• 
Christmas lights in Trafalgar Square. �
key tone 
CHRISTMAS 
iyaic, 
HEARTY CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM THE EDITOR 
Zl; ti 
IT is now many years since the powerful pen 
of that well-loved author and social reformer, 
Charles Dickens, produced the famous classic, 
A Christmas Carol. 
In this little book, with the perhaps pardon-
able aid of some "super-natural" agencies, Dickens 
brings two characters into striking contrast. The 
first is the exceptionally miserly and mean-spirited 
Ebenezer Scrooge, who has no time for social 
occasions, least of all for Christmas—considering 
it an incredibly foolish waste of time and money. 
In his opinion, as he drastically termed it, Christ-
mas was definitely "a humbug." 
The other character is Scrooge's solitary and 
By Ernest Cox 
much-oppressed employee, Thomas Cratchit. He 
is a conscientious but impecunious clerk, bravely 
facing the perpetual problem of how to make a 
desperately small pay-packet support an uncom-
fortably large family. Cratchit is all too well aware 
that the advent of the festive season will aggra-
vate rather than diminish his difficulties. But, in 
spite of having very little money, he is deter-
mined that his loved ones, for this one day, shall 
enjoy very much happiness. He intends, with 
them, to bid this hard world defiance, and "to 
make the most" of Christmas. 
C,VER P.I'v �
ChrislRia, Eve. Kev..-tene �
1E �
: 1OUR P ENCE 
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With that consummate literary skill which is 
often allied to a large-hearted compassion for 
human foibles, Dickens describes what is really 
the truly startling "conversion" of the objection-
able Scrooge from his miserable meanness to the 
new-found delights of Christmas cheer. On the 
morning of his moral awakening, which happens 
to be Christmas day, the hitherto decrepit old 
miser feels himself now amazingly light of foot 
and heart, and indulges a surprising jocularity of 
manner. With an almost boyish alacrity he insists 
on dispatching a more than ample main dish for 
the astonished Cratchits' Christmas dinner, and, 
contrary to all expectations, later delights his 
nephew's family by becoming the "life and soul" 
of their Christmas party. Scrooge the unapproach-
able and the avaricious has somehow been trans-
formed, overnight, into Scrooge the popular and 
the beloved. By a means somewhat suspect, but 
obviously effective, he has at last learned how "to 
make the most" of Christmas. 
A SURER GUIDE 
Of course, it is not recommended that, either 
dreaming or waking, we should also seek the 
company of Scrooge's phantom visitors, however 
benign may have been their intention. There is no 
need for us to explore the realms of 
either phantasy or fiction in order to 
learn how to make the most of Christ-
mas. A far safer and surer guide is to 
be found in the Scriptures of truth. 
Nor need we concede that Christmas 
is just an early Victorian creation, finding 
its highest expression in romantically 
crinolined ladies escorted by rather pom-
pous and top-hatted gallants, against a 
background of careering stage-coaches 
and glistening snow. Christmas involves 
far more than that, pleasing and faintly 
nostalgic as such a setting may be. 
Christmas is nearly two thousand 
years old. Its essential ideals of peace, 
joy, and heartfelt praise to God, were 
first announced when the unscrupulous 
Herod terrified the Jews, and the mad 
Augustus proclaimed himself a divinity 
in imperial Rome. 
In order really to make the most of 
Christmas, we should take due note of 
its authentic origins rather than being just en-
grossed in its later developments. Seasonable 
greetings, card exchanges, and family festivities, 
though innocent and enjoyable in themselves, are 
but the natural accretions to Christmas which the 
passing ages have produced. 
DECEMBER 3, 1959 
The first promise of Christmas is recorded in 
the Book of Genesis, when Adam and Eve stood 
guiltily before their Maker. It was far from being 
a happy occasion. They had just tragically be-
trayed the trust reposed in them by their flagrant 
disobedience to a simple divine command. Their 
sorrow, however, was turned into joy when the 
Lord immediately promised that the Seed of the 
woman (or Christ) would eventually come to 
turn tragic defeat into glorious victory. (Gen. 
3:15.) 
As time went on, the Lord's prophets gave an 
increasingly clear revelation as to what manner 
of person the coming Deliverer would be. And 
as the predictions became more frequent and 
precise, so the spirit and ideals of Christmas 
gradually began to take shape. 
For the promise made by God to Eve, was, 
in effect, repeated to Abraham. (Gen. 12:1-3.) 
Mention of it was also made by Jacob, Moses, 
and Balaam, while we have many more details 
from David, and much enlightenment from the 
Gospel-prophet, Isaiah. 
It may not indeed be always sufficiently realized 
that when, at the birth of our Lord, the angels 
proclaimed the familiar Christmas message of 
Youthful carollers recall the angels' song. �
Keystone 
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, 
good will toward men," they were not just an-
nouncing something new, but were rather sum-
marizing the spiritual preparation of bygone 
generations for the long-awaited Nativity. 
(Continued on page 16.) 
THREE 
By B. Plockhorst �
Hanfstaengl 
"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall 
bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name 
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with 
us" ? Matt. 1 :23. 
• 
A 
The holy family. 
qta MOST mothers, to say nothing about fathers, 
exhibit considerable parental pride about their 
new-born babes. I heard the other day about a 
young man to whom I was introduced when in 
Canada some two years ago, and who then had 
two sweet little girls, being presented by his wife 
with a son. She phoned him from the hospital 
to tell him to come and bring them home. Saying 
"cheerio" to the folk with whom he worked, he 
was just about to step into his car when he turned 
back and said to them, "You know, it isn't every 
day a father goes to bring a son home." Needless 
to say, his fellow-workers were highly amused. 
Undoubtedly, the mother of our Lord had good 
reason, in spite of all the adverse circumstances 
that surrounded His birth, for great rejoicing. To 
begin with she knew beforehand that she was 
going to give birth to a Son, for was it not written 
in the Scriptures, and had it not been confirmed 
by the angel who appeared to Joseph in a dream, 
HOPE OF EVERY MOTHER IN ISRAEL 
It was the hope of every mother in Israel that 
she should be the one who would fulfil the pro-
mise made to the first parents of the human race, 
viz., the "Seed" of the woman shall "bruise" the 
serpent's "head." Gen. 3:15. It fell to Mary's 
lot nearly two thousand years ago to be so hon-
oured by God. The angel Gabriel was specially 
sent to her with the delightful greeting, "Hail, 
thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with 
thee: blessed art thou among women." When 
the salutation awakened fear in her the angel 
continued: "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found 
favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt con-
ceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and 
shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, 
and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and 
the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of 
His father David : and He shall reign over the 
house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom 
there shall be no end." Luke 1 :28-33. 
By A. B. Cheesbrough 
• 
FOUR �
OUR TIMES 
Unfortunately the Roman Catholic Church has 
so misinterpreted the references to Mary in the 
Gospel story as to exalt her as a Co-advocate with 
Jesus Christ. Their adoration of and prayers to 
Mary amount to idolatry, and such worship has 
rightly been termed Mariolatry. We do well, there-
fore, to examine the scriptural relationship of the 
mother to the Son of God. It is possible to be 
carried away by beautiful music and the singing 
of "Ave Maria," and "Ora Pro Nobis" and fail 
to test the teachings of that church concerning 
Mary by the Word of God. 
