The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

. Absence From Fear Is Essentially Best Christmas Message A. P®p itish Export Counter Adverse Trading Balance - + whole, to have increased during the TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1946 THE DAILY TIMES-GAZETTE PAGE THREE "My message Is not for a merry Christmas but it Is for a ppy one for truest happiness demands the absence of fear," declared Rev. D. M. Rose, Rector of St. Géorge's Anglican Church, in his address at the Christmas meeting of the Oshawa Rotary Club, in Hotel Genosha yesterday. The speaker was introduced by® Rev. George Telford while the thanks of the club was voiced by President W. H, Karn, Adding to the enjoyment of the meeting was the singing of Christmas carols led by Rotarian R. G. Geen and the playing of a number of beautiful violin solos by Edouard Bartlett, Mr, his address that the Christmas fes- tival had become wonderfully em- bellished by all kinds of things from many -places, This season of the year was observed as a festival in pre-Christian times by the Ro- | mans and also the sun worshippers. | While the time of the birth of Christ was not certain the Western Church ordered that December 25 be observed as the Nativity feast. | He also referred to the fact that, on one occasion while visiting a vil-' lage in the Himalaya country of In-, dia he had noticed Christmas cards | for sale even though the people | were not Christians. On enquiry he | learned that it was the practice to | send them to white friends. The mistletoe, associated with Christ- mas, had its origin with the Druids; the tree in Germany and Santa Claus from St. Nicholas in Holland. "There is a great need for pierc~ ing through the embellishments and the disentanglement and unwrap- ping of the husk grown about Christmas due to modern commer- cial enterprise. The message, after the passage of 1900 Christmases is I feel to be found in the two words 'Fear Not'. I hope every one of you will read the story of Christmas as found in St. Matthew and St, Luke. The words 'Fear Not' are mentioned on four occasions there. ' Deliverance From Fear "Christ delivered the so-called Christian world from the fear of evil spirits, demons, etc. The people of India are ridden by the fear of evil spirits. Christ has delivered our cf tion from all this. One great contribution of the Christian Church is the deliverance from fear", declared Mr. Rose, Flower Pot Falls Killing: Boy Port Colborne, Dec. 24--(GP)--A heavy metal flower box filled with e toppled from its stand in the yard of Charles Cromble"s home and killed four-year-old Paul Babcock, who lived next door to Oromble. The boy and some other children had been playing in the Plays at Rotary kd EDOUARD BARTLETT Supervisor of Music in Timmins who delighted the members of the Oshawa Rotary Club yesterday with a number of violin solos, Mr. Bart- lett also played at both services on Sunday at Simcoe Street United Church, His accompaniments were played by R. G. Geen. Prominent Men Again Newsies For A Day Windsor, Dec. 24--(CP)--Former newsboy who have reached promin- ence in the business and profession- al world went back to their old stands here recently to raise "hun- dreds of dollars" for a local charity. Such prominent men as William Griesinger, Ontario Liquor Control Board chairman, David Croll, Liber- al Member of Parliament for To- ronto-Spadina and former Mayor of Windsor, Magistrate Angus W.Mac- Millan, and city solicitor Lorne R. Comming, sold a special tabloid- size paper for "Whatever you cag give, sir." aami-------- INSIDIOUS POISON Chronic benzol poisoning can de- velop to a critical stage without the victim being aware, for some time, that he is being poisoned, Written for The 'Canadian Press By GEORGE ABRAHAMSON London, Dec. 23.--- (CP) -- The purely financial tasks of British re- conversion have been shouldered with comparative ease, Thanks to the Canadian and United States loans, the foreign currency problem is well on the road to permanent: solution. » Though "higher prices add to the ' cost of food and raw material im- rts, export gains during 1946 have een sufficlent to keep the adverse trade balance down to the permis- sible margin, . Satisfactory arrangements for the settlement of sterling balances have been included in new commercial agreements, though in some cases only after hard bargaining. Foreign balances in London seem, on the year, but the wartime currency re- Strictons were put on a permanent sis. The budget