Part 11

Talk about the World War and display the flags of all nations. Have a large white flag prepared, and call it Armistice Day, that great day when the guns ceased firing. As you say this ask the children who hold the flags of all nations to come forward and stand around the white flag in a circle. Tell how glad the people were on that day, and describe the noises the children made. But this day did not bring lasting peace among the nations, for there is a whisper about war coming back again, and nations seem to be preparing for that event. The only peace which shall last and endure is the Peace of God--the world can never take that peace away.

Ask a boy to come to the platform holding a large cross in his hand, and as he does this let all the nations kneel around it. The power of the Cross alone will give the nations of the world God's wonderful peace; until then there will be no lasting peace among the peoples of the world.

=Thanksgiving Day. November= (last Thursday of month)

Read Isaiah 12 as a thanksgiving song, also read 2 Samuel 22:1-18, which contains the same thought. Psalms 92, 100, and 136 are called thanksgiving songs. Ask some boy or girl to read these lessons.

Read Luke 17:11-19, the story of a good thanksgiving example. Read this lesson at the close of the meeting. Display on the table some fruits, also some large vegetables, all showing how good God is in his wonderful gifts at harvest-time.

Tell the story of the early settlers, and why the first Thanksgiving proclamation was made.

Thanksgiving Day is Old Home Day. The separated family come together in one glad reunion, and the young folks go bounding to see grandma and grandpa, and all have a good time.

Now tell the children we will all consider ourselves one big family, and so prepare for a good time. Pass around a number of candles, and when each has received one, ask the children to eat them. The candles are made out of apples; the wick is made of a bit of almond, which on being lit will blaze for a minute. After this suspend a hoop in the doorway and make snowballs of tissue-paper by crushing them into round shapes. Give each scholar four balls, and standing them a given number of feet away, see how many of the balls each can put through the hoop at the first trial. Give the child who can do this a bag of peanuts as a reward.

If you wish an exclusive religious service for that day, secure a small-sized tree and place it on the platform, Distribute small paper hearts, and ask the children to write on them the reason they are thankful, and at the proper time ask them to bring the heart to the platform. After you have read them to the children, pin them on the tree and call the tree the Thanksgiving Tree. It should grow all the year around in everybody's home.

=Christmas Eve. December 24=

Ask the children to keep their eyes on the door. Turn down the lights of the room until only a dim light is seen. Tell them the Christmas Eve story. Long ago the people had a kind of Christmas fancy that the Child Jesus came to earth again each Christmas Eve and wandered about the streets looking for some one to recognize him and take him into their house.

Through the winter night he tramps on, cold and homeless, so the story goes, peeping in at the windows where evergreen wreaths and warm fires make all who live in that house comfortable and happy. At last some one is sure to see the dim face outside the window, and will fling wide open the door and bid him come in, and give the little stranger loving welcome to all their comforts. Here recite the text Revelation 3:20: "Behold I stand at the door and knock." Open the door of the heart, for the real Christ is there tonight and every other night also. Did you ever notice that the paneling of the door resembles a cross, so it is true of the door of the heart, we must take up his cross in our heart first, and then the door will open wide to let Jesus in. Open the door of the heart to Jesus on Christmas Eve, and that will make every day a Merry Christmas.

It is a good plan to read by candle-light a Christmas story. Place a lighted candle on the table, extinguish all other lights, and say, "Now listen to a Christmas Eve story," and then read Luke's account of the Nativity.

Wish the little folks a Merry Christmas and send them early to their homes.

=Christmas Day. December 25=

For a good Christmas lesson read the story of the Nativity as recorded in the second chapter of Luke. Read also the story of the Wise-men as written in Matthew 2:1-12.

Secure nine tall candles, and as you light them remark how beautiful the candle-light looks on Christmas night, for this is the happy eve of twinkling lights. Even the stars throb and glow as if trying to smile on little children. You will notice that I have here nine candles, each candle standing for a letter in the word Christmas.

Let us see what each sparkling Christmas light says to us. This first light stands for the lights of the inn, the place where Joseph and Mary went the night Jesus was born. This light made plain the path to the rear of the inn where they found the manger crib that God had prepared for the little Son. It was a humble nest, but it was all the inn-keeper had to offer his guests. They were lights of welcome to Jesus, and so Merry Christmas was born there. He who walks in the light of humility walks in the Christmas light.

The next light represents the light from the camp-fires of the Shepherds, around which they gathered and read the words of the Great Prophet of Israel as to the Coming One, while they watched their flocks by night. These were quiet lamps of patient waiting. They were lamps of faith which made stout their courage as they believed with all the heart. Jesus was coming soon, and so God rewarded their faith, for their fires were not extinguished until he came indeed. We should keep the camp-fires burning while we are waiting for his glorious coming again. Every Christmastime should cause us to be glad because he did come once, and we have his promise he will come again. Never let that lamp of hope die out.

