MERRY CHRISTMAS

U n ity B u ild in g , 913 T ra cy A v e n u e

VOL. I KANSAS C IT \, MO., SATURDAY, DEC. 25, 1909 NO. 33

THE ORIGIN O F CHRISTMASB y R oyal F illm o re .

The C hristians w ere n o t the f ir s t to celebrate C hrist­m as. Long years before C hrist cam e to bless this w orld w ith precious C hristi­anity , C hristm as was ob­served, n o t as a b irthday , o f course, b u t as a tim e for rejoicing. E very na tion on the earth , which is recorded in history , k ep t th is d ay for feasting and p ra is in g th e ir gods. B u t why especially this day—Decem ber 25th? W ould n o t an y day in the calendar do? No they gave thanks, and had good cause, fo r on th is day the sun s ta r te d N o rth to bless them w ith w ealth and p len ty again.

The E g y p tian s f ir s t ob­served th is in th e ir a stro ­nom ical p u rsu its . They no­ticed th a t the sun w ent

South, an d d ro u g h t and fam ine followed in its p a th , b u t on D ecem ber 17th i t stopped , and on the 25th s ta r te d back again to smile once m ore upon the poor m orta ls, and give them ra in , and flood the N ile, an d m ake the ir bor­ders p roduce an abundance o f gra in . So it was w ith good reason th a t they feasted and re­jo iced on this day, and welcomed the sun back again.

In tim e a ll nations observed the action of th e sun an d rejoiced. The holiday w ent by d if­fe ren t nam es. In Greece the people nam ed the day “The F e a s t o f D ionysia.” Then when Rom e rose from her barbarism , and p u t ou t her pow erfu l hand and g rasped the w orld, she called th is hap p y tim e of the year, “ S a tu rn a ­lia,” an d gave thanks to he r god o f harvest

S a tu rn . W hen the w arm sun w ent South in­tense cold descended on the poor inhab itan ts, and k illed m any, fo r they had n o t learned to e rec t w arm dwellings, so the Celts called this day, when the welcome sun s ta r te d back to smile on them , the “ Y uletide,” and the hardy N orsem an called i t the “Twelve N ights.”

T hus i t was when C hris tian ity bloomed fo r th i t found th is p ag an holiday being ob­served everyw here by feasting , d rink ing and devoutly th an k in g th e ir gods; som ething like we celebrate T hanksgiving o f today.

The C hristian em perors tr ie d to s trik e this holiday from the p ag an calendar, b u t as i t was im possible they w isely com prom ised, and ado p ted i t as a day fo r celeb ra ting the b irth o f C hrist in 98 A . D ., an d as i t d id n o t m ake m uch d ifference to the p ag an w hat he cele­b ra te d so he h ad a good tim e, he accepted the com prom ise. I t is a well-known fac t th a t C hrist was n o t bo rn on D ecem ber 25th, be­cause the B ible speaks o f the shepherds tend­ing th e ir flocks ou t o f doors, and a t th is tim e o f y ear i t was so ra in y th a t i t was impossible to herd sheep or s ta y o u t doors a t all. Some a rg u e th a t C hris t was bo rn in M ay, b u t the exact d a te does n o t m a tte r . Though his com­ing has been m ixed w ith the old p ag an idea som ew hat; i t w as the tu rn in g p o in t o f religion, fo r C h ris tian ity was bo rn w ith Je su s C hrist to en ligh ten the world. E n g lan d denounced C hristm as in 1647, an d p roh ib ited its celebra­tion, because i t sa id i t was a p ag an holiday, an d to th is d ay m any Scotch do no t recognize it.

B u t w here d id the idea o f S an ta Claus come from , and w hat was its orig in? S an ta Claus is the D u tch p e t nam e fo r St. Nicholas whom i t is sa id lived in M y ra and was a g rea t friend o f the children. H e h ad them hang up th e ir stockings, an d a t n ig h t he would steal from house to house an d give them little p resen ts ;

WEEKLY UNITY

W E E K L Y UNI TY.P U B L IS H E D W E E K L Y BY

© n t t p tEract £§>octetpU N IT Y B L D G . 9 I 3 TRACY AVE.