"Search the Scriptures," was the test the Saviour 
constantly urged, and when we turn to the Word 
of God we read categorically, "For there is one 
God, and one Mediator between God and men, 
the Man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ran-
som for all." 1 Tim. 2:5. That "all" definitely in-
cluded Mary. Far from being associated with 
Jesus in offering salvation to men she also stood 
in need of it. 
MARY NOT IMMACULATE 
The dogma that Mary was immaculate in her 
conception, that is without original sin, is wholly 
without foundation in the Bible. Indeed, it was 
not accepted officially by the Roman church until 
1854. It was on December 8, 1854, that Pope 
Pius IX, after having been requested to say 
whether the church should believe and teach that 
the mother of God, the holy virgin Mary, was 
immaculate, and twice saying that he did not 
know, finally said, "Yes, there is no salvation to 
those who do not believe this dogma." 
It has been the boast of the Roman church that 
it teaches what the fathers believed ; that it was 
the apostolic church. But what did the apostolic 
church believe? Read Acts 4:10-12. "There is 
6 
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�none other name under heaven given among men, 
whereby we must be saved." It is at "the name 
of Jesus" that "every knee should bow" (Phil. 
2:10), not Mary's. 
We do not belittle the high honour God be-
stowed upon her, by pointing out that she, like 
us, felt the need of salvation. When Elizabeth 
spoke of her as "the mother of my Lord," Mary 
said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my 
spirit bath rejoiced in God my Saviour." 
At the First International Congress of Christ 
the King, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen of New York 
said: "The conversion of Islam may well be affec-
ted by bringing Moslems to a reverence and love 
for the blessed mother." Much publicity is given 
to the indulgences, privileges, and spiritual 
favours which the Sovereign Pontiffs have granted 
down the ages to the Lateran Basilica and to the 
DECEMBER 3, 1969 
faithful which enter therein to pray to and venerate 
the Virgin Mother of God whose miraculous and 
illustrious picture has been preserved there for 
centuries. But how contrary this is to the plain 
teachings of the Master, "Come unto Me, . . . and 
I will give you rest." So this Christmas, let us, 
like Mary, magnify the Lord. 
It is Christ who is our "merciful and faithful 
High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make 
reconciliation for the sins of the people." Heb. 
2:17. He needs not the pleadings of Mary now, 
any more than He did at Cana of Galilee when He 
had gently to rebuke her overhasty demand, 
"What have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not 
yet come." John 2 :4. To be truly apostolic we must 
exalt Christ, not Mary, for "Him bath God ex-
alted with His right hand to be a Prince and a 
Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and for-
giveness of sins." Acts 5:31. It is the goodness 
of God in giving Christ that leads to repentance 
and it is He alone who now offers forgiveness to 
a perishing world. Whosoever believes in Him 
need not perish, but may have everlasting life. 
That is the true meaning of Christmas and to 
accept it and rejoice in it is the best way to cele-
brate it. 
By C. Daalsgard �
Camera Clix 
Mary presents the Child Jesus in the temple. 
FIVE 
ghe 
Crowning 
Virtue 
Christmas 
By Irlam Briggs �
A. R. Mowbray & Co. 
The kindly carpenter. 
THERE is no doubt Joseph was shocked and 
saddened when he discovered the condition of his 
loved one. Her virginity, it seemed, had been 
violated. It was evident that this lovely daughter 
of royal ancestry, with whom he was deeply in 
love, and whom he intended soon to marry, was 
about to become a mother. 
Quite obviously something must have happened 
during a recent visit to her cousin Elizabeth from 
whom she had just returned. 
In such a circumstance love will often turn to 
hate, and an irreparable rift will blight for ever 
the tender dreams and blessed prospects of two 
young hearts. 
But Joseph, the carpenter, had nothing but 
kindly compassion in his heart for Mary. 
Any young woman, betrothed as Mary was, 
and who was guilty of unfaithfulness, could be 
severely punished. In Egypt at that time she could 
be condemned to lose her nose. Her Persian coun-
terpart was further mutilated by the loss not only 
of her nose, but also of her ears. In Judea, the 
home of Joseph and Mary, capital punishment by 
stoning was decreed for the guilty one. 
The Mosaic laws pertaining to adultery seem 
harsh and brutal by present standards, for moral 
irregularity evokes little concern today. It is so 
widespread and commonplace. Nowadays, both 
betrothel and marriage have been shorn of their 
sanctity; wedding vows are disregarded; and that 
which God designed to be holy wedlock, is more 
and more looked upon simply as an experiment, 
to be abandoned if it presents too many real 
problems. 
KINDLINESS OF JOSEPH 
Thus it is that one of the heart-warming fea-
tures of that first Christmas story is the kindli-
ness of Joseph. As a character in the Christian 
scene, Joseph is not given the prominence of 
others. The record concerning him is very brief, 
yet it is sufficient to set him forth as one who 
was outstanding for tender-hearted benevolence. 
SIX �
OUR TIMES 
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We cannot doubt that Mary tried to explain 
• 
things to him. It was not unfaithfulness that 
caused her condition, she affirmed, but a miracu-
lous act of God. She told of the angel Gabriel's 
• 
visit, and repeated his staggering message that 
she, the humble and obscure Mary, had been 
chosen to be the mother of Jesus, the Saviour of 
the world. 
We can well imagine, and understand, Joseph's 
initial incredulity. Aware of the disgrace and 
penalty for moral indiscretion, might it not be 
that Mary was merely striving to save herself, and 
that her explanation was simply a pious fabri-
cation? Mary's fervent sincerity did not immedi-
ately avail. Joseph was by no means convinced, 
for her story was altogether so unlikely. 
But he was a kind man. (Matt. 1:19.) Shocked 
and saddened though he must have been, and 
deeply grieved that plans for marriage now would 
have to be abandoned, he was nevertheless pre- 
• 
pared to do all he could to shield Mary from 
shame. His conquering kindness subdued what 
in many would have been a prompt and vehement 
reaction—that of publicizing her fault, and de-
manding appropriate punishment. 
The simple record says that Joseph was "not 
willing to make her a public example;" and that 
he was therefore "minded to put her away privily." 
THE STUPENDOUS TRUTH 
His kindliness was speedily rewarded. For even 
"while he thought on these things, behold, the 
angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, 
By R. D. Vine 
saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to 
take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is 
conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she 
shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His 
name JESUS: for He shall save His people from 
their sins." Matt. 1:20, 21. 
Joseph was glad and overjoyed to have his 
doubts removed. Assured now of the true nature 
of things, and as practical evidence of his belief, 
he lost no time in marrying Mary. (Matt. 1:24.) 
Thus it became his privilege to fulfil the hon- 
.. �
oured role of our Saviour's earthly father. 
We really know very little about Joseph except 
the details of his ancestry and the fact that he 
was a carpenter. But we do know he was kind and 
DECEMBER 3, 1959 
tender-hearted. In being such, he set an example 
and manifested a spirit that is urgently needed in 
the world today. 