The next light stands for the heavenly light shining in the skies. For a bright light shone about them, "the Light of the World" was about to be born. This light was full of angels who sang by that golden light the story of "peace on earth and good-will toward men."

The next light represents the light of the stable lantern which the shepherds brought with them. They were the lamps of the "seeker," they had heard of the little Saviour, and they went forth to seek him. Always carry the seeker's light with you, for it is the _finding_ light. As Bobby Burns puts it, "They never seek the Lord in vain who seek the Lord aright."

The next light represents the starlight which the Wise-men saw. They followed it, and it brought them to the place where the young child lay. The wisest men of this world are led by heaven's lamp of truth. Holding up a Bible, say, "This is the lamp from Heaven, follow it and you will at last find the Christ on his throne where it is Christmas every day."

The next light represents the lamp of the house where the Wise-men found Jesus and his mother. What a wonderful house that must have been. It was a house glorified because Jesus had once lived there in all of his heavenly beauty. Let Jesus into your house, and it will be full of golden lamps which will make the home all glorious within.

What did those lamps see? They saw the gifts of gold which the Wise-men brought, and it seemed to turn to a shining crown and the babe's voice was the voice of the little King. They shone upon a beautiful urn of frankincense. This is a pure gum from a certain Arabian tree which when burned gives a sweet-smelling smoke. In history it has always been used as a symbol of prayer and praise. This gift meant that all the world was to pray to him and praise him with all their heart. These home lamps saw also a golden cup of myrrh. This is a bitter gum and very precious. It used to be wrapped up with the coverings of those who died. It was to teach us that into the baby's life some day the cross would come, and the winding-sheet with its precious myrrh would prepare his precious body for the grave; so that house was made beautiful by the shadow of the wondrous Cross.

Let the Christmas light come into your heart, and all the people will see in you the beautiful life of peace, contentment, faith, love, and joy.

The next light represents the light which Jesus brings to the dark places of the world. He is a light which shines through the darkness. Here tell the story of heathen countries waiting for the light. He is the Light of the World.

The next light represents the light of his church. Paul Revere saw the lights flashing from the tower of Old North Church of Boston, and on his fleet-footed horse dashed down through the valley spreading the message of alarm to the people of the sleeping homes. Every true church is a light-house. It warns us of the power of sin. It shows us the way of the Cross.

The next light represents the lamp of heaven. Jesus came to open the doors of heaven, where there is eternal light, and to bid us enter and be at rest. When he ascended he left a light in the window for us all, which is his good promise that "Where I am there ye shall be also." These are the Merry Christmas lights. Once, years ago and miles away, there was an ancient castle. It was the home of the silent and absent Prince. It was always dark and gloomy, no light could be seen in its windows day or night. There was an old tradition that some time the Prince would return, and then the lights would appear at every window and the bells would chime out most merrily. Often the quiet villagers would look up at the castle on the hill and wonder if the Prince would ever return, and if their eyes should ever see the long-promised lights. One night the people of the village were startled by the sound of bells, and from every window of the castle beautiful lights were shining. The Prince had returned, and there was great joy among the people. Let us light these nine Christmas lights now, and we shall all have a Merry Christmas, for the long-expected Prince from heaven has come to this old dark castle, the world dwelling in darkness.

=Wilson's Birthday. December 28=

Read as the special Scripture lesson for the hour Isaiah 11:1-10, which describes the man of peace. Read also Proverbs 3:13-26, which describes the scholar and education. Secure a picture of the late President and dwell on his dreams of peace.

=New Year's Eve=

It is hardly possible that you will hold a watch-meeting for the juniors, but the following program will make a good order for adults as well as for such children who will attend with them. Secure a number of candles, one for each hour of the service. If the service commences at eight o'clock and continues until midnight, put four lighted candles on the table, one for each hour, and extinguish one at the end of each hour, and you will have one candle left for the last hour. This will be impressive.

At the last moment of the hour extinguish this candle and in total darkness let the old year pass out. At the first minute of the New Year turn on all the lights, arise, and sing, and after the Lord's Prayer, in which they all join, say to the people "A happy New Year to all," and the meeting has ended, and the New Year begun.

As an additional feature for this meeting prepare as large a book as possible with all the pages white and say, This is your book of the New Year. It is a fresh start for you, There will be nothing written on its pages of white except what you write there. Begin tonight and go straight and keep white. Write over the first page, "In the beginning God." That makes the start right, so it will always be white. Write this on the fresh page of every day also, and you will go straight for the whole year.

=43

PUTTING A GOD TO BED

OBJECTS: Three Small Idols=

I suppose you have often heard of little girls putting their dollies to bed. Well, here is a story of a full-grown woman by the name of Michal who put her little god to bed.

