Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

missionaries.'ager"can,"REMO I. ROBB, D.D.ECUFor CovenalECHOESNovember, 1955ILLUSTRATIONS FOR DECEMBERDecember 4A Final Request.C. Y. P. U. TOPICSPrayer Changes Me.When Ulysses S. Grant lay strugglingagainst cancer he was visited by General O. O. Howard, known as "the Christiansoldier."For a while there was talkabout the campaigns and battles inwhich both men had played illustriousparts. But Grant was facing the greatest need of his career and he spontaneously interrupted his fellow soldier withthe inquiry, "Howard, tell me what youknow about prayer."December 11Faithful Reflection.The Best Book for Me.When Queen Elizabeth I advanced inage, her wringles waxed deep and many.It is said that an unfortunate master ofthe mint incurred disgrace by a toofaithful likeness of her impressed on ashilling. The die was broken and onlyone mutilated specimen of the coin isnow in existence. Her maids of honortook the hint and were afterwards verycareful that no mirror nor piece of amirror was left in any room of the palace. An old magazine reported that thequeen "had not the heart to look herselfin the face for the last twenty years ofher life.''A mirror exposes wrinkles, dirt, andthe like, that may be on the face; sodoes the Word of God with the heart.Reading the Bible shows us our sins. Ifwe refuse to repent and change we soonget tired of seeing our "wrinkles" inGod's mirror, so we stop looking. Howfoolish! That doesn't change our facesone bit. Better see the wrinkles, confessour sins which cause them, and be renewed in the blood of the Lamb.December 18 How Much EmphasisShall we Put on Christmas and Easter?The History of Santa Clans"The early Christian Church apparently did not make so much of Christ'sbirth as of His death until about thebeginning of the third century A.D., andnumerous sources tell us that 'for several centuries Christmas was solely a360church anniversary, observed by religious services. But as Christmas spreadamong the people of pagan lands, manyof the practices of the winter solsticewere blended with those of Christmasbecause of the liberal ruling of PopeGregory I and the cooperation of thei(Encyclopedia Britannica)Perhaps in Gregory's shoes we shouldhave done the same, and thought it nottoo bad when people connected the return journey of the sun with the comRighteousness."ing of the 'Sun of"And how did Santa Clause get intothis festival. Well, originally there wasSt. Nicholas, who was born in the thirdcentury A. D. He became bishop of Myraat the beginning of the fourth century.Many stories are told of miraculousmanifestations of his extreme holiness,already in infancy. Because of his remarkable babyhood and childhood,later became the patron saint of children. Because of numerous miracles supheposedly done by him, he is also the patron saint of bankers, pawnbrokers,mariners, scholars, and poor but marriageable maidens who cherish matrimonial ambitionsand he at least usedto be the patron saint of Russia. He wasespecially famed for unexpected gifts,and subsequently all gifts from unknownsources were ascribed to him; it also became the custom for parents to tell theiryoungsters that their presents at hisfestival came from him. He was firstadopted as the patron saint of childrenby the Netherlands, but was found insome form of name throughout Europein later years."It was a much changed St. Nicholaswhich the Dutch settlers brought to theUnited States. His name was abbreviated to Santa Claus. In the new world hispale, ascetic face acquired the tint ofrosy apples. He traded in his old graymare which he rode in Europe for reindeer and sleigh. He gave up his own day,December 6, and took over December25, 'Christ's birthday' (so-called), towhich he has successfully clung eversince. And (I quote from ChristmasTraditions, a book by William MuirAuld, p. 159) 'after these accomplishments in America, he re-crossed theocean and gained many adherents all theway from gloomy Scotland to sunnyAustralia. His dominion steadily increases;and it looks as if he might yetreign over all Christendom as the Kingof Christmas."From the Lutheran School Bulletin,October, 1949.December 25 Everywhere ChristmasToday.The Best Christmas Present.A father was so preoccupied by hisprofession or business that he did notassociate with his familyshould. Beginningas much as heat a certain Christmas, he resolved to reform at this point.As a Christmas present he placed uponthe tree for his little boy a note over hissignature, promising that he would givethe boy in the coming year one hour ofhis time each week day and two hourson the Lord's Day. The boy on readingthe note shouted, and told everybody itwas the best Christmas gift he had received.WHAT TO DOFrom the booklet by Mrs. A. A. WylieA WORD TO THE VICE-PRESIDENTPerhaps, you thought, when you wereelected to the office, you would havenothing to do just be a "figurehead" inthe organization. No, indeed! There arejust lots of things you can do to help inthe work, that will not in any way trespass upon the work of any officer orcommittee.You might take for yourmotto for the year the first clause ofEcclesiastes 9:10, and be the "Whatsoever Man" in your society. In almostevery organization, there is some onewho works about, quietly doingall theodd jobs that nobody else sees to do orwants to do. Such folks are worth theirweight in gold. Sharp eyes and a willingheart have just prepared you for thistask.The President is going to depend onyou to help in the general administrationof affairs. Of course, you will take hisplace and do his work, if ever, for anynecessary reason, he should be absent.He may ask you to be "publicity manfor the society. Don't be frightened but say, "I'll do the best Iand send to the International Societyof Christian Endeavor, 1221 East BroadStreet, Columbus 5, Ohio, for "PublicityPlans for Christian Endeavor," costCOVENANTER WITNESS