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The age of the tree has been volume av. around 4UUU f.b.m. ba ed ‘ e ' ‘ estimated at about 350 years, a 58mg: 3.}; efifigfnfviswég and lvtv has ahdbfih. ofhilts infh- down some 20 years ago. es. hente gw epne were first cut in this country, The bush in which the tree this tree was paSsed ovel- is found has been in the Rat- probably because of its small cliffs family for several gener- size, but it has since grown to atlons. and consequently the a height of 130 feet. The top tree has been known about for has been dead far the last 50- quite some time. Mr. Ratclifl’e so years. unfortunately. thus recalls the tree when he was a What is possibly the oldest putting on end to and largest white pine tree in ex- height growth south central Ontario has re- has. however. A] cently been brought to the at- 80 feet of clear Stt tention of the Department of diameter of betwe Lands and Forests. The tree 30 inches. It is es is located in a 100-acre hard~ such a tree would wood bush on the sixth conces- tween 2500 and 30 sion of Markham Township be- lumber. or enough longing to the Ratclifle Bros. of construct about 2% Stoufiville. .Howard Ratclifle e “Talk about windowless rooms if you must. but for God‘s sake don’t talk about windowless schools," he pleaded. “Pupils need sunlight. Win- dows are a necessity. This talk about windowless schools is harmful . . . it’s a new cliche.” Recent claims by Irvine Bolgon, Toronto architect, that where proper ventilation, lighting and planting ex- ist inside windowless classrooms pre- vent distractions from outside traffic and the glare of sunlight. have been hotly contested by other specialists in school accommodations. Architect, Alexander Leman has urged architects and school boards to “avoid climbing on the band wagon of windowless schools". gmwwwwwwmwmmmrisosmmmm 3% \I Fog Index" AI Christmas an. Christmas lights symbolize the coming of Christ as the Light of the World and call to mind the star that shone to guide the three wise men to the manger which sheltered the new: born babe. “When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” â€"â€"Matthew 2:10. White Pine Is Lead us out of the fog of our life is our Christmas prayer; fog is SIN and HE CAME AS THE SAVIOUR 0F MANKIND. But not only are we fogged up as to our destination, we cannot eVen see our path. We would not drive our car headlong through a fog. But that is the way we live . . i even at Christmas. Let us stop for a moment and watch those who were fogged up at that first Christmas. Some could see. . . . The wise men had time to look up and they saw a star that led them out of the fog. . . . The shepherds stopped and listened and heard the angels sing and were led out of the fog. . . . And Simeon in the temple, out of his contemplation, knew the fullness of God’s plan and Was led out of his fog. . . . And Mary and Joseph, hearing the voice of the Lord, followed and were led out of the fog. But there were hundreds of pilgrims, the innkeeper, and Herod, and the soldiers who would kill the little children . . . they were all in a fog. Christmas, too, has its own “fog index”. When you get busy enough about many things you will soon find that you have lost the real purpose of your activity. Busyness has a therapeutic value, but it is also deaden- ing in the realm of the spirit. We do no clear thinking and devout living unless we are absolutely certain about our destiny. Is our life motivated by men’s ideas or ideals or by what God w0uld have us be? Where are we going at Christmas? What is our purpose? By the time you see through all the smoke of the candles, the January bills have arrived and your “fog index” is away up again and so is yOur blood pressure. What some writers have correctly referred to as a "fog index” exists in much of life to-day. It is very evident in writing and thinking but it also exists in politics and international statesmanship. When we speak to one another we have difficulty in making ourSelves understood. If we cannot understand one another how can we ever comeâ€"to the place where we tranSmit what we think to another? How is your “fog index"? When we were young our parents and friends often had difficulty getting through to us at times, but then we threw up a terrific barrier. It is a sobering thought to realize that each one of us has a “fog index”. 05132 liberal , An Independent Weekly: Established 1878 Subscription Rate $4.50 per year; to United States $5.50; 10c single copy Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Member Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association J. E. SMITH, Publisher W. S. COOK, Managing Editor “Authorized as second class mail, Post Oflfice Department, Ottawa" The lights Of Christmas Windowless Schools? E LIBERAL, Richmond Hill, Ontario. Thursday. Dec. 24. 1964 The bush in which the tree is found has been in the Rat- cljffe family for several gener- atlons, and consequently the tree has been known about for quite some time. Mr. Ratclifle diameter of between 24 and that the tree should be pre- 30 inches. It is estimated that served and in time they hope such a tree would produce be- to construct a nature trail so tween 2500 and 3000 f.b.m. of that all interested people will lumber, or enough wood to be able to see the tree. construct about 2% houses. but This is considered a very Howard Ratcllffe estimates the realistic and worthwhile ap- volume at around 4000 f.b.m.