KANSAS C IT Y , M O.

L O W E L L F LLL M O R E . M a n a g in g E d ito r

©(final ©raan of tfjt ZUmtp (feocittp

Vol. i $1.00 per year, 2 cts. pe r copy No. 33

bu t th is old m yth goes fa rth e r back th an St. Nick. The G reeks had a jo lly old sa ty r Silen- us, the god o f the d ru n k a rd s who p resided over the ir festival o f D ionysia. The R om ans had S a tu rn to preside over the ir S a tu rn a lia , and the G erm ans the ir god T hor as the ob jec t o f their festivals. A ll these gods were rep resen t­ed to be old, and to symbolize the dy ing year.

W hen we see C hristm as trees a ll be-spangled with p resen ts and candles, we m ight s top to wonder why i t has become a custom , and th a t this delight o f the little child is all borrow ed from the ancient pagans.

V irg il m entions the C hristm as tree in his works. E m p ero r D rusus b ro u g h t the tree cus­tom into G erm any, and there i t has its stro n g ­e st hold today. The G erm ans claim th a t the ir ancestors b ro u g h t the tree in to the ir houses to entice the gods o f the fo res t to en te r and leave some g ifts . One th in g is certa in th a t they all used the fir and pine, because they rep resen t e te rn a l life and knowledge.

The Y ule custom used in E n g lan d to cele­b ra te C hristm as was o rig ina ted by the Scandi­navians, who had large bonfires a t Y uletide to please the god of the sun and the wood sprites, and to rep resen t renew ed life.

W e can th ink of these th ings when we are having our C hristm as revelries, and rem em ber th a t all these happy custom s had th e ir begin­ning in the in fancy o f m ankind.

The D ru ids considered the oak a sacred tree, and as the m istletoe grew on it, and had b e r­ries which generally cam e in bunches o f th ree representing? the T rin ity , and ripened in Decem ­ber, they considered the p la n t a sym bol o f their god o f the sun, and hung it over their doors to entice the wood sp rites to enter. I f a friend m et a friend u nder such a bunch of

UNITY AUDITORIUM,U N ITY B U IL D IN G , 913 TRACY,

Sunday, December 26, 1909.Sunday School at io.

A ddress by C h a r l e s F i l l m o r e .11 a. m.

S u b j e c t : C h r i s t a n d th e S u p e r c o n s c io u s .

T h e C oncentration Class at 3:30

A ddress b y M rs . V a n M a r t e r 8 p. m.

S u b j e c t : “ H i s N a m e S h a l l b e C a l l e d W o n d e r ­f u l . ”

m istletoe i t was a sign o f e te rn a l love and friendsh ip , and Oden, fa th e r o f Bolden, the sun god, took note o f a ll th e ir good wishes. The hum an race has become m ore and m ore a ffec ­tionate, and to d ay seals such friendsh ip under the m istletoe w ith a kiss.

T hus we find a ll ou r holiday custom s have the ir orig in in the sem i-civilized p ag an o f yes­terd ay , and the old saying is revived, “ There is noth ing new u n der the sun.”

A TIMELY TALKL a s t Sunday m orning, M r. F illm ore gave a

tim ely ta lk on “ R etrospection ,” explain ing the law o f m ind by which m en d issipa te the ir force when they allow th e ir thoughts to dwell upon the p ast. The m ind is constan tly build ing w ithin and a ttach in g itse lf to, o r detach ing i t ­self from , things w ithout. I f i t th inks about the th ings o f the p a s t i t a ttaches the v ita l force to the though t form s of th a t period, and there is a pu lling back instead o f a going forw ard . The children of the R eal, the “children of Is ra e l” wero com m anded to “go fo rw ard .”

P rogress is the law o f life , and any system of though t th a t holds m an to the p ast, belittles and deterio ra tes . Old people g e t childish be­cause they dwell in thought on the p leasures o f the p a s t and minimize the joys o f the present.

The lesson is, cu ltivate a h ab it o f re jo icing in the good th a t now is, and thus bu ild up m ind, body and a ffa irs .

