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Out on the Judean Hills common shepherds were going about their usual work -â€" guarding their sheep from the attacks of wild animals. To these ordinary men, at their ordinary task, came a vision, at once fright- ening and inspiring â€" after which they could never be the same again. Suddenly, there appeared beside them an angel. blazing with glory, who quickly allayed their fears by saying, “The news I bring is good news â€"- good news for the whole world. At last your awaited Saviour has come, the Christ of God. He is just a baby. You will find him lying in the feeding trough of a Bethlehem stable.” Then, indeed, the whole sky seemed filled with angels who sang praises to God and brought to those Jewish shepherds a message of peace and goodwill. “Let the world cease from strife! Let all men have a kindly feeling one toward another!" What unpalatable tidings for those men of Judah. They were members of a conquered race â€" longing for freedom, hoping for a Messiah who would free them from the oppressor, the hated Caesar Augustus. Yet to them came the command. “Be at peace". They were people belonging to a proud nation, chafing under a foreign yoke, hating their overlord, Cyrenius, governor of Syria. Yet to them came the injunction, “Do away with all ill-will". An unpalatable message indeed! Surely it would not have surprised us had they said: “Any suggestion that God’s Chosen People should follow a path of peace and goodwill in our present plight must certainly be of the devil. The so-called Saviour who has come cannot be our Messiah". Yet, when the vision faded, the shep- herds talked with one another and they went “even unto Bethlehem”. What happened to those men in that cattle shed? There are only four sentences in our Bible to tell us. Yet we knowlthat they found the Child, as the angel had said, in a manger with Joseph and Mary, that they were full of gladness because of their visit, that they went back again to their work and that they told the amazing story to their friends. What hap- pened to the shepherds in that Beth- lehem stable? Did they have there an even greater vision, more than a host of angels â€"â€" a vision. of the lengths to which a Creator is ready to go that he may rescue his children from the consequences of their own sinful actions? Did they glimpse in that helpless Babe something of the immensity of the love of God? And why, if such a revelation was to he, did it come to those humble shepherds? They were not men of The helping hand at Christmas time is a Richmond Hill tradition that has its roots back in the nine- teenth century. In the 1890's the WMS of the Methodist Church ap- pealed for “pound offerings” of tea. cheese, sugar. meats, vegetables and Christmas cakes, for distribution to the needy in our village. Helping Hands A! Christmas The present~day helping hand is known as the Co-ordinated Welfare Services. a committee composed of Stuart Clement (who has been chairman for the past three years), Alf Bryant and Ron Harcourt, rep- resenting Richmond Hill Lions: Dr. William Bedford and Douglas Allen (treasurer) representing the Rotar- ians; Dr. John Wachna and Len New- bury of the Civitans: Harold Van Dyke of the Kinsmen: Peggy Hop- kins of the Kinettes; Hugh Wight of the Red Cross: Mrs. D. 1. Davis of the Senior Citizens and Town Wel- fare Officer Alan White. who handles all investigations. They are dedi- cated to the principle that no family in Richmond Hill will be without a Christmas. Chairman Clement is high in his praise of the other helping: hands, which include the service clubs. Lions. Rotarians. Civitans. Kinsmen and Kinettes, who each contribute a. set sum each month to the commit- tee’s funds. Besides this and other individual community services, these same clubs have jointly undertaken to sponsor a 15-year-old girl at. War- rendale Home For Emotionally Dis- turbed Children for two years. Hundreds more hands belonging to students at Bayview Secondary School will be busily engaged wrap- ping toys for 120 children this year. These young people, for the second year in a. row, have also undertaken to see that one Richmond Hill family will have a Christmas they will never forget. The iowll council's helping; hand takes the form of a $100 gram, $4.50 per year; to United States $5.50; 10c single copy Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Member Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association Published by Richmond Hill Liberal Publishing Co. Ltd. W. S. COOK, Publisher "Authorized as second class mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa.” Subscription Rate THE LIBERAL} Richmond Hill. On'fario, Rev. C. G. Christmas Message An Independent G. Higginson, Richmond Hill United Church Tithe liberal Weekly: Established 1878 The vision, frightening