A CARDINAL VIRTUE 
Kindness is a cardinal Christian virtue. Re-
garded by certain modern philosophies as effete 
and decadent, it is set forth in Scripture as one 
of the basic elements of a mature spiritual ex-
perience. Peter's second epistle lists these elements, 
beginning with faith, and ending with brotherly 
kindness and love. (2 Peter 1 :5-7.) 
It is so easy to aspire to the heights of res-
pectability, and even to profess Christianity, and 
yet to lack kindness. In all the annals of history, 
few have been more cruel, more bitter, more in-
tolerant, than many who have firmly avowed their 
devotion to the cause of God. 
RELIGION WITHOUT KINDNESS 
Toward the end of His ministry, Jesus had 
occasion to pause on the hills overlooking Jeru-
salem, and to utter the heart-throbbing lament: 
"0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the 
prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto 
thee, how , often would I have gathered thy chil-
dren together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens 
under her wings, and ye would not." Matt. 23: 
37. 
Jerusalem cruelly dealt with God's messengers, 
though firmly avowing faith in Jehovah. The 
element of kindness was virtually unknown. Phari-
sees and Saduccees were so religious as to be 
highly esteemed by those to whom they ministered, 
yet they cruelly killed the Son of God. They were 
strangers to "the sincere milk of human kind-
ness." They doubtless regarded kindness as op-
posed to positive religious fervour, and perhaps 
condemned it as subversive of the true spirit of 
evangelism. 
Such, of course, could not be farther from the 
truth. Not a man's zeal, ability, accomplishments, 
scholastic standing, position, or profession, are 
the standards that will influence the final judg-
ment. But his kindness, and those associated vir-
tues that, altogether, make a true gentleman or 
lady. 
INSPIRED REMINDERS 
"Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, 
forgiving one another," was Paul's reminder to 
the Christians at Ephesus. (Eph. 4:32.) And he 
earlier reminded the believers in Corinth that 
"love suffereth long, and is kind." 1 Cor. 13:4. 
(Continued on page 16.) 
SEVEN 
GOD'S GLORY not 
L UTTONY 
By J. A. McMillan 
Fox Photos 
(IP SPENSER speaks of this sin as "loathsome 
gluttony." There is something peculiarly repulsive 
in a human being, gorging himself with food be-
yond the requirements of the body. 
The great ethnic religions have all given re-
cognition to the physical as well as the spiritual 
duties of man. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity 
have each stressed the value of abstaining from 
harmful indulgences, and certain articles of food 
were and are forbidden in the discipline of the 
various religions of the world. 
But it is not the denial of certain specific items 
of diet that comes within the sin of gluttony, but 
the over-indulgence of good food taken in excess 
of bodily needs. The overall principle that governs 
the Christian is stated thus by Paul, "Whether 
therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, 
do all to the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31. 
With the wave of prosperity that has flooded 
the country since the end of the second world war, 
the possibility of overeating has come within the 
reach of most people in Britain, and many are 
falling into the intemperance of partaking of rich 
foods far in excess of their needs. It should be 
kept in mind that we live on about one-third of 
what we eat, the doctor lives on another third, 
and the undertaker lives on the other third. This 
is a humorous way of saying that we eat too much, 
too often, or in other words that all too frequently 
we dig our graves with our teeth. 
Temperance is one of the fruits of the 
Spirit and one of the Christian graces. 
(Gal. 5:23; 2 Peter 1:6.) Another word 
for this is "self-control," which implies 
not merely abstention from that which 
is harmful, but a moderate use of that 
which is beneficial. The apostle wrote to 
the early Christians, "Beloved, I beseech 
you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain 
from fleshly lusts, which war against the 
soul." 1 Peter 2:11, R.V. Gluttony is not com-
patible with spiritual development. Self-control 
will be exercised by the Christian who is en-
deavouring to follow his Master in the path of 
self-denial. 
This does not mean that the Christian will be 
an ascetic or that his outlook will be gloomy or 
sombre in introspection. Our Lord was a buoyant 
and cheerful soul. Jesus enjoyed the social hour 
and the hospitality of wealthy friends, but He 
never abused the principle of eating and drinking 
to the glory of God. (Luke 7:36-50.) 
It should be borne in mind that body and soul 
are so correlated that anything that injures the 
one affects the other. An overloaded stomach 
often causes mental depression with consequent 
misery to family and business relations. The be-
loved John was inspired to write, "Beloved, I pray 
that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in 
health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 2, 
R.V. 
Here is an excellent definition of true temper-
ance, which embraces much more than that word 
is usually thought to do: 
"True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely 
with everything hurtful, and to use judiciously 
that which is healthful. There are few who realize 
as they should how much their habits of diet have 
to do with their health, their character, their use-
fulness in this world, and their eternal destiny. 
The appetite should ever be in subjection to the 
EIGHT �
OUR TIMES 
moral and intellectual powers. The body should 
be servant to the mind, and not the mind to the 
body."—Patriarchs and Prophets, page 562. 
Health and happiness are God's gifts to man-
kind, and they should not be squandered through 
gluttony and intemperance. While none of us 
can eat his way into heaven, it is possible to lose 
much of heavenly peace and joy by wrong habits 
of eating and drinking. 
AVOID EXTREMES 
Mankind tends to go to extremes. One man will 
deny the legitimate demands of the body, errone-
ously thinking that his abstemiousness commends 
him to God. (1 Cor. 8:8.) Another will go to the 
opposite extreme, proclaiming his liberty to eat 
anything and everything and denying the principle 
that since the body is the temple of God's Spirit, 
a man is under obligation to glorify God in his 
body and in his spirit, both of which are God's. 
(1 Cor. 6:20.) 
The balanced and intelligent Christian will 
avoid these extremes, heeding the appeal of the 
apostle. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the 
mercies of God, to present your bodies a living 
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your 
reasonable service. And be not fashioned accord-
ing to this world: but be ye transformed by the 
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what 
is the good and acceptable and perfect will of 
God." Rom. 12:1, 2, R.V. 
The Scriptures afford many examples of men 
who sacrificed principle on the altar of appetite. 
The ancient Israelites are a case in point. The 
record states, "Howbeit with most of them God 
was not well pleased: for they were overthrown 
in the wilderness. Now these things were our 
examples, to the intent we should not lust after 
ft. 
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evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye 
idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, 
The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose 
up to play." 1 Cor. 10:5-7, R.V. Gluttony, in the 
experience of Israel, was a prelude to the grossest 
immorality. 
The Daily Express of July 25, 1959, carried a 
quotation from Dr. W. F. Anderson, consultant 
physician at a Scottish old people's health centre, 
as follows: "Fat men do not usually live to a ripe 
old age. In fact, fat men over sixty are seldom 
healthy and are prone to diseases to the cerebral 
The Seven Deadly Sins.-6 
and coronary arteries." It is a well-known saying 
among insurance men that "the longer the waist-
line, the shorter the life-line." While it would be 
slanderous to suggest that fat people eat more 
than thin people, it is nevertheless true to say 
that we cannot put on weight without putting in 
more food than the body needs or that work and 
exercise demand. 
