the voices that clamour for aur attention and our money. and our own anxiaus enquiries regarding aur preparations for the fes- tival, are so much louder today and just drown out the voices of the angels. As it was, is naw, and ever shall be. But that is no reason why in aur busy Christmas activities we should not try to look and listen a littie harder. A To y! road. We hope this warning is an indi- cation that police forces across the pro- vince are prcpared ta take swift action against snowmobile operators who ig- nore provincial and municipal regula- tians set out for their benefit. What is even more essential is a more respan- sible attitude on the part af indîvidual snowmobile enthusiasts. Snowmabile clubs are doing a commendable job of trying ta foster this klnd of attitude. Thcy emphasizc that the motorizcd snow vehicle is not a toy - a fact which far too many people sccm ta ignore. Snowmobile owncrs and enthusiasts can benefit from an Ontario Safety League booklet which can be obtained by writing ta the 0.S.L., 208 King Street West, Toronto. The booklet clearly out- lines the hazards af the motorized snow vehicle and shows how ta get the maxi- mum enjoyment out of the machine without cndangering yourself or - any- anc else. With the right equipment and the proper mental attitude on the part ai the operator, the snowmobîle can add a great deal af fun ta the winter months. There is no valid reason why it must be the cause of injury and death. .5we gather together with friends and loved ones la our churches and our homes, may we remember the real meaning of Christmas . .. God's love for us . a and inay our hearts be filled with joy! &ftitor, and1 The Canadian winter, among other disagreeable features, presents a four month period of hazardous motoring conditions and there is no more hazard- ous period than that season which is now upon us, the Christmas-New Ycar's season. It is a time when it is prudent for ail drivers ta modify some ai their clriving habits if they are ta avoid the perils which present themselves now. Each year, in extending traditional and warm wishes for a merry Christ- inas, we temper this expression af good cheer, with the hope that it will nat be a sad Christmas for some as a result of mîxing alcohol and gasoline. Christ- mas is a time of good cheer, and quite often this cheer cames by the cup. It is flot with any intent af dampen- Ing the spirit af Christmas that we point to this sorry side af the season, because Christmas is a time for joy and not the sorraw which can be caused by traffic accidents. And part af that joy, in addi- lion ta the spirit ai giving, is the giving ci thanks ta the Almighty, for His gift ta the world. The Churches throughout this area will be thronged, we are sure, with people anxiaus ta renew and re- plen.ish their belief, people anxiaus. ta demonstrate that the truc mcaning af Christmas bas not been lost in the tinsel of commercialism. What about the Spirit of Christ- mas? Have you ever wandered exactly what someone means when they express the wish that "the spirit af Christmas reach inta evcrv heart"'? One thing, is for sure, the spirit af Christmas cannot be summed up in a sin'I1- word. t en- compasses joy, peace. faith, hope, and Igratitude as a mere bcginning. Christ- lans, af course. rejoice in the irue n1eaninq ai Christmas. It is the birthdav oi the Saviaur - an anniversarv, of the day on which the Christ Child ajppeared on earth ta show mankind the route ta eternal salvation. We know that Christmas is, essen- tially, a time of peace. The coming of Christmas has neyer put an end to a major war or even a minor skirmish, but almost invariabiy it does cause men to pause, to think and, more often than not, to pray for peace. If the spirit of Christmas abounded ail year long, there would be no wars. We know that Christmas is a time of faith. It is a time when lost strength and courage may be renewed in the quiet stillness of a church, in the somber