melody and got the words. These he took back to Salzburg where he intro duced it to the King. From there the song gained its popularity and remains today practically exactly as it was writ ten, “Silent Night.” THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS I question if Christmas can ever be "merry" Except to the heart of an innocent child; For when time has taught us the meaning of sorrow And sobered the spirits that once were so wild, When all the green graves that lie scattered behind us Like milestones are marking the length of the way. And echoes of voices that no more shall greet us Have saddened the chimes of the bright Christmas Day; We may not be merry, the long years forbid it. The years that have brought us such manifold smarts, But we may be happy, if only we carry The Spirit of Christmas deep down in our hearts. Threefold is the Spirit, thus blending together T h e .faith of the shepherds who came to the King; And, knowing naught else but the angel's glad message. Had only their faith to His cradle to bring; The hope of the wise men that rose like the Daystar, To lighten the centuries' midnight of wrong; And the love of the Child in the manger low-lying. So tender and patient, so sweet and so strong. Hence we shall not wish you the old "Merry Christmas," Since that is of shadowless child hood a part, But one that is holy and happy and peaceful. The Spirit of Christmas deep down in your heart. — Annie Johnson Flint
SILENT NIGHT Many are the beautiful and yet simple stories of the various familiar carols which have come to be loved by believers and blessed of God down through the years. Because the organ was broken at the little Austrian vil lage church at Oberndorf, a local busi nessman allowed the program to be given in his home. On his way back to the parsonage after the meeting, Pastor Joseph Mohr was touched by the set ting of the night. looking heaven-ward he pondered at the wonders of God’s handiwork and His matchless gift to man. It was a still, clear night. The next morning the preacher visited his church organist who was also the busy schoolmaster for the community. Franz Gruber, was given the carol the preach er had written the night before. The organist was asked to set it to music. So on December 24, 1818, 145 years ago, this song was born. A t the church, Franz Gruber accompanied his friends carol on the guitar since the organ still had not been repaired. Young men, 21 and 26 years of age respectively, nei ther had written a song before and so far as we know, neither wrote one again. As the two men sang together, the organ repairman memorized the
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