APPETITE AND THE FALL 
But the deadly sin of gluttony has a deeper 
significance than that of merely putting on weight 
or shortening the life expectancy. One of the 
first tests that came to our primal ancestors was on 
appetite. As the serpent tempted Eve, he said, 
"God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, 
then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be 
as gods, knowing good and evil." Eve's reaction 
was swift and decisive. "And when the woman 
saw that the tree was good for food, and that it 
was a delight to the eyes, . . . she took of the 
fruit thereof, and did eat." Gen. 3:5, 6, R.V. 
The indulgence of appetite is therefore closely 
bound up with the derangement of the human 
race. 
Four thousand years later, the Son of man was 
subjected to the same test, but under very differ-
ent circumstances. Eve had been surrounded with 
the fruits of "every tree of the garden" and had 
no need to gratify her hunger. Jesus was "fasting 
alone in the desert" and "He afterward hungered" 
when Satan, that old serpent called the devil, 
came to Him with the suggestion, "If Thou art 
the Son of God, command that these stones be-
come bread. But He answered and said, It is writ-
ten, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by 
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of 
God." Matt. 4:2-4, R.V. 
Here is a clear enunciation of principle. Man 
is more than animal, he is human. He is more 
than body, he is soul. His physical appetites must 
be controlled and governed by the Word of God. 
He is a free moral agent, but his freedom is 
liberty, not licence. The Old Testament philoso-
pher expresses the need for restraint in the fol-
lowing quaint language: 
"Consider diligently what is before thee: 
and put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man 
given to appetite." Prov. 23:1 
And his beatitude is still timely: "Blessed art 
thou, 0 land, when thy king is a free man, and 
thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and 
not for drunkenness!" Eccles. 10:17, R.V. (mar-
gin). 
DECEMBER 3, 1959 �
NINE 
At last is seemed that there was nothing else 
they could do. 
But still the grey head shook negatively. What 
was that first thing that they had forgotten, with-
out which indeed, at least so this old lady said, 
they could neither sweep, dust, clear out grates, 
make fires, nor do any other thing? 
Then, as though he had been biding his time, 
up spoke a little fellow from the back row. 
"Turn on the light." 
now we had the right answer. 
Almost indignantly his fellow-listeners 
turned on him. As though they 
couldn't have thought of that ! 
But they hadn't. There 
it was, however. 
They couldn't 
Ah, 
• 
Keystone 
The Christmas lights go on in Zurich, Switzerland. 
4 IT was during a children's meeting and the 
speaker, a grey-haired, erstwhile school-teacher, 
obviously still "had a way" with children. They 
were every one completely enthralled. 
"Now suppose," she began, "that you went into 
a dark, untidy room. What would be the first 
thing that you would do? The ashes are spilling 
out of the grate. The table is still covered with 
dirty crockery. Every chair has something lying 
on it or festooned over it. The windows are dirty. 
The cushions hang untidily. The pictures are 
crooked. Drawers are open and their rummaged 
contents bulge and overflow. There is no flat 
surface that is not littered. How would you begin? 
Where would you start? What would be the first 
thing you would do to help make that room fit 
to live in?" 
Urgent hands shot up impulsively. 
"Clear the table." 
"Push the stuff back into the drawers and shut 
them." 
"Straighten the curtains and empty the chairs." 
"Clear the ashes out of the grate." 
"Put away whatever's lying around." 
"Sweep." 
"Dust." 
T E N 
—of course 
they couldn't 
—either sweep, dust, 
polish, or tidy up without 
the light, and the room was dark 
—remember? 
Like our world, their guest told them, 
our dark, untidy world, untidy with greed and 
laziness, selfishness and hate and anger, and the 
first thing we have to do to begin putting things 
right in our dark, untidy world is exactly the same 
as in that dark, untidy room, "Turn on the light." 
They looked as though they understood, those 
children, and they certainly sang as though they 
understood. 
"Jesus bids us shine 
With a pure, clear light, 
Like a little candle 
Burning in the night: 
In the world is darkness, 
So we must shine, 
You in your small corner, 
And I in mine." 
The question is, do we? 
"Light is come into the world," cried the 
apostle John, and thanks be, ever since that time, 
as indeed throughout all the ages, there have 
always been those who have kept that light burn- 
OUR TIMES 
• 
4 • 
ing, proud to be His torch-bearers and stewards 
of the manifold grace of God. 
But how about us ourselves in this year 1959? 
Do we give light to all around or do we hide 
our candles under a bushel, to use Jesus' own 
expression? 
Some of us are so very much absorbed in our 
own problems that we have no eyes for any need 
except our own. We ourselves loom so big that 
there are left very few chinks through which our 
light can shine. On the other hand we may be 
good-hearted enough, but just cheerfully, lazily, 
thoughtlessly neglectful. Unhappily the result, in 
terms of blessing to others, is pretty much the 
same, nil. 
"THOU SHALT BE A BLESSING" 
There is no sweeter promise in the whole of 
the Sacred Book than that two-fold benison made 
to His friend Abraham. It is recorded there in 
Genesis, chapter twelve and verse two. "I will 
a �
bless thee," the Lord said, "and thou shalt be a 
blessing." 
How sweet must those words have sounded 
in the ears of the lonely Abraham, 
pilgrim and sojourner in far 
Canaan. 
"Thou shalt be a 
blessing." 
He would not always be a stranger then. He 
would have friends. He would be respected and 
beloved. 
Deep within we all long for the same experi-
ence. 
May we have it? 
We certainly may, and apparently it is easy, 
as easy as "turning on the light." We may not 
be able to "sing like angels." We may not be 
able to "preach like Paul." Nevertheless, the good 
Word tells us that our light can "break forth as 
Keystone 
TOP.—A young pa-
tient gives Santa 
Claus a quick check-
up as he hastens on 
his rounds. 
MIDDLE. — Father 
Christmas unloads 
his bags of presents 
at a London hospital. 
LOWER. — Barbara 
Kelly brings Christ-
mas cheer to a smil-
ing patient. 
By 
Mary J. Vine 
FOX Photos 
cy stone 
ELEVEN 
the morning," and the measures set forth for the 
accomplishment of that illumination are not out-
side the scope of any of us, for there is always 
someone in more difficulty than ourselves, no 
matter how hard we may feel is our situation. 
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen," God 
says in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah, "to loose 
the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy bur-
dens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that 
ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread 
to the hungry, and that ye bring the poor that 
are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the 
naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide 
not thyself from thine own flesh? . . . And if 
thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy 
the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in ob-
scurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: and 
the Lord shall guide thee continually, . . . and 
make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a 
watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose 
waters fail not." 
Could words possibly portray a more complete 
picture of happy satisfaction ? And it can be ours. 
Let's enjoy some of it this Christmas-time. 
Anyone who has ever done any voluntary 
solicitation for any charitable organization knows 
that inevitably he will meet someone who will 
say that this should all be handled by the Govern-
ment, that in a Welfare State there is no need for 
charity of any kind. I know. Over the years I have 
often been told that I am wasting my time. 
