The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1921. PEACE AND GOODWILL.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1921. PEACE AND GOODWILL.

The Christian festival of Christmas may vary in the method of its observance in different lands and at various eras, but it can never lose its true significance. The message it brings of peace and goodwill, the kindly spirit it inculcates, the feeling of rejoicing it engenders among young and old, and the lessons it conveys, all appeal to Christian people with irresistible force on each recurring anniversary. It is the one season of the year when the link of brotherhood takes on a special brightness and attractiveness marked by mutual good wishes for happiness and well-being—wishes th/it, although familiar, never become formal. because heart speaks to heart and hand joins hand in friendly greetings that never grow old or commonplace, but are charged with fraternal vitality. It may be that some of the Christmas anniversaries are not as interesting or as bright as others, but all open up a vista of new hopes, new joys, new friendships, and new success-

es. There is an exhilarating influence that brings self-denial arid :j the love of generous deeds into h full play. Although the aftermath of the late war is still pressling severely on the nations, there are many reasons why the Christmas of- 1921 should be memorable in world politics, and be hailed with exceptional gladness throughk out the British Empire by reason g of the practical steps taken at a Washington to ensure permanent tj peace and goodwill, while the I hopes, for the end of strife in Tre-

land are strong, despite the nature of the difficulties to be overcome. Never in living memory has the outlook for peace -been so bright as at the present time, and well may all people rejoice with exceeding gladness of heart. Equally favorable is-the present Yuletide season for exceptional gladness in the home circles. It is there that the spirit of Christmas is chiefly in evidence as a time of happiness and reunion, the one day above all others that the young may claim as their own. The interchange of good wishes and kindly gifts has an influence that nothing can rob of its power for good, its wealth of feeling and its good intent. The more we look back through the past the higher value shall we place on the lessons it conveys. Every past age has contributed to the blessings and privileges we now enjoy—our civilisation, advancement, refinement, knowledge, wonderful inventions and the pleasant things of modern life. Much of the good in our homes has come down from the past—the fruit of the labor and sufferings of our ancestors, and it is at Christmas-tide the one outstanding festival of home life—that the comforts, the joys and the beauty of that life are most strikingly illustrated. Our present Christian civilisation is the growth of centuries, and, though at times we may be shocked at deeds of which even barbarians would scorn, .vet. in the main, we have good reason to be thankful to those who have made it possible for us to dwell in peace and security, for every shred in out-

flag represents a precious cost m loyalty to the truth, and to the cause of human rights as enuneiv ated by the Founder of Christiau-

ity. Christmas is a season that particularly inculcates unselfishness and the desire to give others pleasure and happiness, hence the obligation on us to endeavor to pay in some measure the debt of the past by love and .service that will be an inspiration to those who eome after us. We do well to make much of the Christmas season, for it brings us nearer to one another, a companionship of joy and gladness, peace and goodwill. It is the duty and the privilege of the Press to do the utmost possible towards promoting the happiness and well-being of the people, so there is a true ring about the sincere wish we express to all our readers for “A HAPPY CHRISTMAS.”