‘proach by the government. We based on his experience with have all read and been told by a similar tree which was cut the "old-timers" how Ontario down some 20 years ago. was once covered in forests of putttng an end to any furth-lboy and remembers that it was er height growth. The tree not cut because his father has. however. approximately felt it should be preserved. The 80 feet of clear stem to a top Ratcliffe Brothers still feel gamete of between 24 and that the tree should be pre- 350 Years Old City office workers, working in the new glass and steel buildings, have found ventilation is not always up to specifications. Recently, during a. power failure in New York City these workers became panic-stricken when the ventilating system failed to re- new the oxygen in the supply of air and non-operating elevators stranded them several stories above the street level where the nearest supply of fresh ('2) air was available. Pro- vision had not been made for an em- ergency supply of air. Should power or equipment failure interfere with ventilation in window- less schools, consequences could be very serious. “The Liberal" joins with it's read- ers in saying “thank you” to all these public-spirited citizens. It seems that this year merchants have outdone themselves in decorat- ing their places of business in the Christmas theme, as well as provid- ing a really diversified selection of well displayed merchandise for their customers. More and more people have learned it is not necessary to leave our community for Christmas shopping. Also adding to the Christmas scene are the town’s street decorations on Yonge Street. Each year members of the hydro commission’s staff revamp these decorations and add something new. They are also responsible for erecting them in good time to remind people that the festive season is ap- proaching. High above Yonge Street the spire of Richmond Hill United Church, lighted in seasonal colors, is a beacon easily recognized from a distance. This is considered a very realistic and worthwhile ap- proach by the government. We have all read and been told by the "old-timers" how Ontario was once covered in forests of huge white pine. The era of these trees has long since pas- sed and it is of great interest that one of these forest giants can be preserved. Only then are we able to realize what our bountiful forests of the past Once yielded. ‘ ‘ for our The Dowager Empress Aug- uste of Germany died of the disease and the King of Spain Was 11! but expected to recover. The Czar of Russia had recov- ered from an illness. at first thought to be influenza. but later diagnosed as an attempt to poison him by nihilists. Flu/Mack A humorous poem subject was included sue of "The Liberal In the United States, Andrew Carnegie, the Pittsburgh mil- lionaire. had a severe attack of la grippe. Baltimore physicians said there were 50.000 persons in that city suffering from la grippe and from 20 to 50% of the pupils of Boston schools were absent from classes be- cause of this disease. THE UNIVERSAL MALADY I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with joy and happiness. Unfortunately we men with our proud, selfish, earthbound nature often ch00se the shadow of dark- ness rather than the glory of light. We fail to reflect the light of Christ in our relationships, and we are content to leave many of the children of God in the darkness of ignorance, poverty, suffering, and fear, even as we sing the words of the Scottish carol, “He comes the ,prisoners to elease, . . . To clear the inward sight? ' And on the eyeballs of the blind, To pour celestial light. He comes, the broken heart to bind, The bleeding soul to cure; And with the treasures of his grace To enrich the humble poor.” The candle power is available to enlighten the world, but its distribution depends on the dedication and concern of individuals like you and me. We can decide whether our brightly c010ured lights symbol- ize the pr05perity of a favoured people celebrating a festive seaSOn or the light of a birth, which gives hope of opportunity‘and eternity to all mankind. As the year 1889 drew in a close, In epidemic of "LI Grippe" or influenza was sweeping the world. Ii wan reported decreasing in France and Russia but increasing elsewhere, particularly in Africa. This light has overcome much darkness in the world. It has been instrumental in education, both in the humanities and the sciences, in human rela- tions â€" labour-management, racial and sacial wel- fare, and in justice. The Christian way of life and faith, of search for truth and defence of freedom has truly brought light into countless areas of the world where darkness reigned. What's this turmoil and confusion? Mamma‘s got the grippe. She knows well it’s no i1- lusion; Mamma’s got .the grippe. Back and head and eyes are aching: Brain feels heavy, knees are shaking; Don‘t the children get a raking? Why Is all the house so dismal? Papa's got the grippe. Why this look that's so abysmal? Papa‘s got the grippe. Why this coughing and this sneezing? Why this blowing and this wheezing? Why that tone and manner freezing? Papa‘s got