at first, filled them with joy -â€"â€" a joy which made them want to share the good news with others. Yet,'for all its blazing glory, it did not blind them to the reality of the world in which they lived. There were still wolves which might attack the lambs. The sheep still needed to be fed. Back they went to their work in the fields. This, then, is the end of the drama. But no! The drama begun that night is a drama which has no ending. Down through the ages the story of these Jhdean herdsmen has been im- mortalized in song and story â€"- and will be, so long as there are pens and poets. Down through the ages, the force let loose in the world that night has been working away at the hard hearts of men and making its pres- ence felt, often in the most unex- pected places. ru-i,_ prestige: nor were they people of out- standing cleverness. They were men whose occupation was of a religious nature: and there is nothing to sug« gest that they were free from faults. Ordinary folk they were, doing an ordinary job. Yet to them came the Christmas vision! This year, once more, as Christmas- tide draws near, our hearts turn again to the Babe cradled in a manger. Beyond him we see those shepherds with their flocks. Their faces are alight with a joy we long to share. But can we? This is the twentieth century, the atomic age. We live in a world torn by strife and hatred and greed. The words, “War” and “escal- ation” strike fear into our hearts. Where, then, is joy to be found and how? It is to be found in precisely the same way it was found of old in Judea, and by exactly the same sort of people. It is discovered by ordin- ary folk, doing ordinary tasks, by people with ordinary intelligence and their share of ordinary faults. It is not the prerogative of any race, or of any class: It can be found by the oppressed and the down-trodden â€" even by those tempted to bitterness because of the ,Junfairness of the world. ‘ The joy of the shepherds can, in- deed, be found by any son of man â€"- who sees the Christmas vision and is not disobedient to it. “Cease from strife! Have good will toward every- one! Go to Bethlehem!” At Bethlehem, of course, we see the Babe â€" Love Incarnate â€" and grasp something of the Almighty’s concern for all God’s children, a con- cern which finally led to Calvary’s cross. Faced with this, can we be other than filled with gratitude and praise? Truly, ours is a joy which we must share with others. last year and this year. Local curl- ers, schools, Girl Guides, church groups, fraternal organizations, em‘ ployees of local industrial firms, and private citizens become helping hands by contributing goods or money to the project, which is definitel}r com- munityâ€"Wide. More helping hands will be em- ployed in packing food hampers, this year expected to number betwen 40 and 45 families. The list of families is prepared from names submitted by the welfare officer, churches, neigh- bors and friends. Baskets will contain a turkey and everything to make a complete Christmas feast with extras. Where there are children all new toys are included. The work of the Co-ordinated Wel- fare Services is not restricted to the Christmas season. The committee works the year round in meeting emergencies of disaster or misfor- tune. Food. fuel and clothing are provided whenever the need becomes known to it. Those who work in Co-ordinated Welfare Services and its associated groups are ever mindful of the fact that the dispirited and afflicted are brothers in humanity who require warmth and understanding. In times of unprecedented plenty, it is some- times difficult to realize that just a few blocks or a few houses away there is someone facing heavy prob- lems in wretchedness and despair. Such people do exist in our communo ity, though just barely, and in sur- prising numbers. It must be com- forting to them to realize that the Coâ€"ordinated Welfare Services are dedicated to relieving their suffering and bringing some measure of cheer and hope into their lives. The helping hand extended now may give courage to the 01d and for- gotten, hope and energy to cope with the future to deserted families. and 1‘638‘101‘6 131th w1th doubts. Thursday, Dec. 23, 1965 hand extended now ‘6 to the old and for- energy to cope with :serted families. and those who are filled Youngsters like these . . . make a nurse‘s hair go gray! During their ‘up' time. Brian and Randall. warmly clad in their woolley pyjamas, thick socks and slippers. turned their room into a bowling alley and, although their method might be unorthodox, their enjoyment is intense. Brian and Randall are two young patients at Weston Sanitarium . . . and because their condition was disc0vered in the early stages, they will be going home soon, almost certain of a complete cure. With the help of their parents and their doctors, and follow up