deficit has been cut sharply. Government expenditure fell by 35 per cent and revenue was 'well up to the mark. With customs and excise duties and purchase tax likely to yield more, further income tax concessions are likely next year, possibly in combination with a re- form of the excess profits tax and ,& new tax on capital gains, hither- to untaxed, ™ Huge sums will be needgd in the next few years, especially indus- tries scheduled for nationalization. Some £150,000,000 ($600,000,000) is wanted for coal mining, and steel- makers and electricity companies have prepared pr calling for £168,000,000 and £150,000,000 in capi- tal outlay. Transport and housing will also absorb much capital, Markets Undisturbed So far nationalization has had little effect on the financial mark- ets. The Bank of England stock was changed into 3-per-cent treasury stock giving the same yield. The coal companies have =ot yet re- ceiveds their £200,000,000 compensa- tion stock, which will be subject to disposal restriction, and the na- tionalization. of inland transport and electricity production is not yet jaw. Meanwhile, new investment has been seriously retarded in ine dustries scheduled for public owner- | Rapley ship. The cheap-money policy and the city of t types of merchan- inevitably created inflaiionary tendencies. Money circulation, bank deposits, wholesale and retail prices, wages and other cost elements all tended upwards, but the increase during 1946 was not larger than had to be expected in view of the higher in the U States and the rise in employmeht and civilian pro- duction at home. The floating debt rose during the second half of t. year, but did not inconvenience the treasury. Small savings made a steady contribution to state finance although growing withdrawals caused the authorities to 'appeal for postponement of spending and to rely more on ine stitutional sources. The Labor government's cheap- money policy reached a culminate ing point in October when a 2%- per-cent * stock without fixed re- demption date was issued to a far. from-enthusiastic market. The 2%- per-cent level was enforced for local loans, and Dominion issues also pro- fited from the possibility of con- version to lower interest rates, » Forceful Conversion While the City's dislike of the "tap" technique and temporary "un- funding" forced the public buyer at times to intervene, the treasury's forceful conversion methods on the whole achieved their object. Bank rates followed the downward trend of gilt-edged yields, but many share dividends were raised despite the government's appeal to the con- trary. Smaller government calls for long-term credit permitted relaxa- tion of restrictions on private capi- tal issues and investment of new and ex-conversion funds, but in- dustrial extension schemes were financed largely out of liquid re- serves, swollen by excess profits tax refunds, Stock markets derived great strength from the declining yield of gilt-edged securities and showed surprising resilience in face of ad- verse. Wall Street influences. The demand for equities and fixed-in- terest securities was especially strong, apart from short spells of political uncertainty, and the abundance of money also helped speculative counters. After a sharp advance in spring, stock exchange prices fluctuated for the rest of the year without big changes, but the undertone remained firm. Carol Service At Christ Church Many well-loved carols were sung at the evening service at Christ Church last Sunday. The congrega- tion, led by the choir under W. G. sang "Oh Come All Ye Faithful," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", "O Little Town of Bethle- hem", "Good King Winceslas", "The First Noel", and "Silent Night", 'The senior choir sang "Cradled All Lowly" and the junior choir sang "Long, Long Ags'. The com- bined choirs sang "When Christ Was Born", "See Amid the Win- ter's Snow", © "At Christmastide", "Unto Us a Boy is Born" and "We Three Kings". The soloists in the latter were Messrs. J. Norseworthy T. Shepherd and Frank Williams. Mr. Rapley played the pastorale In- terlude frcen Handel's Messiah dur- ing the olfertory, By LAURA FENNER Central Press Canadian Sunday, Dec. 22, was one of the most important dates of the year. Sunday morning at 5:56 the sun stcdd at the bottom of that long hill, figuratively speaking, which leads steadily upward to June 22, 1947. The almanac states briefly: Winter solstice, entrance of the sun begins a steady lengthening of the days, imperceptive at first