We read this strange story in the Bible and we will find it written in 1 Samuel 19:13. "And Michal took the image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with the clothes." But who was this Michal who put her god to bed? She was the wife of King David, and you would have thought she had thrown her idols all away long ago, but she did not do this but continued to put one god to bed long after she had become the wife of a king who believed only in the one true and living God. I suppose she often sang with David her husband, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want," and often with her husband had repeated, "God is our Refuge and our Strength," but with all this she nevertheless put her idol to bed and motherlike, she found herself down on her knees placing the bolster under the head of her idol and carefully covering it with clothes just as mother tenderly tucks in her little baby boy for the night.

Well, after all, I guess she was just like the most of us, she openly confessed her belief in the true God, but on the side had a darling idol or two.

Let us examine ourselves and see if we are putting idols to bed also. Secure three images of Buddha. They can easily be purchased in the shops as they are now sold for incense-holders. The first idol we will label "Irreverence." I am afraid that most all of us have this idol in our possession. We pray to God on Sunday, and then the rest of the week we live any old way. Sometimes when we are in church we whisper, talk, and run about during the service, or look about the room during prayertime, and pay but little attention to the minister who is speaking to us for God. We often pay more attention to our earthly friends than we do to God who is our Chief Friend. All this is a display of Irreverence. Do not let us do this, but put this idol out of our life, and worship the true God only. The best way to cultivate reverence is to go to God's house and learn how to worship him. The music, the message, and the holy surroundings of the place of prayer all make it easy for us to be reverent.

Oliver Wendell Holmes said he had a tender little plant in his heart which he called "Reverence," which he needed to water once a week to keep it fresh and fragrant, so he went to church to water that plant; there he came under the showers of blessing which God sends to his people who are reverent and worship him. Reverence grows fast when we go to church. After you have said this, put the idol in an old bag which you have made to hold cast-off things.

The second idol we will label "SELFISHNESS." When we put ourselves first and are self-willed and always want our own way, then we are putting the idol of "selfishness" to bed. This idol is like the white ant of Africa which is a secret destroyer. It feeds on wood.

A man built himself a house on a piece of land that he thought was a safe place, and after it was finished all the people said it was a thing of beauty. But suddenly one day it fell with a great crash. Now look over the wrecked timber, and you will discover that the inside of the timbers had been eaten clean away. This ant is no respecter of things. It eats books, furniture, trunks, chairs, dolls, and toys, or anything.

Selfishness is like this ant. It secretly eats away the heart of love, and we are dead to the appeal of the world for sympathy. No boy or girl can love himself or herself above all others without dying inside. Like the African ant, selfishness destroys from within, it kills the heart.

Bishop Butler, one of the most learned men, said, "Be more afraid of thyself than of the world." Be afraid of the idol of selfishness, it is yourself at your worst. Put it away, _not_ to bed.

A poor little girl in the slums of London one cold snowy night said to her little brother who was shivering with the cold by her side, "Come closer to me, dear little brother, come under my shawl, it will stretch and cover us both." She never knew anything of the idol of selfishness, no one ever does who stretches the shawl for two. Put this idol in the old rag-bag and put it out of sight.

The third idol we will label "Hatred." We worship this idol when we say to another, "I hate you," and then add all sorts of evil words designed to hurt and kill, and so often we seem glad to believe all the evil said about our enemies, and so worship this idol with glad hearts. Often we get some foreign substance in our eye, and we cannot see except with a blurred vision. We do not see things as they really are. Thus "hate" often blurs our sight, and we cannot see straight. "Hate" is a foreign substance in the mind's eye and we cannot see people as they are.

John Hus the Reformer was bound to the stake to be burned to death because of his faith in Jesus. A poor old peasant woman came up with a piece of wood to add to the fire which was to burn the martyr to death, and when it was flung on the pile, she seemed to be happy and contented. John Hus said to her, "Have I ever harmed you or yours that you are so bitter against me?" "Never," she replied, "but you are a heretic, and wood is scarce, and it looks like a hard winter, but I am glad to do my part to rid the world of such an accursed heretic." John Hus reached out his hand and drew the fagot close to his side and said, "With my heart I forgive you," for John was a Christian. She was a heathen putting her idol of "hate" to bed. She was so blind with hate that she did not know a saint when she saw one.

Be like Jesus who loved all men. A brother of mine when he was converted said, "I feel like kissing everybody." He had put the idol of hate in the rag-bag and, like Jesus, loved everybody. Should you not go and do likewise?

If this lesson is given to small children secure a doll's bed, and have the idols all put to bed before the children assemble. Place this bed on the table or any place where it can be seen by all. Take them out of bed one by one, and give the lesson, and then say, "Shall I put them back to bed or in the rag-bag?"

