RO
T this, the festive season
of the year when the. traditional fare of rich and abundant food is the order" of the day, the round of gaiety is apt. to tax the strength of many. It is reassuring to know that of all the beverages. the refreshing cup of tea takes. ` pride of place, especially if "RICKSHAW" BRAND the celebrated Ceylon Tea is the 'tea brewed.
CHINA - MAIL CHRISTMAS NUMBER.
"RICKSHAW"
· BRAND
TEA
Obtainable from all Compradores.
DAVIE, BOAG & CO., LTD.
SOLE DISTRIBUTORS."
XMAS MESSAGES FROM
By BISHOP VALTORTA.
¡Continued from Pugt 7) the Infant King, study the lesson which the Crib of Bethlehem showat
"He left all His glory be
hind
To be born and to die for
mankind.'
"Utter forgetfulness of self, infinite charity towards others; the Majesty of the Godhead clothed in the beautiful help- lessness of infancy, to draw all hearts to Him, and through Him- to all others. How we should have loved to help Him then, how we should have loved to ease His sufferings by our own! We can do so now by doing to others what we would have done to Him. First, we must make our "souls like unto His, we must saturate ourselves .with. His spirit, and. then with the peace which shall
be ours we shall bring by our example and by our words and deeds peace and happiness into the souls of others."
meg.
"The fulfilment of the sage given by the angels, and accepted by the shepherds, and by all the countless friends of Jesus Christ from that first Christmas night to the present day, may be ours and the world's If only we and the world, instead of thisking of self, gather in Humility around the Infantin the wayside cave and learn the lesson--the lesson of charity. which He came on earth to teach. 118.”.
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屠
HONG KONG CHURCH LEADERS.
By DEAN SWANN.
(Continued from Page 7.) Himself--that is
the aum of everything that is good and true and beautiful. He came to make of human life a happy party composed of His friends truly at home in His house. But few there were to receive Him them; and still there are few to-day.
By REV. W. WALTON ROGERS.
And yet through the ages His Spirit has gained admittance here and there into many humble hearts, and through them its fragrance" has been apread abroad, so that even where He Himself is not known its beauty may be seen. And it is chiefly at His birthday that it blossoms out each year.
!! A heavenly
power seems to compel its ex- pression then.
"The dark night wakes, the
glory breaks,
And Christmas
more.'
comes once
"But how much greater would be the glory if the ddors of every heart and every household and every party were gladly flung open to receive Him! That would be heaven on earth. And it is no vain dream..It is real already in some hearts and some homes and some parties. Why not in all?
'Where meek souls will re-
ceive Him still
The dear Christ enters in." "The Boy in the attic was out in the cold. He did not com plain, he merely stated the ob- vious fact everybody seemed to have forgotten him. Christ
(Continued from Page 7.) that, as He Himself said, only the child-like heart can receive it, yet so powerful that it is transforming and will transform the world.
slowness in apprehending and "In spite of our dullness" and
our apathy in obeying, in spite of our arrogance and snobbery, our greed and selfishness, slowly but surely the Spirit of Christ is gaining power over the hearts of men, and if not with us and through us, then in spite of us, the day will come when the whole earth shall re-echo 'the angels' song of peace and good- will, which sounds in our ears anew each Christmastide."
is still out in the cold. It is not His way to complain. Divine Love never wants anything for Itself. But He knows how much men are missing without Him, and there is ever An ache in Love's heart when it is not re- ceived. That is why. I began by saying 'For God's sake let Christmas be Christian." The Heart of the Eternal is dissatis fled while His conscious, reason- ing creatures fail to recognise and return His love.
"Thus, both for Earth and for Heaven Christmas without Christ is never anything but a shadow of what it might be, and sometimes it is a travesty.
"For God's Bake and for our own, therefore, let our Christ mas be Christian."
י
XMAS DAY WITH THEIR MAJESTIES.
(Continued from Page 28.)
-
Queen Mary makes it a rule to take a short rest after. the meal; but long before tea is served she descenda to the
room that has been specially cleared for the better enjoy- ment of the children, "old" As well as young.
The King greatly enjoys watch- ing these Christmas rompe, and takes part in several of them with upon record that once he and the the greatest enjoyment. It Is, Prince of Wales came into violent collision, as the latter darted away to avoid being caught, and father and son sat on the ground grave- ly looking at each other and re- covering their breath, while those present were *convulsed
with laughter.
Great Event.
After tea comes the great event of the day, when their Majesties, their family and guests, adjourn to the ball-room, in which the great and wonderful Christmas tree has been jealously kept locked away from too curious eyes.
Д
Toward dusk the mansion blazes into a flood of brilliant light, and Christmas dinner, including such old-fashioned dishes as boar's head" and sucking-pig, is served. And the long and happy day closes in the "wee ama' hours" of Boxing Day, with a variety of recreations, ranging from dancing and music to "bridge, and billiards.
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