to the ordi- nary human, but not many weeks will pass before someone exclaims: "The days are getting longer!" And he will be as pleased as if he had made a new and startling discovery. However, in ancient times the lengthening of the days was not just casually noticed. That event was watched for by our an an- cestors with a high degree of trepi- dation, The timorous feared. that the days, which gradually had been diminishing since late June, might just keep on growing shorter and shorter and the sun farther and farther away until the sun and daylight went out altogether, leav- ing the earth in perpetual dark- ness, Appeased the Sun When the sun obligingly made a turn.about-face, the joy of an- cient folk were unbounded and a festival was held with sacrifices. There was the abundant use of greens for decoration, such as holly, laurels and especially mistletoe. Mistletoe, which is used so friv- ously today at Christmas. time, hanging in the most unexpected places above one's head, and used in jest by every radio comedian, was held in the highest veneration by the Druids, jent inhabitants of Gaul and the 'British Isles, Then came the dawn of the Christian era and the pagan festl- vals took on a new meaning to a more enlightened people. In 8 man- ner it became the pattern for the religious celebration commemorat- ing the birth of Christ. However, a century or two elapsed before much thought was given to the matter and the exact month and year of Christ's birth are not known for a certainty. Eventually, Dec. 25 was chosen, Some authori. ties say that in ancient Britain the 25th was regarded as the beginning of the new year, and it was ob- served in a festival manner. History records many outstanding Christmas celebrations in Merrie England, which may account for the noted story tellers of that country who have portrayed this season in such a charming manner. The Yule log, which crackled in the open fireplaces of medieval houses, Reflected In Ancient Celebrations Of Winter Solstice Christmas Festival Of Today THE YULE LOG--In medieval times the great baronial halls glowed with the light from a bright hlaze in the fireplace, the heart of which was a massive length of timber which was called the Yule log. - added 'a cheerful touch to Christ- mas in the olden days. English Christmas celebrations were rife with jubilation until the reactionr under Cromwell when the other extreme was reached, and galety was looked upon as sacrili- geous, By an act of parliament such festivities were abolished. Celebrations Unlawful Christmas celebrations in Mas- sachusetts were made unlawful for more than 20 years after the ar- rival' of the Pilgrims, Gradually that strict edict was overcome, but it was not until 1856 that Governor Nathaniel Banks removed the musty law from the archives and made a legal holiday of Dec. 25. The Dutch brought all their Christmas customs with them, even to the figurehead of St. Nicholas which was on the ship that carried them here. For days on end pre- parations for the festive season were underway in Dutch héuse- holds, and the best of everything obtainable was none too good, The Christmas spirit was hale and hearty as long as good food held out and during that time all possible business and toil that could be dispensed with was for- gotten, Their trees were laden with gifts, every nook and corner was decorated with Christmas green, the poor were not forgotten. The Christmas tree--the Tannen- baum--was the all important fea- ture of the German celebration. It was not unusual for a household to have several of them, Along with their other festivities, Norway, Sweden and Denmark have" the pretty custom of putting out sheaves of grain for the birds, as well as giving extra rations to the animals and looking after their comfort in general. In Sweden, an old custom is that of the Lucia Bride, At Christmas tme the youngest dgughter of the household, crowned with lighted candles, serves food and drink to her family. The Russian Christmas, before the 1917 revolution, was celebrated in a more serious manner, There was good cheer, but the religi- ous significance was emphasized. France also celebrates in a quiet manner, although there is no mis- taking the season should one chance to be visiting that country at this time of year. In France New Year's Day is a more festive occasion than Christmas. An attractive Christmas Eve cus- tom which seems to be disappear- ing was the "party" in church or Sunday schoo] hall. After religious recitations and