darkness of a solitary room, even in the hustie and bustie of the crowd. Hope springs eternally from the Christmas message and in the great example of the life and death of Christ, there is for ail men the promise of a greater and a better tomorrow. There is no more significant time for ail of us to count our blessings and, at Christ- mias, they seemn to be more abundant than ever. Remember this next Thurs- day, Christmas Day. CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS Christmas cornes And Chrîstmasses go. The years silently Slip to the past. We think of friends We cherish so. And trust that True friendship will last. The Christmas spirit 0f love and peace And helpfulness For those in need. The pent up love We must release, May carry through The vear ahead, we plead. -E. R. Taylor D urham Countys Great Family Journal Estabhshed 115 years ago in 1854 Also lncorporating The Bowrnanville News The Newcastle Independent C4, The Orono News 4v 6 %- Second class mail registration number 1551 Produced every Wedinesday by THE JAMES PIJBLISHING COMIPANY LIMITED PO. Box 190 62-66 King St. W.. Bowmatnville, Ontcrulo JOHN M. JAMES GEO. W. GRAHAM GEO. P. MORRIS ENNIoM-P'JSHUADMT. MMAM amhxum Mm, =~w1bod/et propozty rlqhta subs.ttin Meismes u ppannq on jj*pmxe oot rimte repodu WhOIsO 1 at u"Ond tu on4I ota whalevr, parttcuily bY tholoqrph" o:oà p ta a l8«,14j o . muet1»b% oolu ram telii. ais = d the pris r. m uato»xd j*ý Wi besubSlee t a reej19.lu aw." W.00 ci Ir m 'm ~SO8.00 a Yer initheUnited Sîate ahtbe.agh vq'Poe.um uWin bl.~tu.a t, a el rgT" .Cadian Ulatnua lu pa dwull le M cobuffl t. bat il W 1» s4 . abl, lt aur mm in aay ady.rflasuss ~er.g~s iuAne mwhadv. u0stasreqiiest.d in pt*tlq by lb. avd~b. tpws e Tb* CUadin M Zboeus. uily siqued by t*e airtiw «md wI mufi huU»dO c.. ucb t h sice m mmo ffiiW t«0,w1rttAna 1 MW«ni n Iheit =W .It «nu 9"Mn«60 mi oe â - ~~bv .ne~~ sa~i~£?. po «ç» seb ic,44 ço he e Sugar and By Bill Smike CHRISTMAS IS HAIRY! As the getting-ready-f or-Christ mas tempo around aur house increases fromn mild panic ta wild hysteria, I can't help thinking a long way back : ta the tirnes when Christmas w as an experience to be anticipatcd with thrilling delight, ta be savoured whcn it arrived, rather than the inane, cxhausting scramhle it has become in these affluent times. First real indication of Christmas was the buying of the ttirkey. In mny home town, there was an annual Turkey Fair, late in November. Exciting for youngsters. Farmers brought their tur- keys to town, fresh-killed and plucked, but with beads, feet and guts stili there. Housewives wandered among the tur- keys, Iooking for tbe perfect bird, pinch- ing, poking, sniffing. Then it ivas hung in the woodshed, by the feet. At the right time, it was brouight in, the pin-feathers plucked with care, head and feet chopped off and guts re- moved. Thcn the scent of home-made dressing f illed the air. It was a REAL turkey. Today, we elbow and shove aur way along the meat counter, gazing at a raw af pallid, yellow-white lumps wrapped in plastic, legs neatly tucked in. They ail look the same, and thcy all taste the same (wct paper), but we are secure in the knowlcdge that we don't have ta discmbowel themn, that they are "eviscerated" and that the giblets are in a nice littie bag tucked inside the frozen carcass. I can't quite believe that they have ever been real turk.?ys that have walked and caten and fought and mated. Getting the trce was the next stcp. You went out into the country with your kid brother, walked hall a mile into the bush and selected a beautilul spruce, one cutting, the other watching for the farmer. You dragged and car- ried it, somnetimes two miles, home. T'here was a great sense ai satisfaction. Today we go down ta a Christmas tree lot, fumble through a pile of half- Mrczeicrumby Scotch pines, select the lèot mI".uapen, take it bomne, and wvhen it thaws, discaver that the irozen -uW4 bas a gap the length of your arm