HOW YOU CAN HELP 
One group of modern Dorcases recently ap-
proached a branch of the Welfare Service of the 
London County Council, asking if they might be 
of any help to the thousands of physically handi-
capped in their care, and from the L.C.C.'s head-
quarters came one of their kindly secretaries to tell 
them what exactly was their need. True, the Wel-
fare State was providing, but with their funds 
stretched to the limit, they could still only pro-
vide absolute necessities. They couldn't undertake 
to provide hot water bottles for cold nights, elec-
tric blankets, warm rugs for crippled limbs, soft 
cushions, warm underwear, thick socks and stock-
ings, comfortable night wear, radios for the lonely, 
kitchen equipment that would minimize the risk 
of accidents, convector heaters, knitting machines. 
It looked a pretty formidable list. But those good 
women went back to their churches, set to work, 
and within a very little while there was gathered 
such a bounteous collection of comforts as sur-
passed even the donors' expectations. What was 
most surprising, however, was that never before 
had the good people in the Welfare Department 
received such an offer of help. 
There are always channels of service for those 
who will. With every one of those gifts went a 
message of good will from the church company 
from which it came, a speaking reminder that 
there are still those in the world who care. 
Perhaps we are in a position where we can 
start something akin to that in our own commun-
ity. If so, let's "get on with it." 
But if not—and in any case— 
MAKE THE OLD FOLK HAPPY 
For many Christmases we enjoyed being 
"home" to a large group of our family, and not 
the least happy among us were three dear grand-
parents. Then, suddenly, all in one year, they were 
not there any more. They were gone. It is com-
forting to remember that that last Christmas was 
as joyful for them as for us, to recall their child-
like joy in their presents, their glad satisfaction 
in our appreciation of their gifts to us and our 
pleasure in their company, and to know that they 
felt looked-after and content. 
But though they are gone, there are others. 
There is old Mrs. Butler up the road. Her one 
daughter has preceded her over the great divide, 
and she could scarcely be more alone. 
Mary Jennings and her young husband had 
hoped to spend their first Christmas day happily 
together last Christmas, but then Denis had to 
work, and it promised to be as quiet and lonesome 
a Christmas day as Mary had ever spent. She 
might well have sat down and felt "robbed." But 
not Mary. She phoned up the minister of her 
church and asked him if there was any one of his 
parishioners whom he knew would surely be on 
their own and glad to see her, and of course there 
was. Therefore it happened that frail little Mrs. 
Howard, over eighty, and just settling down to 
another long and lonesome day, suddenly opened 
her door to a vision of youth and beauty, and 
enjoyed such a happy day that she will remember 
it for the rest of her life, firelight glowing on 
bronzed chrysanthemums, dainty dinner, Christmas 
pudding and all, to say nothing of Mary's blessed 
companionship. But who can say whose day was 
the happier and who had benefited the most? 
There are no story-tellers to compare with those 
who have been long by the way, and there are no 
riches so worth the sharing as those of long and 
ripe experience. 
A parcel arrived at a children's home. Inside 
was a delightful variety of Christmas gifts, dolls' 
, dresses, all carefully hand-sewn, face cloths, pretty 
TWELVE �
OUR TIMES 
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handkerchiefs, pencils made up in the shape of 
umbrellas. 
Who sent the parcel ? 
It didn't say. There was just a note inside which 
said simply, "In memory of Ian." 
Perhaps it came from Ian's mother. If so it was 
a beautiful way to perpetuate her boy's memory, 
and it was a wonderful way to make up for her 
own loss. 
HELP SOMEONE! 
Have we lost dear ones? I know of a ward 
in a hospital where visitors are very few and old 
faces turn wistfully when laughter and kind voices 
come from the beds beside or from the other side 
of the ward. We could do something about them 
this Christmas. 
One man I heard of lost his dog, a dear old 
shaggy companion whom he missed pathetically. 
▪ 
He could never now train another dog to be to 
him all that Pal had been. So, what did he do ? 
He had once read of another old-age pensioner 
who couldn't afford to renew his dog's licence, 
and the pathos of this story had stayed at the 
back of his mind, worrying him. He, himself, 
• 
didn't know anyone such, but he knew where poor 
souls in that state of poverty would certainly go. 
So he went to the P.D.S.A. and told them he 
• 
would like to license someone else's faithful com-
panion if they were in such straits they couldn't 
do it themselves, and every year some dear old 
Four-legs has been reprieved because of this gen-
tleman's kindness. 
We cannot do everything, 
But we can do something. 
And what we can do, 
We ought to do. 
Shall we say that, by the grace of God, we 
will do it? 
Almost two thousand years ago now God was 
made manifest in the flesh in the priceless gift 
of His dear Son. Great kings bearing precious gifts 
came and knelt before Him in awe and wonder; 
the rough shepherds brought the firstlings of their 
flocks. You and I will do one of two things this 
Christmas season. We shall either magnify that 
gift or minimize it. If we share it we shall mag-
nify it. If we hoard our pleasure to ourselves, we 
shall minimize it, and that would be denying our-
selves as well as others. 
By all the means we know let us "turn on the 
light" this Christmas-time. 
"Oh brother man, fold to thy heart thy bro-
ther! 
Where pity dwells the peace of God is there; 
To worship rightly is to love each other, 
Each smile a hymn, each kindly deed a 
prayer. 
"Follow with reverent steps the great example 
Of Him whose holy work was doing good; 
So shall the wide earth seem our Father's tem-
ple, 
Each loving life a psalm of gratitude." 
(3 /DSVDS'D'DS'DWDSSSSVWDVDVMSVDSS'DS 
Christ Is Born 
By Stanley Combridge 
A star-lit sky, a baby's cry, 
And angel hosts an anthem sing: 
A mother's prayer, a mother's care, 
Within a stable, born—a King. 
No shepherds sleep but watchful keep, 
Their sheep in pastures safely lay: 
A message clear, upon the ear, 
That Christ is born this special day. 
Two thousand years mankind still hears 
The message borne by angel bands, 
But man is slow the truth to know; 
He heeds not neither understands, 
God's promised peace brings no release 
'Till good-will's known throughout all lands. 
FDVDVDSTMSVMSSVDSWWWMEDVMSTWM 
DECEMBER 3, I 9 5 9 �
THIRTEEN 
KNOW-7
- 3-1 V-01J 
1 ---, "...,-.,-- - 
with S. G. HYDE • 
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R 
"UNTO YOU A SAVIOUR" 
Before the creation of our world the Son of God oc-
cupied a position of pre-eminence in heaven. 
"0 Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine 
own self with the glory which I had with 
Thee before the world was." John 17:5. 
"Let all the angels of God worship Him." 
Heb. 1 :6. 
Tragedy came, even in heaven. Envy entered the heart 
of a covering cherub, named Lucifer. He envied the 
Son of God His place. 
"0 Lucifer, . . . thou haft said in thy heart, 
. . . I will be like the most High." Isa. 14: 
13, 14. (See also Ezekiel 28:14-17.) 
"Thou are the anointed cherub that cover-
eth; . . . thou wart perfect in thy ways from 
the day thou wart created, till iniquity was 
found in thee. . . . Thine heart was lifted 
up." Ezek. 28:14-17. 