“ One th in g I do, fo rg e ttin g the th ings which are behind, and stre tch in g fo rw ard to the th ings which are before, I p ress on tow ard the goal un to the prize o f tne high calling o f God in C hrist Jesu s .”

WEEKLY UNITY

RESPONSIVE SERVICE

Sunday, December 26

Song—Jo y to the W o iid ._ , ............................... 107.

A nd there were in the sam e coun try shep­herds ab id ing in the field, keeping w atch over th e ir flock by n ight.

A nd, lo, the angel o f the L o rd cam e upon them , and the glory o f the L ord shone round about them : and they were sore a fra id .

A nd the angel sa id un to them , F e a r n o t: for, behold, 1 b rin g you good tid ings o f g re a t jo y , which shall be to all people.

F o r un to you is born th is day in the c ity of D avid a Saviour, which is C hrist the Lord.

No. 65, R ed B o o k .

Oh, sw eet is the s to ry o f Jesus,The w onderfu l Saviour o f men,W ho overcame death fo r the sinner—I ’ll te ll i t again and a g a in !

C horus:O w onderful, w onderfu l story ,The d earest th a t ever was to ld ;I ’ll rep ea t i t in glory, the w onderfu l story, W here I shall his b eau ty behold.

A nd this shall be a sign u n to you ; Ye shall find the babe w rapped in sw addling clothes, lying in a m anger.

A nd suddenly there was w ith the angel a m ultitude o f the heavenly host p ra is in g God, and saying.

G lory to God in the highest, and on ea rth peace, good will tow ard men.

A nd they cam e w ith haste, and found M ary, and th e babe ly ing in a m anger.

A nd when they had seen it, they m ade known

abroad the saying which was to ld them concern­ing th is child.

H is m ercy flows oh like a river.H is love is unm easured and free ;H is grace is forever, su ffic ien t,I t reaches and purifies me.

Chorus.A nd all they th a t heard i t w ondered a t those

th ings which w ere to ld them by the shepherds.B u t M ary k ep t all these things, and pondered

them in her heart.A nd the shepherds re tu rn ed , g lo rify ing and

p ra is in g God fo r a ll the th ings th a t they had heard and seen, as i t was un to them.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, b ap ­tiz ing them in the nam e of the F a th e r, and of the Son, and o f the H oly G host:

A nd saying, The tim e is fu lfilled , and tne kingdom of God is a t h and : rep en t ye, and be­lieve the gospel.

Song— A ll H a il the Pow er..................................135.

R E G U L A R M E E T IN G S Irv U nity A u d ito r iu m

SUNDAY Sunday School, io a . m.

M rs . IV. G. H aseltine , S u p e r in te n d en t. R egular service, i i a. m. C harles Fillm ore.

T h e C oncentration C lass 3:3c p. m. M rs . A n n a II. R a y .

Evening Service, 8 p. m .,M rs . Soph ia V an M a rte r .

MONDAY H igh Noon Silence, 12 to 12:15.

L esson in H ealth and H arm ony 2:30 p. m. M y rtle F illm ore

TUESDAY High Noon Silence, 12 to 12:15.

Lesson in H ealth and Harm ony, 2:3^ p. m, C harles Fillmore.

W EDNESDAY H igh Noon Silence, 12 to 12:15. M id-W eek M eeting, 2:30 p. m.

H ealing M eeting 8 p. m. THURSDAY

H igh Noon Silence, 12 to 12:15. Lesson in H ealth and H arm ony, 2:30 p. m.

M rs . Soph ia Van M a rte r .FRIDAY

H igh Noon Silence, 12 to 12:15. Lesson in H ealth and H arm ony, 2:30 p. m.

M arion A u s tin D ra k e SATURDAY

H igh Noon Silence, 12 to 12-15. Lesson in H ealth and H arm ony. 2:30 p. m.

M r s . A n n a H . R a y

WEEKLY UNITY

THE CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT

AND TREE

F rid ay E v e n in g —C h ristm a s E v e n in g —at 8 o ’c lo c k

PR O G R A M M E .