checks at national sanitar- ium centres, their condition will be carefully followed. Children of this age, in fact all adolescents, are partic- ularily susceptible to active tuberculosis, if once infected. That is why it is the responsibility of each one of us to buy and use TB Christmas Seals and to remember to have that annual TB check-up THE INSTANT SAINT and served as seeing Him who is invisible. BY J01"! Sherlock . To record the results of the coming of Jesus The Story centres amund the young Amel'lca“ doctor’ Christ as man to reveal God and to redeem mankind whose haspital stood on the high Himalayan plateau between . . V. . . _ India and China. To the refugees he was some kind of god -â€"- woum lequlre also the re'wntmg 0f the WhOIe hls and to the American TV audience he was a new kind of hero. [Cory 01: the WEStern world during nineteen and a half The question of whether he was a fraud or a humanitarian centuries. will plague readers right up to the end. (Continued on Page 1?.) éllllfilllhfilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllfillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll1m“llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllg HOW TO MAKE WOOD FURNISHINGS FOR YOUR HOME By Mario Dal Fabbro Over one hundred useful and decorative woodworking projects are presented clearly and simply for the amateur as well as the experienced craftsmen. Well illustrated; it also includes information on how to buy wood, types of hardware and other preliminary matters. TEN FINGERS FOR GOD By Dorothy Clarke Wilson The author of the acclaimed “Dr. Ida" and "Take My Hands" now tells the inspiring story of Dr. Paul Brand and his work with the lepers at Vellore, India. Using the restora- tive techniques he learned in London hospitals during World War II, he and his team of doctors have restored mobility to crippled limbs and smiles to ravaged faces of leprosy suffer- ers. iuuumunmumimumumummmuummlmmmmumnmmmmmunm‘ummw An autobiographical work â€" not truly an autobiography since it deals with aspirations, inspirations. travel, friends. and the influences that shaped his work â€" by the author of “Zorba the Greek" and “The Odyssey". By Richard Collier This richly-documented account of General Booth and his army without guns has everything a powerful novel has . . . . colorful characters, tragedy, humor, struggle against tower- ing odds, and final triumph. CHINA IN CRISIS By Sven Lindqvist A Swedish newspaper man who lived in Peking for several years describes life there and elsewhere in China. notes the difference between propaganda and fact, the importance of food, the Communist attitude toward sex, brainwashing, etc. RENDEZVOUS WITH FATE By Lt. Col. Raymond Lalemant This is a story of a Belgian fighter pilot who escaped from his own country when the Germans invaded it, completed his training in England and joined one of the crack R.A.F. fighter squadrons â€" No. 609 â€" at Biggin Hill. Soon after he became 609's commanding officer, his plane was hit and caught fire and he experienced one of the most dramatic escapes from death by burning eVer to be described. (The following editorial appeared in the Christmas edition of sentiments are still pertinent seven decades later) â€"Editor The holidays are again upon us, and, as Christmas will intervene between this and the next issues of “The Liberal” we wish to all our patrons the compliments of the season â€" a. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Christmas! How the mind goes back on the memories of nearly nineteen centuries! How the little ones, and the larger ones too, of Christen- dom, from the frozen regions of the north to the sunny slopes of the south, all along the ages, have watched the rolling year. waiting with pleas- ing anticipation the day kept in memory of God's greatest gift to manâ€"the Saviour of the human race. How unanimously the millions of our great Christianity unite in commemorating on this day the advent of the Messiah to whose ever-increas- ing sway we owe the innumerable privileges that help to make life safe and enjoyable. Amid a thousand blessings on this welcome day we enlarge our hearts by the long established custom of holiday congratulations, bestowment of gifts, exhortations to merriment, innocent am- usements, and the setting up of Christmas trees, which flourish, bloom and yield their fruits in an hour to the joy and satisfaction of all con- cerned. Christmas comes but once a year; let us help to make it pleasant and, as it rolls by add to the aggregate of human happiness. ’ It is true that the year that is now draV so near its close has had its drawbacks am privations. To many it has not been so su< sful as may have been desired. Many of young men in this fair Canada have had to ‘ the streets anxious for work but without sum want has perhaps been felt in many a home, Fig/1t TB Wit/1 Sea/s At Your Richmond Hill Public Library 800k Fare THE GENERAL NEXT T0 (390D REPORT TO GRECO By Nikos Kazantzakis Christmas 1895 en so succe Many of o nmw mumummummnmwu iWil’l ..