jà ït. Thià Ila ater forking over a âmal Friendship Club SHolds Annual S P , Candlelighting S ice ,' About 55 members of th AFriendship Club af Trinit: Church gathered for a pot ràyj luck supper in the ehurch hal on Friday, December 12th, a ransom. There is a great sense ai dis- satisf action. Decorations in those days were simple, inexpensive, but just right. Strings ai red paper belîs, venerable but cheery. Strings ai red and green curled crepe paper ail over the bouse. The trec itself had "icicles" and some colored balîs. A lew wcalthy people had colored lights. On top was a home- made angel. Today, an decorations alone, some people spcnd what would have led a family in those days for two months. Fancy candles; store-bought wrcaths ai ersatz holly; colorcd lights evcrywhere inside and out; trees that are almost bidden from the naked eye by festoons of fribbcry. Buying gifts in those days was simple, compared ta the frcnetic busi- ness it is today. There was scarcely any mon ey then, and everybody needed somethîng. Sa it was long undcrwear, or a hand-knit sweater, socks or gloves, maybc a lew real luxuries, like a 59- cent gai-ne ai snakcs and ladders, or a book. Ten dollars ddn't go far, even then. Today people almost go arouind the bend trying ta find somnething for other people who have evcrything. or can buy it. Nabody makes a giit. They buy them. They haven't time because ai the "Christmas rush". Clothes that don't fit. Eight-dollar tays that last f ive min- utes. A hundred dollars worth ai ski cquipmcnt that isn't the right kind. Christmas Eve then was carols around the piano, mother stuffing the turkey, kids to bed early quivering with excitement. Stocking-stuffing time for the aduits. A quiet chat, with a littie despair that there wasn't money for skates and new winter coats, and things like that. Today it's lrantic iast-minute shop- ping and wrapping ai gifts, entertain- ing people who have managed ta finish their rat-race (we gat ta bcd at 4:00 a m. last year alter receiving caroliers and others, and, 'believe it or not, we had frozen chicken pies for Christmas dinner.) Hope I'm not -,etting maudlin, but Christmas used ta be merry. Now, it's j st hairy. O ty Ill at 5:30 p.m. Mrs. Mary Cale, the leader, welcomed the group, after which the happy members did fui] justice to the bountiful feast providcd The hall was beautifully decorated with a Christmas tree. colored lights, and bas- kets of glittering poinsettias. Each table was also centred with a gay ornamental table centre, made and donated by Mrs. Bernice Bothwell. These were later given away for lucky prizes. After the supper. the mem- bers gathered at the front of the hall for the worship ser- vice which included a candie- lighting ceremony. This ser- vice was prepared by Rev. A. W. Harding, assisted by Mrs. Harding, with Mrs. Hallowell at the piano. The worship consisted of scripture readings of the Christmas story, Christ- mas carols. and comment by Mr. Harding. One tall candie representing Jesus, the Light of the world, and 12 sharter ones representing t w e 1 v e trut.hs contained in the Christ- mas story, were lit as the stary unfolded. Colin Taylor sang "The Light of the World is Jesus" as a solo. with the g roup joining in the refrain. As a climax, aIl members were included in the candle- llghting cercmnony, each being pravided with an unlit can- die. Mrs. Mary Cale and Mrs. Myrtie Morris received tramn Mr. Harding a light.ed candle of Truth, from which the mem- bers lit their candles and passed on the light ta their neighbors, while the group sang 'Silent Night"'. The final effeci was very reverent and beautîful. Congratulations were ex- tended to Mr. and Mrs. Rus- sell Gilbert who have jus.t celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary. also ta Mr. and Mrs. Albin Clemrens who cele- brated their 64th wedding anniversary on Dec. l3th. The Frierndship Club gratefully ac- cepted tram Mr. and Mrs, Albin Clemens the gift of a beautiful floar lamp to be placed in the church tounge. Tb- nexl meeting 'vil] tak, the faritai Valentine party on Frj.day, February 13, 1970. 