Newspapers / Gardner-Webb University Student Newspaper / Dec. 1, 1959, edition 1 / Page 2
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I^AGE TWO T HE PILOT DECEMBER, 1959 COLLEGIATE CHRISTMAS Why do college students look forward to the Christmas season? Why is there a feeling of happiness and general excitement in the air? Is it be cause the holidays provide a break in the usual routine of classes, lectures, notebooks, and tests? Yes, surely all students would agree that they are willing to take a brief pause in their hurried schedule. But is that the real significance of Christmas for the average college student? Not accord ing to many G.-W. students. When asked what Christmas means to them, the majority of students answered directly or indirectly with two words or ideas—reunion and remembrance. Because most of the students are away from home, they Naturally look forward to being home and reunited with friends and relatives..; In some cases, Christmas is the only time when the entire family is together. What better way could one celebrate Christmas than with those whotji he loves most? The other word foremost in- the minds of most people at this time of year is remembrance. ^What is Christmas other than the remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ? Without the celebration of His holy birthday, our Christmas would have no meaning to us as Christians. It would be merely a pagan holiday. The re-uniting of a widely scattered family, the warm glow that spreads tlirough a person when he has done something that makes some one else happy, the singing of carols, the giving and receiving of gifts, the remembrance of the lowly birth of the exalted Saviour of the world— all these things are Christmas. CHRISTMAS AND TRADITIONS The anniversary of the Birth of Jesus the Christ has been celebrated in many ways and at many different times of the year. It has been ob served in April, May, November, as well as December. This is due to the fact that we do not know the exact time of the Birth of Christ. However, December is a good time to celebrate His Birth. December is the advent of the winter soltice, or the beginning of light. The shortest day of the year comes in December, and the days begin to grow longer toward the last of the month. Therefore, December is a good time to remember in a special way the coming of ‘‘the Light of the World.” During the Middle Ages, Christmas became one of the most popular of the festivals. Churches were decorated, and groups presented dramas that pictured the Nativity of Christ. In Shakespeare’s time Christmas was celebrated for 12 days during which time the people stopped work and spent their time making merry and feasting. The Colonial South gave Christmas its warmest welcome. The South ern people approached Christmas in a leisurely way. Christmas Eve was the beginning of the joyous celebration which continued until the Yule Log burned after New Year’s Day. was the selec- le ages many customs ai PROSPECTUS Before the excitement of the Christmas holidays has had time to wear off, G-W students will again be facing the ever dreaded semester exams. Even before they are back into the groove, the students will be charged with the task of recalling all that which they have been con fronted with throughout the semes ter. Needless to say, very few G-W students will become overly studious during their vacation. They will just “cram” the night before the exam and hope that the psychology book was right when it said that a fact once learned is never really forgotten. Surely if they glare at the exam paper long enough, the answer will come. After all it’s a cinch that after a student has been in a class for eighteen weeks and and has stared at his notes all night long the night before the exam, he must have really “learned” every thing there was to know. If this be the formula, someone should warn those “suckers” who study day by day. But is this the right formula? Only time (and grades) will tell! ALONG FACULTY ROW This columnist has been able to learn the Christmas plans of most of the Gardner-Webb faculty. The Allen Burrises and Ce-Ce plan to kick off the holidays by taking in the Ice Capades at Charlotte—that is, if any tickets are left when they get there. Mr. B. refuses to procure tickets in advance. Mrs. B., while she does not want the day of the week they plan to see the Ice Follies revealed in a Baptist paper, says that Mr. B, gets no Christmas present if she and Ce-Ce do not see the flashing blades. The B.’s plan to spend most of the holidays^iBriWingate and Mt. Gilead. ; The Paul Stacys may visit relatives, but will be home on West Marion Street, Shelby, during most of the holidays. Mr. Jim Henson plans to turn Nimrod during the holidays and to fol low the yelping of some rabbit hounds in pursuit of cottontails. He will operate out of Route 3, Forest City. Mr. Henson’s Christmas menu will probably feature fried rabbit, stewed squirrel, and bak^’d ’possum. Mr. S. L. Lamm reports that he will be here most of the time. By here, I assume he means the seat of culture, learning, and bee-keeping in Cleveland County. The Hubert Dixons too, like the Burrises, plan to see the feminine forms glide in the spotlights at the Ice Capades. Later they’ll c border and spend a few days at Sumter, S. C., th( 3 B. S. 1 Mr. F. B. Dedmond’s plans call for spending Christmas at 519 Salis bury Avenue, Mocksville, N. C. After