Lucifer's envy and jealousy infected the angelic host 
and a revolt was stirred up against God. As a result 
they were cast out of heaven. 
"The Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth . . . 
was cast out into the earth, and his angels 
were cast out with him." Rev. 12:9. 
The fallen Lucifer invaded the earthly Paradise and 
introduced into it a further tragedy—that of human sin 
and death. 
"The serpent beguiled me." Gen. 3:13. 
"As by one man sin entered into the world, 
and death by sin; and so death passed upon 
all men." Rom. 5:12. 
To fallen man came the voice of God promising life and 
hope through the "Seed of the woman," the incarnate 
Son of God. 
"I will put enmity between thee [Satan) and 
the woman, between thy seed [evil spirits] 
and her Seed [Christ Jesus); it shall bruise 
FOURTEEN 
thy head [eventual destruction of the Evil 
one and evil)." Gen. 3:15. (See also Reve-
lation 20:10.) 
"God commendeth His love toward us, in 
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died 
for us." Rom. 5 :8. 
"I am come that they might have life, and 
that they might have it more abundantly." 
John 10:10. 
For four thousand years after the Fall, sin held dominion 
and the promise of a Redeemer seemed to have been 
forgotten. 
'Darkness" covers "the earth, and gross 
darkness the people." Isa. 60:2. 
"Therefore is judgment far from us, nei-
ther doth justice overtake us: we wait for 
light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, 
but we walk in darkness." Isa. 59:9. 
But in God's own time, and according to His promise, 
things began to happen. Angel messengers visited Joseph 
and Mary and made the startling announcement of the 
divine intention. 
"Fear not, Mary: . thou shalt . . . bring 
forth a Son and thou shalt call His name 
JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called 
the Son of the Highest. . . . And of His 
kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1: 
30-33. 
"But when the fullness of the time was 
come, God sent forth His Son, made of a 
woman." Gal. 4:4. 
Soon the Child of promise, the "Seed of the woman," 
was born, not in their home town of Nazareth but in the 
divinely prescribed town of Bethlehem. 
"Thou Bethlehem . . . though . . . little 
• . . out of thee shall He come . . . that is 
to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth 
have been . . . from everlasting." Micah 5: 
2. (Compare Luke 2:4-7.) 
"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and 
shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call 
OUR TIMES 
4 
His name Immanuel, . . . God with us." 
ip �Matt. 1:23. 
"While they [Joseph and Mary) were there, 
[Bethlehem) the days were accomplished 
that she should be delivered. And she 
brought forth her firstborn Son, . . . and 
laid Him in a manger." Luke 2:6, 7. 
1.0 
• 
The loyal angels rejoiced to be able to announce this 
decisive event in the fulfilment of the divine plan for 
the redemption of man. 
"Behold I bring you good tidings of great 
joy, which shall be to all people. For unto 
you is born this day . . . a Saviour, which 
is Christ the Lord. . . . And suddenly there 
was with the angel a multitude of the hea-
venly host." Luke 2:9-14. 
"The Son of man is come to seek and to 
save that which was lost." Luke 19:10. 
By the advent of Jesus, His death and glorious resur-
rection, the end of sin and the ultimate triumph of 
righteousness was assured. 
"Now is come salvation and strength: . . . 
the accuser of our brethren is cast down, 
. . . because he knoweth [now) that he hath 
but a short time." Rev. 12:10-12. 
"He Himself likewise took part of the 
same [flesh and blood); that through death 
He might destroy him that had the power 
of death, that is, the devil." Heb. 2 :14. 
"For this purpose the Son of God war 
manifested, that He might destroy the 
works of the devil." 1 John 3 :8. 
Now we wait for the return of Jesus and the ultimate 
fulfilment of the promises of God. 
"Unto them that look for Him shall He 
appear the second time without sin unto 
salvation." Heb. 9:28. 
"Nevertheless we, according to His promise, 
look for new heavens and a new earth, 
wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 
3:13. 
The divinely-given signs, by which God's expectant people 
could note the running out of the sands of time, are 
nearly all fulfilled. Soon the Redeemer will come to con-
summate the divine purpose. 
"There shall be signs in the sun, and in the 
moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth 
distress of nations, with perplexity; . . . 
men's hearts failing them for fear, and for 
looking after those things which are coming 
on the earth. . . . Then shall they see the 
DECEMBER 3, 1959 
Son of man coming . . . with power and 
great glory." Luke 21:25, 28. 
"When ye shall see all these things, know, 
that it [He] is near, even at the doors." 
Matt. 24 :29-35. 
At the second advent, the angels will also come again—
not merely a "multitude of the heavenly host" but the 
entire host of heaven's angels. 
"When the Son of man shall come in His 
glory, and ALL the holy angels with Him, 
then shall He sit upon the throne of His 
glory." Matt. 25 :31. 
A CHRISTMAS PRAYER 
Lord, maize a manger of my heart; 
There let Thy Son be born 
Into my life, to fill each part 
And sanctify this morn. 
Lord, light His star within my soul, 
And let me hear the songs 
The angels sang above the roll 
Of troubled, seeking throngs. 
Lord, touch my life, and it will be 
A blessing to someone; 
And keep my heart eternally 
A manger for Thy Son. 
ETHELYN M. KINCHER. 
Each Christmastide is a reminder of the miracle of in-
carnation and an assurance of the certainty of God's 
purpose of salvation. 
"Unto us a Child is born, 
Unto us a Son is given: 
And the government shall be upon His 
shoulder: 
His name shall be called 
Wonderful, Counsellor, 
The mighty God, 
The everlasting Father, 
The Prince of Peace." 
FIFTEEN 
Making the Most of Christmas 
(Continued from page 3.) 
For example, the angel chorus declared that 
our first duty at Christmas is to give heartfelt 
praise to our heavenly Father. At this time, parti-
cularly, amid all our special seasonable joys, we 
should pause to give grateful "Glory to God" 
for all the happiness and satisfaction of our homes. 
Significantly enough, seven hundred years be-
fore Jesus was born, Isaiah predicted that the 
Messiah's essential mission would be to bestow 
upon His people "the garment of praise for the 
spirit of heaviness" and "the oil of joy for mourn-
ing." In joyfully recognizing, at this time of 
special giving, that "every good gift, and perfect 
gift is from above" (James 1:17), we not only 
minister to our own well-being, but also pay 
rightful tribute to the beneficent Giver. 
In order then, really to make the most of 
Christmas, we need first to consider, not what 
we shall give to our families and friends, im-
portant as that may be, but what shall we give to 
God? With David, we may now well exclaim, 
"What shall I render unto the Lord for all His 
benefits toward me?" Psa. 116:12. 
At Christmas time, in a general way, many 
people give presents to everybody but God. They 
leave Him out of their reckoning. He, the Author 
of Christmas, is nevertheless, not included in their 
"Christmas list." 
Yet the Lord only asks that we yield to Him 
that which costs us so very little, yet in His 
gracious sight, means so much. At this season it 
is especially appropriate, with the Psalmist again 
to say, "I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanks-
giving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. 