~ Flashback It was a long, low. one-storey frame building, reaching nearly across the front of the lot, with a stable to the north. It was a long, low. one-storey some day by the Board of frame building, reaching nearly'Works. But why Richmond Hill across the front of the lot, withlshould be so called I never a stable to the north. jcould discover, for it is neither Here the aristocracy of York‘picturesque nor so very highly on their trips to and from the‘poetical, although Dolby's IS 8 upper lakes would stop for reâ€"lmost comfortable resting place freshment and it was one oflfor a weary traveller. at which the most popular hostelries ona prose writer or a poetizer Yonge Street. Imight find a haven. Attention, Csptasin RBornngécastle. after-.gogdlfbare and neattrliIess prevail." war 5 ir ic ar Bonnycast e, o y’s was e s opping the author of “Canada and the place for the old stage coach Canadians” passed through which ran between Toronto and Richmond Hill in 1846. and in the Landing, with its great lum- his letters refers to the settle-{baring box swung on heavy wards Sir Richard Bonnycastlefl DolbY'S was the Stopping the author of “Canada and thelplace for the 01d stage coach Canadians" passed through which ran between Toronto and Richmond Hill in 1846. and inzthe Landing, with its great lum- his letters refers to the settle-‘bering box swung on heavy ment: “We reached Richmond leather Springs. bounCing and Hill, 17 miles from the «Hal-joltng its dusty occurvants to land) Landing, having made altheir destination. better journey than usual; The "arrival of that coach through a road that might bevonce a week, with its four and called the ‘Slough of Despond' sometimes six horses in hand. and which will be macadamized (Continued On Page 12) Ito Branson Hospital when I have a hospital in my home town that probably needs dona- tions too and why would a can- vasser be allowed to solicit here anyway isn't North York ’Township big enough â€" or is it there are more people like imyself here who say to them-‘ selves “well, it‘s for a goodcause“. i I vaguely remember an or? ganization that calls UNITED Appeal. but I fail to Requests through the mail are another source of irritation to me. Like the Christmas cards you don’t have the heart to send back. “Oh well", you say “it's only $2". But when you've already spent $10 on cards and you don’t need these 10 . . Then there‘s the raffle tickets and the bars of chocolate, etc, etc, etc. . . . Where is it going to end â€" and when? I hope it is soon! itselfi‘JUSt a girl who can't say NO!’ MRS. JEAN RALLS, see where the United comes in 324 Elmwood Ave. Dear Mr. Editor: I feel the time has come when I can no longer contain my thoughts on door-to-door collec- tions in Richmond Hill. For years I have given to the organizations that seem to ap- For years I have given to the organizations that seem to ap-‘ pear from nowhere on my door step every Monday evening -â€"1 well it seems like every Mon- day â€" but tonight I am pro! testing against this. Tonight I gave a collection for ~â€"â€" wait for it â€" Branson Hospital! Now why would I be wanting to give to Branson Hospital when I have a hospital in my home town that probably needs dona< tions too and why would a can- vasser be allowed to solicit here anyway â€" isn‘t North York Township big enough â€" or is it there are more people like myself here who say to them- UNWANTED COLLECTORS when The Word Made Flesh By The Reverend James F. O’Neil St.‘ Mary‘s Anglican Church Many strands go to make up the festoon of popular Christmas celebration. Germany contributed the tree; Holland gave us St. Nicholas . . . Santa Claus . . . from many countries have come the carols. But all of these together, plus the present giving and receiving, the family reunions and kind remem- brances of the friends of yesteryear are but out- ward trappings. These expressions of deep joy and happiness spring from a great and glorious mystery. “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given . . .’ The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.’ To record what the divine Birth has meant would be to write the history of the Church in all lands wherever she is found, to sum up the lives of the heroic martyrs and Godly saints, and of the multitude of unknown men and women who lived and served as seeing Him who is invisible. To record the results of the coming of Jesus Christ as man to reveal God and to redeem mankind would require also the re-writing of the whole his- tory of the western world during nineteen and a half centuries. One of the best-known hotels of the early nineteenth century in Richmond Hill was Dolby's. which stood Where the parking lot for the Richmond Inn is now, according to William Harrison, writing for “The Liberal" in 1889. Rambling Around mmum\mmnmum1wummuuuuuumunu\ummm“mum!