Christmas he will “shirley” head for the tall timber of the South Georgia Empire. The Kentucky natives will spend Christmas in the Blue Grass State— Miss Abbie Miller on 2608 Veatch Street, Owensboro, Kentucky, and the Thirlen Osbornes at Winchester, Kentucky. Miss Elisabeth Mabus plans to do that Christmas shopping in Mem phis, Tennessee, but she’ll spend Christmas at her home in Ackerman, Mis- Miss Louise Crow will likely be at home in Boiling Springs during the holidays—that is, unless Santa can bring plane tickets to California so that she might visit the nieces and nep- The first work that was done on a Southern Plantati tion of the Yule Log which was called the “Christmas Backlog.” This ritual was a happy one. The superintendent of workers led his best men into the swamps and selected the hardest cypress tree to be found. The tree was cut to fit the fireplace “up at the great house.” Then the tree was taken to the river where it was to be water-logged for 12 months. This act was done in order to keep the log burning as long as possible, for as long as it burned, the whole plantation would be on a holiday basis. (Perhaps Mr. Washburn will get us a log for next year!) When Christmas morning dawned on a Southern Plantation, the Yule Leg was hauled into the huge fireplace and lighted. As soon as the log began to glow, the master of the house was up and about his business of making egg-nog. Then he appeared on the porch of his big columned house. A Negro driver sounded a call on a huge drum to greet him with “Servant Master, Merry Christmas to you and de family. Sir.” Each servant was given a glass of egg-nog and then dismissed until af ter breakfast. Just after breakfast the servants assembled to “git Christ mas.” Translated this meant gifts to the servants. Their gifts consisted of fruit, nuts, candy, cake, money, warm clothing, extra allowances of meat, rice, molases, coffee, sugar, and flom- for Christmas dinner. Meantime the Yule Log kept burning until it finally fell in half. One piece was kept to light next year’s Yule Log. The other was taken into the yard and laid on the path between the kitchen and the house. This was all that was necessary. Around the plantation the news was flashed, “de backlog done burned in two and done been laid out.” Christmas was over and work resumed. e to brighten Francis of Assisi left his gift in song and bequeathed us the first true (Jhristmas Carol. Martin Luther receives our thanks for the first star- decked Christmas Tree. St. Nicholas, patron saint of the poor, remem bered little children and gave us Santa Claus (I believe in him, don’t you?) John Horsley, an English artist, painted and inscribed the first Christmas card (keep sending them). The Christmas greens that make our homes pungent and fragrant have a tale to tell. Holly, which typifies mirth, probably came from the word “holy” since it was first known as the “holy tree” and was used by the Romans in religious festivals. Legends have arisen that say the red berries represent the blood of Christ with its promise of Eternal Life and the holly wreath the crown of thorns. To us these things symbolize the Crucifixion which should always be remembered during the celebration of the Nativity because it is recorded “Thou shalt call His name Jesus for he shall save His people from their sins.” The Ivy symbolized good will. The laiu-el and the bay trees are em blems of festivity. The pine tells of love that never dies. The mistletoe today stands for romance but in early times it was associated with evil. The Druid Priests cut it with golden shears and used it in their sacri fices. It was never allowed to touch the ground but was caught in a white cloth to ^ard off evil spirits. Many traditions and customs have grown up around the Christmas story. , May their number be increased! We shall hear many people say that Christmas is not what it used to be. I’ll agree with them but not in the sense that Christmas has been hurt. It isn’t what it used to be. It is better. Why is it the great^t season of the year? There is but one answer “and the angel said uiitb'them,-Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is bom this day in the city of, David , a. Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10,11). Choir Renders Moving Presentation of Handel's Messiah The Gardner-Webb Chorus and the Central Methodist Church Choir of Shelby presented the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah Sunday, De cember 6, at 7:30 P. M. in the Boiling Springs Baptist Church. Mrs. Nettie Rayle Gidney was director. Stephen Morrisett, former professor of Greek and Bible at Gardner- Webb was organist. Soloists were Miss Sybil Queen of Shelby, soprano; Miss Jean Saunders, Director of the choir of the Forest City Baptist Church, contralto; Charles Byers of Shelby, tenor; Jerry F. Jolley of Boil ing Springs, bass. The church was filled to capacity despite inclement weather. There were many visitors from nearby towns. That the oratorio was given a warm reception is due to several factors, one of which is the beauty of the The Messiah expresses with simplicity and sincerity the noblest aspira tions of mankind as no other oratorio has done. It exerts a profound and moving effect on the hearer and re-impresses him with the spiritual signifi cance of Christmas as exemplified by Christ’s birth. The most expressive passages of Hebrew literature