The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, December 24. 1912. NOTES AND COMMENENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1043, 24 December 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, December 24. 1912. NOTES AND COMMENENTS.

Bkkore another issue of the Hkrai.d reaches our readers Christmas, with all its joyous festive associations and family reunions, will have slipped into the past. To-night Santa Claus with his beaming happy face and heavy burden of gifts will steal noiselessly into the homes and rooms of little children and deposit in the biggest stockings that anticipating little ones can find, all manner of gifts. With what delight does this happy old fellow bestow bis gifts and how silently ! His great big heart swells with joy—and surely we can excuse the tears which start from his eyes as he contemplates the sleeping, innocent little forms whose last waking thoughts were of him. Not one, however, no matter how lowly, in this fair young laud of ours, is forgotten. With what trumpeting, beating of drums and merry childish laughter and chatter is Christmas Day ushered in. Let us as children of an older growth not forget the fundamental cause of our rejoicing. We are keeping in memory throughout Christiaudom the greatest gift ever bestowed upon mankind —the birth of Him, who is to bring peace to the nations and a common brotherhood to man. L,et that thought, at least for a season, re-kiudle in our hearts sentiments of peace and goodwill. Stretch out the hand of fellowship temporarily broken by misunderstandings. Do something to justify the glad season. Follow the example of Santa Claus and stealthily shed a beam of gladness into the hearts and homes of the poor, the sick, the sorrowing and afflicted. By doing at least one good turn your Christmas will be doubly joyous. To all our readers we tender a joyous Christmas ; “may good digestion, wait on appetite and health on both.”

The joy bells of Christendom ring out the angelic anthem on Christmas morning, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’’ This is the birthday of the Redeemer ol the world, sthe Holy Nativity of Jesus Christ, and one of the greatest Festivals of the Church. We are reminded on this day ol that Mystery of mysteries, the glorious doctrine of the Incarnation, when “the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us.’’ The Word or Logos is Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. There never was a time when He did not exist. He it is who made us, and our world, and all that is in it. Before all worlds were created, before the beginning, He was in existence in the bosom of the Eternal Father, God from God, and Light irom Light. He is uncreated, and therefore without beginning, being with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, being an Eternal God. St. John tells us in the prologue to his Gospel “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,’’ that is, the Logos left for a moment this pre-existent glory and became Man, entered into the human family. Our human nature had got away Irom God ; sin bad caused a barrier, and the result of sin was death. God in His love became Man in order to win humanity back to Himself. That unsearchable love of the Eternal Word which showed itself in our original creation could not be content with a frustrated work, so the Onlybegotten of the Father left His Father’s glory, and became Incarnate to repair the evil which sin bad caused. The Incarnation was the first act in o.ur| Redemption, the first note of our freedom from spiritual death, and the more the Incarnation is contemplated by an intelligent creation, so much the more is the wonderful love of God seen. The Creator so loved the creature He bad made, that in spite of that creature having fallen from grace, God veils Himself in human flesh, and seeks humanity in his own nature, and wins him back again to Eternal Life. The churches throughout the world observe this joyous Festival. The Roman, Greek, and Anglican Churches make this a day of obligation, and the Chief Service centres round the Altar. Every communicant is bidden to attend the Altar on this Feast, as an act of homage and adoration to the Infant King. The nomEpiscopal Churches mark it with services of praise aud adoration, and the whole of devout Christendom kneels at the Cradle of her Lord. No wonder this is a day of good tidings ; no wonder men’s hearts are filled with spiritual joy, for this is the. Birthday of the Prince of Peace. “Peace on earth, aud good will toward men” —a day of freedom, a day of the bestowal of Immortality. Ring out the bells, for the light that haloed the Cradle • Manger of Bethlehem sheds its soft lustre over this world of ours; while in the horizon is seen the fringe of that Kingdom of Blessedness where the Sun of Righteousness reigns in unsullied splendour.

Misleading and untruthful statements have been published by antimilitarists in English newspapers concerning the New Zealand Defence Act, which has called forth some sharp replies from the High Commissioner. The Hon. T. Mackenzie in reply to a letter written bya Mr Mawsousays : “A complete reply to all his strictures is to be found in the fact that in our Parliament recently only five members voted for a proposal to weaken the compulsory clauses of the Act.” It is a pity, comments the Dominion, that the English public could not be made to understand, as New Zealanders understand, what these five members amount to. To New Zealanders one has but to mention their names to settle the matter: Messrs Isitt, Eaurenson, Payne, Robertson and Hiudmarsh. Mr Mackenzie goes on to say, very pertinently : “From that it can be gathered that the common sense of New Zealand is behind Parliament in making a provision for the protection of our country, and that may be taken as a strong indication that the gratuitous advice and indignation of outsiders is not required, nor, indeed, greatly heeded. Doubtless Mr Mawsou is thankful daily that he does not dwell in New Zealand, and equally we New Zealanders are grateful that he is not a resident of our country.”