I picked up a newspaper yesterday and, while scanning the pages, I noted advertisements stretched from one end to the other of several pages displaying "Xmas" specials. Just who is "X" and what does Xmas mean? Once upon a time, Christmas was observed in celebration of the nativity of Christ. The wisemen brought precious gifts and laid them reverently, at the feet of the little child who was distined to bring light and understanding to a world that was darkened by doubt, misgivings, misunderstanding and cruelty. He came with no thought for personal glory or self-aggrandisement, he asked for no material compensation or recognition, he loved man and in the light of that love, he wanted to make good the plan of salvation.

Lest we forget: We call this important day, Christmas, because we are mindful of Christ's birth. We moderns, in the mad swirl of reducing everything to its simplest form, to receive the most with the least expenditure of e nergy, I fear, are losing sight of the significance of the word and heedlessly call it Xmas. "X" may mean anything but the beauty and reverance in the sacred name of Christmas which reminds us that He was born for our redemption. We may substitute "X" for an unknown quantity in Algebra, or "X" for an unnamed "village" but let us, in faith, give the day celebrating the advent of our Saviour, full, unmitigated respect and, as far as possible remembrance and call it Christmas.

Lest we forget: Sir Launfal beheld in the grimy beggar "an image of Him who died on the tree". It would probably seem too ideal to remember the blessed day of the year, but in memory of His birth and His divine goodness, le t us forget gift for gift, let us close our eyes to materialism and take the "X" out of Christmas and put a dime into the hand of the needy, in the name of Christ.