After this tell them we are all to love God and not idols. Tell them the true God never goes to bed, and neither slumbers nor sleeps, but watches over us to see if there is not some good thing he can do for us the next day. His Son looks on and says, "Suffer the little ones to come unto me." Let's go.

=44

HOW TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS FLAG

OBJECTS: A Piece of Blue Bunting or Muslin and a Yellow Six-pointed Star=

Bring back Jesus into Christmas. This should be in our thoughts as we plan a Christmas program for children and young folks for this day. Christmas is Christ's birthday, but it is too often a birthday-party without Christ. We cannot truly celebrate his glad natal day if we crowd him out of the celebration.

I have attended Christmas celebrations where a cantata was rendered full of fairies, Brownies, and Santa Claus, and the name of Christ was not mentioned from start to finish. The cantata could have been given with entire acceptance at an infidel's celebration or in a Hindu temple. Christmas is a merry day, and I would not take one glad note from its music, but do not forget the King. It is his birthday we are celebrating.

To bring back Jesus into Christmas perhaps it will help a little to introduce a Christmas flag, and hang it up in sight of all the people. Before the festivities begin explain the Christmas flag, and by so doing we shall be introducing Jesus and giving him first place on the program.

To make a Christmas flag, secure a piece of sky-blue bunting or muslin, and explain that the blue stands for our faith in Jesus which is as clear as the blue sky above us without a cloud of unbelief in it.

We believe Jesus to be God's only divine Son without a single cloud of doubt. In the center of the plain blue background place a six-pointed golden or yellow star commonly called the Star of David. This is beyond all doubt the Bible star. Jesus was the Bright and Morning Star. Let this star stand for Jesus of the House of David.

The history of the six-pointed star is most interesting. It will be real news to many of the young people. This star now appears on the Jewish flag.

During the recent convention of the Federation of American Zionists in Pittsburgh, the display of the six-pointed star flag was very much in evidence. On a white background two heavy blue stripes are sewn, and between them the Jewish emblem, the double triangle, forming a six-pointed star, and known as the "Shield of David." The Zionist flag, therefore, symbolizes in the white background the priestly nation; the blue stripes stand for loyalty and unity of all Israel, and the "Shield of David" represents the star of faith in the unity of the one true and living God.

Inquiry has often been made as to the origin of the "Shield of David." The common opinion held among the Jews is that it originated with King David, and became the religious emblem of the nation, and was the conspicuous symbol on Solomon's Temple. From that time on it continued the popular sign of the Jews and may be seen at the present time on synagogues, temples, and Jewish institutions. Tell the children where they may see it in their own neighborhood.

The popular belief regarding this emblem, however, finds no historical support. Its origin is shrouded in impenetrable mystery. The Jewish Encyclopedia does not shed very much light on the subject and makes only the following observation:

The Jewish view of God, which permitted no images of him, was and still is opposed to the acceptance of any symbols, and neither the Bible nor the Talmud recognized their existence. It is noteworthy, moreover, that the "Shield of David" is not mentioned in Rabbinical literature. The "Shield of David," therefore, probably did not originate within Rabbinism, the official and dominant Judaism for more than 2,000 years, nevertheless a David's Shield has recently been noted on a Jewish tombstone at Tarentum, in Southern Italy, which may date back as early as the third century of the Common Era. (C. M. Adler in _Jewish Quarterly Review_, 14, 3.)

The earliest Jewish literature which mentioned it, the _Eskol Hakofer_ of the Karaite Judah Hadassi (middle of the twelfth century), says in chapter 242 some names of angels precede the Mezuzah (a tiny tin case containing a scripture fastened on the side-posts of doors of orthodox Jewish houses): Michael, Gabriel, etc. Tetragrammaton protect thee! And likewise the sign called David's Shield is placed beside the name of each angel. It was therefore at this time a sign on amulets. Later Jewish writers speak of its popularity, but little of its origin.

In using this star you will make a strong appeal to Jewish children and to all Christian children. It will help to keep Christ in Christmas.

After you have finished your address on the Christmas flag teach them the following _salute_. Tell them to place their hands upon their heart and to fix their eyes on the flag and to say the following words:

"I salute thee, dear old Christmas flag, I will give my love and service to Jesus whose birthday we are celebrating. I believe in his Church and the Holy Bible, and will defend it with all my heart."

Now all stand and sing "Joy to the World, the Lord Is Come." Close by using a Christmas march. On a staff carried by a boy place the Star of David. He will lead the march, the children will follow him around the room, representing the Wise-men following the star.

=45

THAT SOCIAL HOUR

OBJECTS: A Series of Stunts and Pastimes=

When I ask the young folks to spend a pleasant evening with me at my home, what shall I do to entertain them and give them a pleasant time? This is a vexing question. I do not understand the children at the play-hour. What shall I do?