\mmmnmmnmmumuumlunnumunml\mmmummm45 The Liberal" 70 years ago. Many of its thoughts and gaunt famine is a foreign enemy that has never invaded the homes of this community. The nec- essaries of life are plentiful and cheap, and luxuries are- within the reach of many. To all our friends, especially the subscribers of “The Liberal,” we again wish a merry Christ- mas and a happy New Year. May you enjoy on this auspicious day the reunion of relatives and friends, and surround a table laden with the delicacies of the season. May the turkey be as fat. the goose as plump, and the plum pudding Dear Mr. es l‘ich a; on any Christhlas past and gone. And let us not forget the little ones, the boys and girls of every household. ‘ Let us for a day quit grumbling about the cares, the disappointments and apxieties_ 0t: lifg. Let those who are older forget that their heads are streaking for the grave, and bend their stiffened backs and romp with the children. Let us help to elicit hilarious shouts of laughter that will make our homes ring as with sympathetic joy. Our days of gifts and acts of kindness will soon be at an end. Our children will too soon have to put their shoulders to the burden of the hour. They will have to fight the stern battles of life. Let us prolong their boyhood and girl- hood days as long as we can. Let us leave behind us some bright spots in the memories of those “'8 w h om 2'1I In Year: Gone By II ve. On that glad day let us not pile all our on the pet of the household until he ceases npreciate. or lavish all our liberality within ome circle. It may be that there are those 1 fortune has not favored, whose homes 1 be made gladder by generosity kindly and eouslxv bestowed. The ‘arrival of that coach once a week, with its four and sometimes six horses in hand. (Continued On Page 12) when most associations have to come around to' the doors for contributions. I once was bold enough to challenge a collector with the words “But I've al- ready given to United Appeal. Go see them!‘ only to be told that it only covers Metro To- ronto. Well I think it is about time it became a little larger than Metro Toronto and blos- somed into province or even dominion-wide and incorporate everything and cut out all these extra solicitations, especially at Christmas when people are al- ready feeling the pinch. Miter A‘ Second "mug/Its by Elizabeth Kelson to bé’told" This is the week of the big: office party â€" when Metro TO-l the bosses make like Santa Claus and hope all the It 15 abouti girls will sit on their lap. ‘61.. 1 n a n n u i In Richmond RICHMOND HILL, ONT Phone 884-1212 things . . . I asked for riches, that I might be happy; I was given poverty that I might be wise . . . I asked for power. that I might have the praise of men: ' I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God . . . I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life; I was given life, that. I might enjoy all things . . . I got nothing that I asked for â€" But everything I had hoped for, ‘ Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all The Ontario Government is having a. problem with municipal employees who want two pensions in their Christmas stacking. Premier Robarts says the I asked God for strength, that I might achieve; was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey . . . asked for health, that I might do greater things; was given infirmitv. that I might dn hnffnr Thurs., Fri. “01d Yeller” at 7.30. at 9 pm. MATINEES WEI)., & FRI., at SUNDAY, DEC. 26 MATINEE 2 RM. “OLD’YELLER” EVENING CONT. FROM 5 RM. and Thurs., Fri., Sat, Sun., Mon., Tues, Dec. 23 - 28 O Yesterday's news is not necessarily dead ~Author Unknown The above prayer of a Confederate soldier has had a profound effect on the crippled and disabled, offering as it does a philosophy of hope and understanding for them. It has been adopted and titled “A Creed for Those Who Have Suffered" by scores of rehabilitation centres throughout the world. lst Show Enjoy Sunday Movies This Sunday and Every Sunday Continuous from 5 pm. "'t J.“ .r. MAURIBEUHEVAUERI; l for health, that I might do greater things: given infirmity, that I might do better DOROTHY'MCGUIRE and FESS PARKER “FOLLOW THAT DREAM” A ROSS HUNTER WALT DISNEY HOLIDAY MATINEES MON., TUES. AT 2 RM. Pradumon Wed., Thurs., Fri., Sat. Dec. 29-30-31, Jan. 1 Elvis Presley in “KID GALAHAD men. most richly blessed (Continued on Page “OLD YELLER” Saturd p.m.. 12181 in color Plus Elvis Presley Please Note urday. Dec. 25 last complete Show 8.30 pm. co-slhrrlng In plus presenlg O'OOIIOOOOOIOOIOOOOOOOI. BY G EORGE MAYES TECHNICOLOR' “I’d Rather Be Rich” Z) NE A Universal Picture