are clothed with a flawless contrapuntal skill and are interwoven into sublime melodies. Han del had superb technical skill in choral writing, and he also possessed thor ough knowledge of the limitations and possibilities of the human voice. In his Messiah he exploited the possibilities to their fullest. The choir, under Mrs. Gidney’s direction sang with vigor and assur ance. Their diction was clear and precise, and their singing showed unity, balance and technical precision. Among the choruses sung, “For Unto Us a Child is Born,” showed a nobility of expression. Their rendition of the “Hallelujah Chorus” showed that they had a thorough mastery of the technical difficulty. The four soloists presented their numbers exceptionally well. Miss Queen sang with ease and assurance the difficult coloratura passages in “Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion”. Her soft passages in the aria, “Come Unto Him,” revealed ample breath control. Miss Saunders possesses a luscious contralto voice. Her singing showed ease, and she displayed musicianship, understanding and feeUng. The aria, “He Shall Feed His Flock,” was a restful contrast to the more brilliant and ornate arias preceding it. Mr. Byers had a difficult position to fill, but he did this in a highly satisfactory manner. The tenor recitative, “Comfort Ye, My People,” and the ornate aria, “Every Valley Shall Be Exalted,” occur immediately after the orchestral Overture at the beginning of the oratorio. He established a high standard of excellence for the remaining portions of the Messiah by his rendition of these arias. He sang with flexibility and smoothness. He possesses a lyric legato voice which he uses advantageously. Mr. Jolley sang the bass recitative, “Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts,” and the aria, “But Who May Abide,” with rare emotional depth and fervor. These numbers make heavy demands on the voice, but he met these satis factorily. The dramatic impact of the words “Behold He Shall Come, Saith the Lord of Hosts” was felt by the hearer. Mr. Morrisett, the organist, made an inestimable contribution to the entire oratorio. His musical training, breadth of experience, mastery of the technical possibilities of the organ and thorough musicianship gave his instrumental rendition of the Messiah life, character, substantiality, and animation. GARDNER - WEBB PILOT Vol. xf^ December, 1959 No. 3 EDITORIAL STAFF Editor Marilyn Roper Assistant Editor Linda Sharpe Advisers Mr. F. B. Dedmond Mr. John Roberts STAFF WRITERS Ray Suttles Jack Gantt Nancy Carter Nancy Castle Ruby Givens Margaret England BUSINESS STAFF Bijsiness Manager Jimmy Summey Circulation Manager Charlotte Anderson Staff Member Lynda Fortenberry Photographer Johnny Eller rest of tl Miss Kathleen Davis may visit in South Carolina, but will be in Boil ing Springs most of the holidays. Miss Katliryn Copeland will spend Christmas at 2825 9th Street, South, Apt. 123A, ArUngton 4, Virginia. The Lawson Allens will spend Christmas at home in Boiling, Springs. President and Mrs. Elliott according to Dr. Elliott, “enjoy it.” Dr. and Mrs. Poston plan to spend a few days in Jonesboro, Geor gia; but will be home in Boi^ng Springs for Christmas. Dean and Mrs. J. O. Terrell Will visit in Leicester and Bryson City for about a week, but will spend the time in Boiling Springs, ke Gordons will spend at Marion, where, ac cording to Mr. Gordon, “anytime one’e children come home is a 'special’ time.” The coaches and their families will be out of town during the holi days — the Harrises in Winston- Salem (1121 South Hawthorne) and Ridgecrest and the Blackburns in South Carolina. However the Blackburns will spend most of their time in Boiling Springs. Coach Blackburn hopes to take in the Dixie Classic in Charlotte during the holidays. Mrs. Dorothy Hamrick plans to spend the holidays interviewing students and making plans for the second semester’s registration. Dr. Gillespie and family will stay in Boiling Springs, expecting some of their children to drop in, Mrs. Nita Lefler has no special plans other than the usual family gathering at her home—6 Bolt Drive, Shelby. Mrs. H. S. Plaster, 525 S. Washington St., Shelby, will have daughter Vicki home from the Uni versity of Maryland School of Medi cine, where she is doing graduate study in Microbiology. Mrs. John Mark Pollock will be at home in Trenton, North Carolina. Two faculty families will be in- fanticipating during the holidays. Dean Hiott will stay close to home as the Hiotts await a new arrival in their family. The Seth Washburns tco have no special plans “except stay home and get ready for the baby which is due around the first of February.” No January Pilot Because the Pilot staff, along with their fellow classmates, will be ac tively (?) engaged in final exams during January, there will be no January issue of The Pilot. The staff feels it would be wise to spend all their time preparing for the exams in order that they might still be enrolled in school during second semester. We advise that you eagerly anticipate your Leap Year issue which will be combined with the Valentine issue. Until Febru ary, the Pilot staff wishes to each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Gardner-Webb University Student Newspaper
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Dec. 1, 1959, edition 1
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