I will pay my vows now unto the Lord in the 
presence of all His people." Psa. 116:17, 18. 
In this simple way, we may include the Lord in 
our Christmas gifts, and may humbly give Him 
glory. 
THE ONLY WAY TO PEACE 
Secondly, the angels declared that Christmas 
ideals, if rightly upheld and applied, will bring 
that which countless generations have sought, 
longingly, but in vain—"Peace on earth." 
It is surely now more imperative than ever be-
fore, that Christians should set themselves, with 
the utmost care and prayer, to discover what will 
really bring lasting peace on earth, for the alter-
native of total war is far too dreadful to con-
template. 
Will the limitation, or even abolition, of arma-
ments, of itself, bring lasting peace? Not unless 
men also find some means effectively to subdue 
their belligerent minds. Will the multiplication 
of treaties between fallible and short-lived poli-
ticians really establish a permanent peace? Again, 
tragic experience forces us to say, it is doubtful. 
Indeed, the problem is really no different now 
from when the saintly Isaiah pleaded that men 
should "beat their swords into ploughshares, and 
their spears into pruninghooks." Isa. 2:4, 5. But 
the ploughshares and hooks were all too soon re-
cast for their former warlike purpose, until, in 
these latter times, cannon were added, then rifles 
and tanks, high explosives and poison gas, guided 
missiles and atom bombs. It is not our armaments 
which decide our fate, but our minds. 
The true, and only solution to the problem is 
implicit in the angels' Christmas song. Jesus 
Christ was promised by the prophet, born to the 
virgin, "and unto them that look for Him" is 
soon coming again, as the glorious Prince of 
Peace. (Isa. 9:6; Heb. 9:28.) Earthly potentates 
have often been supposedly "glorious" in war, 
their petty triumphs ever dearly bought with un-
told suffering, blood, and tears. 
But Jesus is ever glorious in peace. He brings, 
not early death, but endless life. He ever delights 
"to bind up the broken-hearted," and to open 
"the prison to them that are bound." Isa. 61:1. 
The Psalmist so truly predicted of Jesus, that, 
in the very midst of widespread and apparently 
incurable unrest, He alone "will speak peace unto 
His people, and to His saints." Psa. 85:8. 
Let us never be too much occupied with either 
business cares or seasonable pleasures to hear 
what Jesus would say to us. For it will only be 
as we heed His Word, and act upon it, that we 
shall truly learn how to make the most of this 
Christmas. 
The Crowning Virtue of Christmas 
(Continued from page 7.) 
Empty is the claim to have Christian love, if 
it is not expressed in humble, practical kindliness 
—as empty as would be a man's claim to being 
honest in spirit, if, in actual practice, he were 
light-fingered. The kind person will not be the 
first to condemn, nor will he clamour for revenge. 
Like the tender-hearted Joseph, he will be ever 
mindful of the feelings and welfare of his fel-
lows. 
The world needs infinitely more kindness—
more acts of kindness, but, even more necessary 
perhaps, it needs words of kindness. "A word of 
V 
SIXTEEN �
OUR TIMES 
kindness is seldom spoken in vain; while witty 
sayings are as easily lost as pearls slipping from 
a broken string."—G. D. Prentice. 
"Seldom spoken in vain. . . ."—how true this 
is! Hearts are cheered by kind words as easily as 
they are wounded by words that are harsh and 
unkind. Solomon had the principle of kindness 
in mind when he wrote, "He that covereth a 
transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth 
a matter separateth very friends." Prov. 17 :9. 
Not that kindness condones sin or is blind to 
it; but that it always deals helpfully, benevolently, 
forgivingly—just as Joseph was prepared to deal 
with Mary, even had his worst fears proved 
justified. 
Christmas is supremely a time when the im-
portance of this essential virtue is emphasized. It 
is a time when most of us try, by means of yule-
tide greetings and presents, to express a spirit 
of kindly benevolence and interest toward others. 
As Scrooge's nephew declared to his misan-
thropic, miserly uncle: "I have always thought of 
Christmas time, when it has come round—apart 
from the veneration due to its sacred name and 
origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart 
from that—as a good time; a kind, forgiving, 
charitable, pleasant time." 
Kindness must not be limited to the Christmas 
season. It must continue through the year and 
always, benevolently lightening the burdens of 
others, and at the same time refreshing and up-
lifting our own souls. 
"My religion's lovin' God, who made us, one 
an' all, 
Who marks, no matter where it be, the humble 
sparrow's fall; 
An' my religion's servin' Him the very best I can 
By not despisin' anything He made, especially man! 
It's lovin' sky an' earth an' sun an' birds an' 
flowers an' trees, 
But lovin' human beings more than any one of 
these." �
—EDGAR A. GUEST. 
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The Voice of Prophecy Bible School, 123 Regent Street, London, W1. 
DECEMBER 3, 1959 �
SEVENTEEN 
EIGHTEEN 
Petetli Pzeient 
By P. J. Hunt 
IT was getting near to Christ-
mas, and Mother had taken 
Peter and Peggy to visit an old 
lady in an Old People's Home. 
On the way back, she said: "You 
know, it will soon be Christ-
mas, and I am sure old Mrs. 
Bingley would be so very pleased 
if you each bought her a little 
present, from your own pocket 
money." 
"Won't her family buy her 
presents?" asked Peter. 
"I'm afraid not. You see, she 
has no family now. And," added 
Mother, "I think it would be 
nice if you posted your gift4. 
The postman doesn't often bring 
her anything, and it would be 
nice for her to have the post 
before Christmas eve." 
Peter and Peggy talked about 
the matter after tea. 
"I've got five shillings," said 
Peggy; "I think I'll buy some 
wool, and knit her some gloves. 
Did you notice how her fingers 
were bent with rheumatism ?" 
"Yes," replied Peter. "I've 
got five shillings, too, but I've 
been saving it for some new 
Swedish stamps I want for my 
collection. They'll cost about 
4s. 6d." 
0-0:AS � 
See how nicely 
you can paint 
this picture and 
send it with 
your name, age, 
and address to 
Auntie Pam, 
The Stanborough 
Press Ltd., 
Watford, Herts., 
not later than 
December 17th. 
[Please do not 
paste your pic-
tures on stiff 
card as the best 
entries are 
mounted in our 
special collection 
of paintings 
which you can 
see if you visit 
us! 
VIVW.4(frMrsitftit 
He looked glum. He wanted 
those stamps badly. Suddenly 
he had an idea. 
"I know," he said, "there's 
that leather writing-case Uncle 
George gave me last Christmas. 
I've never used it, and I'm sure 
it cost a lot. I'll give her that." 
Peter hated writing letters, 
and the case had not been 
opened since the day it came. 
He had given it a quick glance 
and then had passed on to more 
exciting presents. 
"Oh, but—Peter !" answered 
Peggy. "Will it be any use? I 
mean, I shouldn't think Mrs. 
Bingley ever writes any letters, 
for her hands are so crippled 
with rheumatism." 
"Well," replied Peter, rather 
doubtfully, "it'll be a very ex-
pensive gift, anyway." 