playlets each Christ. mas Eve at the church, all the chil. dren, and sometimes the grown- ups, too, received a bag of candy and perhaps an, orange, and fre- quently other gitfs, School teachers, too, especially in the rural districts, were expected to give a "treat" at the close of the Christmas program. Again the bag of candy and an orange yed a prominent part, and it still does, especially in the small country schools. An orange at Christmas, in the | Quebec days when the "treat" was in full flower, was vastly different from the half dozen or so which com- monly reposed in the fruit dish at home, To this day the pungent odor of an orange brings back memories of Christmasses of long ago to many an old timer, Christmas Eve many of us will listen to "The Christmas Carol," even as we have listened to it since the radio became a home institu. tion. And as we listen perhaps the book itself will lie on the table, |'¥ taken from its shelf to be a part of our observance of the day; open at the page where Scrooge makes the thrilling discovery that it is Christmas morning. Children And Parents Enjoy Fine Concert A happy group of parents and children gathered at the Salvation Army Citadel on Friday night last for the annual Christmas concert. Highlight of the gathering was the arrival of Santa Claus at the con- clusion of the program. Following the singing of the carol "Joy to the World" and prayer, Garry Parfitt gave a recitation, "Evening Star". The Singing Com- pany then presented two. carols, "Silent Night" and "Fairest Lord Jesus." The Primary Department pupils presented an exercise, "Toyland". A dialogue "A Winter's Night" was preseated by Ruth Holmes' class. Harry Holmes gave & recitation and Mrs. Simester's class presented a dialogue, "Grandma's Christmas Surprise". Another exercise by the Primary Department was "The Little King, Pat Butler's class then presented the dialogue "The Missing Factor". Concluding the program was the presentation of a group of carols by the pupils of Mrs, Salisbury's, Mrs. Langfield's and Pat Butler's classes, Laski Court Costs $60,000 London, Dec. 24. --(AP)--Harold J. Laski, who lost a libel suit against The Weekly Newark Adver- tiser, has disclosed that he would withdraw similar actions against the the London Daily Express, The Lon- don Evening Standard and The Nottingham Guardian. The economics lecturer, author and former chairman of the La- bor party, announced the decision through his wife with the explana- tion that "no good purpose" would be served by proceeding with the suits. A high court jury Dec, 2. return- ed a verdict that the Newark Ad- vertiser did not libel Laski in re- tical meeting that labor, if unable to get what it needed by general consent, would "have to use viol- ence, even if it means a revolu- tion." The jury ruled that he must pay costs, estimated by attonneys at £15,000 ($60,000). The Labor party has been col- lecting a "Laski Fund" to help him pay the costs, A party spokesman promised a post-Christmas an- nouncement of the amount raised. BIG CULTIVATION AREA Bixty-three per cent of the area %r the Philippines Islands is fit for cultivation, on CORINTHIAN LODGE NO. 81 Meets Every Thursday 8 p.m. 814 King St. West This Week: GENERAL BUSINESS XMAS GREETINGS TO ALL porting that he said at a 1945 poll- | ¥ Pontypool Farmer Is Top Potato Two hundred and eighty-two po- tato growers of Ontario took part in fifteen 500-Bushel Competitions throughout the Province in 1046, according to a report on these com- petitions issued by R. E. Goodin, potato fieldman for the Ontario De~ partment of Agriculture, Records for these contests have now been completed, and the highest overall yield was that obtained by Henry Blakeley, Pontypool, Durham Coun- ty, with a yield of 679 bushels to the acre, The Sudbury District Club, with eighteen contestants, had the highest average contest yield of 479 bushels, The average yield for the 282 contestants was 379 bushels per acre, as compared with an average for the whole province in 1946 of 149 bushels, Six competitors secured over 600 bushels per acre, fifty-two had over 500 bushels and thirty- six between 400 and 500. Certificates of merit were awarded by the Ontario Crop Improvement Association to each contestant ex- ceeding 500 bushels per acre, and ten gald watches, suitably engraved, were awarded to the ten with high- est standing. The value of the ag- gregate prizes amounted to more than $3,000. Twenty-nine growers Grower competed in the final Grand Cham- pionship