the grippe. St. John, in his g0spel, used the symbol of light to describe to his readers the impact of Christmas upon their lives. He writes “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (1:4 R.S.V.) In this thought he was echoing the tremendous insight Isaiah proclaimed, “The people who walked in dark- nessnhave seen a great light.” (9:2 R.S.V.) Mr. and Mrs. Burn have four children. Eleanor 8, Margaret 6, Nancy 4 and Kevin 2. It is a pleasure to have Rev. F. J. Burn’s Christ- mas meSSag‘e in this column. A Christmas Message BY REV. F. JAMES BURN As we walk or drive through the town during these re-Christmas days, we are enchanted by the colored) lights that decorate it. They are used with wonderful imagination. For many, they are part of the trappings of a festive holiday; for some, the lights are symbolic of a holy event . . . the birth of the Christ Child, the coming of the Son of God into the world. In the summer of 1953 Mr. Bum served in the mission field at Stone, Saskatchewan and during the following summers he saw service in the miSSiOD charge at Goulais River in Ontario. He was ordained at Brockville in 1956 in the Bay of Quinte Con- ference and settled at Sharhot Lake in the Kingston Presbytery where he ministered for three years. Since he became the minister of St. Matthew’s he was made the convener of Christian Education for York Presbytery and he is also a member of the Field Administration Committee of the Board of Christian Education. our nonored guest columnist is the Rev. F. James Burn. minister of St. Matthew’s United Church. Richmond Hill East. Before coming to Richmond Hill he served as minister of St. Paul's United Church at Bancroft since 1959. Mr. Burn is a native of Janetville and a graduate of Lindsay Col- legiate Institute. He rec‘éived his B.A. degree from McMaster University in 1953 and his B.D. degree frrom Emmanuel College in 1956. Rambling III-aunt! Items gleaned from files of f‘The Liberal”. the home paper of this district since 1878. In Year: Gone 81/ on the in an is- $9 to $10 Some 30,000 families in the United States will purchase Ontario-grown Scotch Pines this year, at a retail price of The author of this favorite children‘s poem. an eminent New York divinity professor, felt his creation was beneath his dignity and would not ad- mit he wrote it for 20 years. SCOTCH PINES Oh. for some relief effec- tive From this cursed grippe! Oh, for some new fierce invectlve To describe the grippe! When you’ve taken six or seven Quinme pills and need eleven More it makes you sigh for heaven, Where there's no more grippe. â€" Somerville Journal (Not much change in 75 years, is there? Ed. Note). “THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS" Why this howling and this yelling? Baby’s got the grippe. When! of all his woes he's telling. Baby's got the grippe. What a squirming. what a kicking, Just as if a pin is sticking In his tender flesh and pricking, Baby's got the grippe. Mamma's got the grippe by Elizabeth Kelson As a person travels through foreign lands, his perspective broadens and it becomes ab- undantly clear that the under- developed countries' main con- cern is to defend themselves, maintain their independence. and raise their standard of liv- ing. They look to us and the United States for support. To keep us strong both militarily and economically is in their best interest and the overriding considerations of the govern- ment in Ottawa and Washing-‘ ton must be the predication of? this principle. For years we have had the technical ability to manufacture and assemble atomic weapons. we have not done this but ra- ther have turned our efforts to- wards the peaceful use of the atom. Our prime purpose in ad- vocating a United Nations peace- keeping force, with Canada ma- king :1 full contribution is to set- tle international disputes be- fore any escalation takes place. Canada next year has pledg- ed 80 million dollars to the Colombo Plan in south-east- ern Asia to initiate a high- er standard of living in these underdeveloped countries. Christmas is the time of the year when we all remember the beginning. think of the past. and anticipate the future. I had the opportunity this year of visiting Israel and tra- velling near the Holy City through Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee. There I stayed at a kibbutz on the Israel-Jordanian border, where fighting had broken out the day before. An historic land full of the mem- ories of Jesus Christ and here almost two thousand years ago one man gave meaning to our civilization. When we think of the words: “Peace on Earth. Good Will To- ward Men". Canadians are proud of their contributions to maintaining world peace and the betterment of man's life. by JOHN ADDISON M.P. . . . and may your Christmas turkey be big enough for all of y0u and yours to have “second” thoughts. The Question Of The Weekâ€"â€" If; as Prime Minister Pearson says, the red maple leaf flag is our Christmas present, “Where”, a lot of us ask, “Is the exchange office 'I” Setting endurance records under the shower is the current college caper in the Statesâ€"with the “world’s” record rising frOm 13 to 24 hours in the first week. This is ONE athletic event Canada should “win easy”, no matter how high the record goesâ€"if we can just get San-dra to