Peggy didn't think that would 
matter. However, she had not 
much time to discuss it, for 
there was barely a week before 
Christmas Day. She went to the 
woolshop and bought some red 
wool; she felt red was a warm, 
cheerful sort of colour, and was 
sure Mrs. Bingley would like it. 
When she got home, she be-
gan knitting and, as she did so, 
she kept thinking how warm 
the gloves would feel on the 
old lady's hands. 
Peter looked at the writing-
case. It had a zip all round and a 
pad inside; and there was a 
packet of envelopes inside the 
leather pocket. He had never 
taken them out, because he had 
been so disappointed with Un-
cle George for giving him such 
a gift. 
By Monday, Peg g y had 
finished her knitting. It h a d 
taken up all her spare time, but 
she felt it had been worth it. 
They both made a neat parcel of 
their presents, and took them to 
OUR TIMES 
• 
4 I 
the post. Mother had said she 
would pay the postage. "I won't 
ask what you have sent Mrs. 
Bingley," she said, "because I 
shall see her on Tuesday after-
noon, and it will be a surprise 
for me." 
Peter looked rather worried at 
this. He wasn't at all sure what 
his mother would think about 
his giving Uncle George's pre-
sent away. 
When they returned from the 
post, the children packed their 
satchels for the following day 
at school. 
"I'll need my Bible tomor-
row," said Peter, "we have 
Scripture." 
In the Scripture lesson, the 
teacher asked the children to 
find Matthew's gospel, chapter 
twenty-five. One verse seemed to 
stick in Peter's mind. It was: 
"Inasmuch as ye have done it 
unto one of the least of these 
My brethren, ye have done it 
unto Me." 
At break, he asked his friend 
Michael, who was always top 
in Scripture, if he knew what 
it meant. 
"That's easy," replied Mi-
chael. "It means that whatever 
you do to other people, you're 
really doing it to God. If you 
hurt them you're hurting God; 
and if you give them something, 
it's a gift to God. Don't you 
remember Mr. Langton telling 
us that 'brethren' really meant 
that we're all members of God's 
family, and that's why we say 
OUR Father ?" 
Peter felt rather worried. He 
suddenly thought of the old 
lady. It seemed as though his 
thoughtless gift to Mrs. Bingley 
was a thoughtless gift to God. 
He began to feel rather un-
happy. 
When the children reached 
home that evening, Mother told 
them about her visit to the old 
lady. She had been thrilled with 
the gloves, and asked if Peggy 
had knitted them. When she 
learned she had, she was even 
more pleased. She had said she 
was grateful to Peter for buying 
her such a nice writing-case, 
I LOVE TO THINK 
I love to think how Jesus came 
A tiny Child to earth, 
And how the lovely angels sang 
Sweet music at His birth. 
I love to think how Jesus grew, 
And daily did fulfil— 
Although He was but young and 
small— 
His heavenly Father's will. 
I love to think that, when a man, 
The Saviour went about 
Just doing good the whole day long, 
Within the homes and out. 
I love to think He healed the sick, 
And made the blind to see 
And how He gathered little ones 
And taught them round His knee. 
Such lovely stories Jesus told, 
And they were always true; 
They showed how God in heaven 
above 
Loves us, and grown-ups, too. 
And Jesus wants to wash us all 
From every stain of sin; 
And so I want to love Him, too, 
And always follow Him. 
GWEN MASON. 
but felt rather sorry because she 
could no longer write. 
Peter felt dreadful when he 
heard this. Then Mother said: 
"Mrs. Bingley was puzzled to 
find two packets of foreign 
stamps in the envelope pocket; 
she wondered why you had put 
them in, Peter." 
Peter was horrified. Uncle 
George must have put them in, 
and Peter had taken so little 
notice of the gift that he had 
missed them. He felt it served 
him right for being so ungrate-
ful, and also for not giving the 
old lady a more thoughtful 
Christmas present. 
He told his mother the whole 
story, and she suggested that he 
should save his pocket-money 
for the next few weeks, and 
then buy Mrs. Bingley a present 
she could use. 
gogrAtomtvwzft,gtirtigmapt 
k.uttitie liJam 
milts all c*unheams 
a 
Very I4ztjapg Christmas 
ki-Nist4Nkt-Rirtgika-caitAilts. 
Peter felt much happier when 
he was at last able to buy her 
a warm shawl. It was too late 
for Christmas, but it made the 
old lady very happy. Peter vowed 
that he would always try to give 
gifts that pleased in future. 
— Your Letter — 
My dear Sunbeams, 
CHRISTMAS ! 
The very word 
makes the hearts of boys and 
girls beat faster, and their eyes 
sparkle with excitement. N o w 
there is so much to do and see : 
the splendidly decked Christmas 
trees, holly, mistletoe, and bal-
loon festooned rooms, chestnuts 
roasting by the fireside, carol-
singing, and gaily wrapped pre-
sents to open—and last but by no 
means least, the wonderful Christ-
mas dinner ! 
But in the midst of our good 
times let us not forget that Christ-
mas is the time. set apart for 
celebrating the birthday of t h e 
Baby Jesus, who came into this 
world as a gift from God, to bring 
hope, peace, and joy into the lives 
of every one of us. 
Because a birthday is a time for 
giving, don't you think Jesus would 
like a gift from you, too? 
Boys and girls may not have 
much money, but they can still 
give Jesus the gift He most wants. 
Here is a little verse which tells 
what that is : 
"What can I give Him, 
Poor as I am? 
If I were a shepherd, 
I would bring a lamb; 
If I were a wise man, 
I would do my part; 
Yet what can I give Hinz? 
Give Him my heart." 
How can we give our hearts to 
Jesus? When I was a little girl 
I used to wonder what it meant. 
Now I know that it means to love 
Jesus and to do those things which 
He would like us to do. 
Yours affectionately, 
AUNTIE PAM. 
The Bible and 
OUR TIMES 
(Formerly "Present Truth") 
Vol. 75. �
No. 25. �Price 4d. 
Printed and published in Great Britain 
fortnightly on Thursday by 
The Stanborough Press Ltd., 
Watford, Herts. 
EDITOR: �W. L. EMMERSON 
Twelve months �
 13/- post free 
Six months �
 6/6 post free 
DECEMBER 3, 1959 �
NINETEEN 
V%%S4V%%%4WWWWW%WgiSVil 
she Bells Are 
Ringing ! 
Once again the bells are ringing; 
Yet once more the choirs are singing, 
"Joy on earth: to men good will!" 
The angels' message soundeth still— 
Jesus! once born in a manger; 
Is He still to thee a Stranger? 
Keystone 
Once again the land rejoices, 
Hymn and carol, chorus voices; 
Story old yet ever new, 
God's great Gift for me, for you! 
His Beloved—our Friend and Brother 
Dearer He than any other? 
4 
"This same Jesus," once ascending, 
Soon shall come from heaven descending; 
Peace on earth: good will to men! 
The Son of Man brings once again! 
Acquaint thyself with Him today; 
Prepare to dwell with Him alway. 
A light-studded Christ-
mas tree shines across 
the Iron Curtain into 
East Berlin. 
Keystone 
By 
Mrs. M. H. Cooper 
.4 
WWWW%S%S4SS4.S1