1. S o n g , J o y t o th e W o r l d , . . C o n g r e g a t i o n .2. S i l e n t W o r d , ...........M rs. E d it h H a se l t in e .3. S o n g , W i t h H e a r t s S o L i g h t ,

..............................Miss G aylord’s C lass.4. P r a c t i c a l T e n M in u te C h r i s tm a s T a l k ,

..................................... C h a rles F illm o re .5. R e c i t a t i o n , M e r r y C h r i s tm a s t o A l l ,

.............................................. D elsa F r a n z .6. S o n g , L i t t l e M e n ,

............M rs. E d it h H a se l t in e ’s C lass.7. S o n g , C h r i s t m a s a t C h r i s tm a s ,

.. M rs B l a x c h e H a s e l t i x e ’s C la ss .8. P r e l i m i n a r y t o d i s t r i b u t i n g P r e s e n t s ,

..........................................M rs. J . H . Cro ft .9. S o n g , B r i g h t e s t o f A l l ,

I r ex e G aylord’s a x d B l a x c h e H a se l t ix e ’s Classes.

10. S u r p r i s e .

11. S o n g , S i v e e t C h r i s t m a s D a y G o o d N i g h t ,

................................................... A ll C lasses.The f ir s t th ree rows o f sea ts in the A u d ito ­

rium will be reserved fo r th e U n ity Sunday School Children. E very one who is in te res ted in C hristm as is invited to be p resen t.

T here a re C harac ters to tak e p a r t in the su rp rise whose nam es are n o t given here. N early all o f them you have m et and some are old friends o f yours. Come early .

The reg u la r m onthly m eeting o f the W om an’s A uxiliary will be held F rid a y , D ecem ber 31, a t 3 p. m. in U n ity P a rlo r . A request is m ade th a t all women having a blessed d o lla r will re ­tu rn i t w ith increase a t th is m eeting.

M r s . M. C. O ’N e i l l . Secy.

The re g u la r m eeting of the B o a rd o f D irec­to rs o f the U n ity Society o f P ra c tica l C hristi­an ity will be held nex t M onday evening, Decem ­b er 27.

M rs. V an M a rte r 's m eeting on la s t Sunday evening-w as given to the fu r th e r consideration o f the su b jec t o f “ Im m o rta l L ife an d Y outh.”

The chief p o in t o f in te res t in h er address was th a t you th is e te rn a lly renewed when the indiv idual consciousness is linked w ith the U ni­versal. N oth ing ex te rn al will keep one in the bloom of youth , b u t a daily realization o f in­dwelling. In fin ite L ife will estab lish one in such a consciousness o f life th a t the body will be tran sfo rm ed and b e ar the im age o f P e rfec ­tion.

The Concentration ClassThe su b ject fo r the C oncentration class,

Sunday D ecem ber 26, a t 3:30 will be “G ra ti- tn d e an d Thanksgiving.”

P e rh ap s there is no a tt i tu d e o f the mind which opens the w ay fo r the inflow o f the S p irit as does P ra ise , T hanksgiving and G ra titude. T his lesson is to p rep are the w ay fo r an espe­cial bap tism o f the S p ir it on the f ir s t Sunday o f the year, where the class su b jec t w ill be P ro sp erity .

Those who are in te res ted in the though t oi P ro sp e rity are cordially invited to be preseni a t both classes.

On J a n u a ry 9, the reg u la r su b jects o f the class will be resum ed. The pu rpose of this class-is to help a ll who wish to come in to close] Communion w ith the S p irit, o r in o ther words to show how to “ go in to the Silence,” anc come in to a realization o f the presence of God

The annual election of D irecto rs by the mem b ers o f the U n ity Society o f P ra c tica l C hristi an ity w ill be held Sunday m orning, Ja n u a r; 2d d irec tly a f te r the m orning service.

UNITY SUNDAY SCHOOL OFFICERS

M rs. E d ith H aseltine, S u t t .M rs. B lanche E velyn Saee H aseltine, A ss t. S u tt .

M iss Tessie W allace. Secretary.M r . F r a n k H a r lin g , Treasurer

TE A CH E RSL itt le Folks. M rs. H ase ltine: C hildren , B lanche Sai

H aseltine: Y oung L a d ie ., M iss G aylord: Y oung FolksM rs. C ro ft: Bibl{ Class, M r . H oag land .