trade her TV tub for a shower. ‘ Our high school principal’s request that Beatle browed students should have their tops trimmed brought the statement from one father that the principal could only have some say in the haircuts of his son when he paid for them . . . What haircuts? The Nine Points Of The Lawâ€"â€" Ontario’s Royal Commission on Civil Liberties heard a brief last week from the Toronto Peace Centre asking, among other things, that policemen’s guns should be replaced by weapons firing tranquil- izer-loaded darts . . . Quick Watson, the needle! OTTAWA (CP) â€" Col. .1. L. G. P0ulin. 47, of Quebec City and Montreal, takes over as command- ant of the Royal Canadian School of Infantry at Camp Borden, 0nt., Jan. 18, National Defence HQ announced yesterday. . . . Hmmm? Infiltration from the top? With most of Britain's Christmas liquor stocks destroyed in a multi-million dollar fire and with Quebec’s Liquor Board strike still on. our Ontario Christmas and New Year’s will have, in this respect, some additional aspects of Thanksgiving. OTTAWA (CHâ€"Brig. J. B. Allan, 50, recently retired vice quarter-master-general of the Canadian Army was charged yesterday with bribery and con- splracy in the alleged acceptance of benefits total- ing more than $8,000 between 1957 and 1963. . . . New, with the other unsavoury news coming from the capital, we can see what the French-Canadians might have had in mind with their demands for “equal opportunities" in government service. And something else to be thankful for is that the Toronto papers, with that other thing still fresh in their mind, didn't take the story of our six Béatle-mopped high school students being confined in the school’s “health room“ and head it with: From Fanny Hill To Sam-Hill. "How to keep workers down on the farm is the crucial question Ontario producers must answer"â€" Labor‘Minister Rowntree, addressing the Ontario Food Processors Association. . . . Well, they say you can't keep a good man down but they might try giving him a TV to keep him up and then he wouldn’t be quite so 300d. LONDON (Reuters) ~ Princess Margaret has declined an invitation to visit Canada next March for the 25th anniversary celebration of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. . . . Aw, c’mon Meg. Winnipeg’s Way over in the middle of the countryâ€"~and you COULD come in via Vancouver. .9:an mug/us ‘_‘ Q Yesterday's news is not necessarily dead @TTAWA @EPEDLRT are WHAT OF THE FUTURE sto The first half of 1965 ap- and pears to be good. It will be up . ito Finance Minister Walter Gor- the\don with his budget in March to ensure continual expansion for the full year and well into 1986‘ mm 0115. The recent armament cuts by the USSR and the renewed efforts by the United States to negotiate a further test ban treaty should produce a thaw in the cold war. Obviously pock- ets of unrest will remain but this is to be expected particul- arly with emerging nations. It appears now that the House of Commons will recess until the middle of February; during this six weeks I will make ev- ery effort to travel about our constituency and speak with you. If there are any particular problems that you would like to discuss with me. I can be reach- ed at my home in King 773- 5193 or my office in Richmond Hill 884-1351. "May the roads rise with you. May the wind be always at your back And may the Lord hold you in the hollow of His hand." 1964 hes been a good year for Canada. Employment is at an all time high, unemployment on a seasonally adjusted basis is the lowest it has been since No- vember 1956. Canadian business is expanding at a record rate and has never been so prosper- ous. Construction and the house building industry is boom- ing. most important of all our exports are much higher than they were a year ago, which was a record. our econ to fur schemes ances. 5 Canada A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Asa WHAT ' were a a record. 5 a result economy. further BY GEORGE MA YES s such a student Pension '1’ OF '1‘ )f the grt 'e have be advance as youth loans 3 n Plan. E FUTURE of 1965 a It will be I growth been a and vth In n able social allow- the Saturday Matinees at 1 pm. and 3 pm: Sunday Matinee at 2 pm. W Please Note Thurs., Fri., Dec. 24-25, One Show Only at 7.15 11.111. “Pinocchio” at 7.15, “Mail Order Bride” 8.45 pm. Sat., Dec. 26, cont. from 6 p.m., Sunday from 5 pm. Mon., Tues., Wed. Evenings, from 7 11.111. Holiday Matinee Saturday 8. Sunday, Dec. 26, 27 SANTA BRINGS CHRISTMAS FUN TO MM! 81’ Santa aua” on .47 mun mums “coins RICHMOND HILL. ONT Phone TU. 4-1212 SAT.-SUN Matinee 1 spaciau MON., TUES., WED. MATINEES AT 2 RM. MATINEE EVERY SATURDAY AND HOLIDAYS AT 2 PM. IT’S PURE IT'S JOY... IT'S MAGIC... E"chantment! ALL- CARTOON ” FEATURE STARTING THURS, DEC. 24 TO WED., DEC. 30 ENJOY SUNDAY MOVIES THIS SUNDAY AND EVERY SUNDAY CONTINUOUS FROM 5 RM. “PINGCCHIO” Imam Madly m»; A“! IBM um PMLIW «mm mam SEE: The Martians Kidnap Santa! d Santa‘s North Pole Workshop! " The Fantastic Martian Toy Factory! Earth Kids Meeting with Martian Kids! Space-ship Journey from Earth to Mars! Santa turn MarsRobot into a Mechanical Toy! MON.. TUES‘. WED. AT 2 RM ~'"flHNlCOLOR" AN ALL DISNEY PROGRAMME WALT DISNEY’S “BEAR COUNTRY" Imnmumummun Please N ote plus Plus 7 WONDERFUL ksozve mm A