0 25 VEARS AGO (Dec. 28, 1944) Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Mount- joy. Islington; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mauntjoy, Heward, Sask.; Mr. Elmer Slemon, Toronto; Mr. and Mrs. Ther- an Mauntjay. Mr. Milton Slemon, Lloyd and Gordon, Haydon; Mr. and Mrs. Rus- sell Gilbert and Velma, Solina, were guests of Mrs. J. E. Elllott and Miss Annie Mountjoy on Christmas Day. An added feature of the day was the celebration of the Silver Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Gilbert,. Rex'. C. B. Jeffery. assist- ed by Rev. G. C. Welr, bap- tized the farmer's grand- daughtcr, Judith Anne Jef- fery, at the home of grand- parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Wagar, on Christmas Day. Holiday visitors: Mrs. Beatrice Hall and son, Barr 'v, Toronto. with her father, Dr. J. C. Devitt. Miss Mary Jury, School of Social Services, Toronto University, with Mrs. J. H. H. Jury. Miss Pat Clarke, St. Mlchael's College, Toronto, with her mother, Mrs. Wmn. Cla rke. Mrs. R. Gahourie. June, James and Donald. Toronto, with ber mather, Mrs. C. S. Halîman. Miss Charlott.e Hoffman and Mr. A. E. Parks,M M.. Toronto, wlth ber mother, Mrs. Bert Curtis. Lake Roadi. Mr. James Southey, Queen's University, Kings- ton, with bis parents, Mr. and Mr.,. E. C. Southey. Miss Frances Croak, Hamn- Ilton. wlth ber parents, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Crook. Pte. Ruth Hutchinson. C.W.A.C. A r m y Shows, Toronto, was home for Christmas and gave some fine character readings at the B.T.S. concert C hri.st- mas mornlnR. Mr. and Mrts. Stani Black- well sppnt t.he holiday weekend ln Tlllsonburg. Sgt. Lucy Lye. C.W.A.C., Ott.awa. with ber mnother, Mrs. George Lyle. C.S.M. George Graham, Vernon, B.C., with bis wifc -nd daughter. Mr:.- T,' Por'lp.% \vth lier daughu2r. Mrs. Doris And- orson, Obh1awa. 49 YEARS AGO (Dec. 30, 1920) Nominations for mayor. reeves, cauncillors and pub- lic school trustees were held on Monday evenlng. Mr. John Lyle, J.P., Returnlng Officer. was kept busy re- carding the names of nom- indes. Mr. J. A. Holgat.e having wlthdrawn, Mr. H. L. Quinn Is Mayor again. Mcssrs. T. S. Holgate and L. A. W. Tole are runnlng for Reeve. Messrs. Gea. W. James and E. C. Rehder for Deputy Reeve. Candidates who have quallfied for Coun- cillors are: Messrs. R. W. Holmes, W. H. Thlckson, J. E. Elllott, M. J. Elllott, C. S. Hailman, Thos. Gorbold. Sam Glanville, Jas. Bennett. R. E. Yates, Wm. Merrltt, G. W. Humpage. Messrs. C. Il. Mason and F. J. Mitch- ell having declined ta stand, the Publie Sehool Trustees, elected by acclamation, are Mes.srs. Jas. Deyman, M. A. James and C. F. Rice. In Darllngton Township: By acclamation, Thos. Baker Is Reeve and W. R. Courtice. Deputy Reeve. Counicillors who go ta the pols next Monday are: A. H. Brent, C W. Couch, W. J. S. Rlck- ard. C. A. Wight and Silas Willilams. In Cartwright Township, W. A Van Camp is reeve by icclamation. Ca u ncilhors %vho go ta the poIls next Monday are: Wesley Cam- bell, Andrew Devltt, Crelgh- txon Devitt, Richard Edger- ton, W. B. ferguson. F. Hyland. .1. J. Jobb, John Larmcer (decîined). At St. Paul's Sunday School Christmas enter- talnment on Wednesday evenlng. Dec. 22nd, members of the school and staff were ably asslsted by Mr. D. Morrison's orchestra. Thero welre brlght little recita- tions by Murray, Alan and Jean Cla rke and Bruce Camr- cran, and Leola McMann couple of pretty son rene Halman and 1ît. fred Clarke, and a fine piano solo by Yvonne Hazlewoad. Accompanlments were play- ed by Miss Helen Yeloôw. lees, Mrs. M. A. Neal. Mrs. R D, Whifmee and Mrc. D. W B3t.' t. AI] the 'rlasse e(x. ceiled in their musical num.- bers. 'à.1à The Spirit of Christmas Go rIrespond'ents 1 ".Ma ývt- M.P= 1 - j ý- Staff eun a-blail e. %-;> Pt ýUnaùtan ýitatteman