Award contest, which had a prize of $250, plus a trophy and a free trip to Toronto. The basis of this award was as follows; Yield per acre, 200 points; marketable tubers, 200 points; exhibit at Royal Winter Fair, 100 points. Milton Weatherilt and Sons, Bethany, Dur- ham County, won the grand cham- pionship contest. The top glowers in the fifteen contests held throughout the Prov ince were as follows: | Algoma; Jack Keating, Bar River, Green. Mountains, 504 bushels, Cochrane; Dave Hackett, Cochrane, Chippewas, 566 bushels. Dufferin; Mervyn Ferris, Shelburne, Katah- dins, 589 bushels, Durham; Henry Blakeley, Pontypool, Chippewas, 679 bushels. Middlesex; Raymond L. Hill, Strathroy, Katahdins, 588 bushels. Ontario; Heary Skerrett, Port Perry, Kathadins, 498 bushels. Peel; Eric Holmes, Caledon East, Katahdins, 476 bushels, Rainy Riv- er; Willlam Lowe, Fort Frances, Irish Cobbler, 536 bushels, South Simcoe; Joseph Sleightholm, Allis- ton, Katahdins, 572 bushels. Sud- bury; Adrien Joliat, Chalmsford, Chippewas, 673 bushels, Sudbury, The first year of peace is drawing to a close. A new year with its great possibilities will soon open. | wish all the people of Ontario Riding and their families a very Merry Christmas and may the good will of Christmas continue through 1947 bringing a happy and prosperous New Year to every one. W.¢. N. Sinclar, MP, ONTARIO RIDING Walford District; V. Duff, Walford, Chipewas, 560 bushels. Temiska- ming; Arnold Edwards, Englehart, Chippewas, 401 bushels, Thunder Bay; PF. J. Kailikk, Upsala, Chip- pewas, 582 bushels, Wentworth; H. Marshall, Ancaster, Katahdins, 566 bushels, York; Clifford Wallwork, Stouffville, Chippewas, 632 bushels. MOVED TO COBOURG Kingston, Dec. 24. --(CP)--H, 8, Gummer, Canadian National Rail- ways agent here for several years, took over his new duties at Cobourg, Ont, where he replaced M. A. Harris, who retired on pen- sion, Mr, Gummer, who is from Cobourg, came here from Camp- bellford. © WINS PRESIDENT'S CAKE Rotarian R. E. Richardson, Chairman of the club's Crippled Children's Committee, was present- ed with the President's cake at the luncheon 'meeting of the Oshawa Rotary Club yesterday in recogni- tion of the excellent party given the children recently. Kelly's Porker Learns Lesson | Brantford, Dec. 24--(OP)--Ke pig today nursed his bruised he quarters and swore by all that' pork he'd stay off man's highways for ever more, you see, Same time for any in- nocent porker's evening swill-time and Leslie Kelly's pig waddled Boros highway 24, near here, sty- on his brakes, a Bele, Preston, rammed Schantz' Results: Two cars considerab damaged. One woman ay severely shaken up. And Kelly's pig aware of man's inhumanity to pig- dom in a rather bruised manner-- and spot, Public May See Lt.-Governor Sworn In Toronto, Dec. 24--(CP)--The pub- lic will be admitted without cards to i. «lative chambers, Queens Park when Ray Lawson of London, Ont., Ontario's new Lieutenant Gov- ernor, is sworn in Dec. 26, it was an- nounced yesterday. The retirig Lieu- tenant Governor, Hon. Albert Mat- thews will introduce his successor to Premier Drew and Cabinet members in a brief ceremony at 3 p. m, GUESTS AT ROTARY Guests at the luncheon meeting of the Oshawa Rotary Club in Hotel Genosha yesterday included H, L. Brace, 8id. Owens, Rev. John Jacenty, Rev, A, E. Justice, Rev. B. all bf Oshawa; Rotarian Fred Gardner of Bowmanville, Rotarian Bill Clark of Montreal and Rotar- fan J. D. McFadyen of Rock Island, 8. Morwood, Rev. H. F. Davidson, | be Press Union Is Hailed second car driven by Charles Wood. | Prom! organization has made to decentrale ize its activities from other parts of the 3 British press tells the British their wisest policy for the is to share ocntrol of British New Milk Rates To UK Announced be 25 cents for the first pound with an additional 15 cents charge for each pound up to 10 pounds; a $3 and up to 15 pounds; and parcels over 15 pounds 20 RABBIT HUNT London, Ont., Deo. 24--(OP) bring Fochved i ee Sponred by several game associations, it wild open at 11 am, Dec. 26, with hunts the BStrathrop ers ling at Armouries, Seasond, Greetings Jeo all! Let it bo our hope that we may be able to grasp this year more of the true spirit of the ancient festival of Christmas, J A. Creighton, KC, MLA; Merry Christmas To Every Citizen of Oshawa May I Take This Opportunity of Extending Sincere Good Wishes For A MERRY CHRISTMAS Mayor of the City of Usnawa. during the war is LRA RE THRE SER SL ey ET 2 2S ' A eY 2 PFW I Es