State Teachers College News Letter \’olum8 16 Elizabeth City, N. C., December, 1955 Number 3 THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS In reading the story of the first Cliristmas as recorded by the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke, one may get many lessons for present day observance of Christmas. In a message of this kind it is impossible to point out all of these lessons which show the real meaning of Christmas. Therefore, I would like to take only three verses from the first Christmas story. Listen to a message which each 'erse gives us. f And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into hea- 'en, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known iinto us. (Luke 2:L5) It is the second clause of this \-erse which chiefly con cerns us here, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass . . . .” These words were spoken by shep herds who had a job of keeping watch over their flock. Nevertheless, when they heard the angelic message pro claiming and praising the Saviour’s they left their work to seek the Christ child. For us then, Christmas should mean, first of all, an abandon ment of something which is nearest snd dearest to us. We must leave Wnietliing in search of something *hieh is ultimately better. We must cave our complacency and indiffer ence: we must leave our prejudices snd intolerace; we must leave our pride; we must leave “every weight, *nd the sin which doth so easily beset us and keep us awav from the chal- ien us '. '^^here is he that is born King of t e Jews? for vve have seen his star -le ptift- him. FOOTBALL TEAM HAS ANNUAL BANQUET The State Teachers College football team held its annual bancjuet in the College cafeteria, December 5 with Albert Greenlee as Toastmaster. Speak ers were members of the College fam ily and the graduating seniors. The bancjuet began with a prayer by President S. D. Williams. The speakers were T. S. Jackson, then President Williams, E. N. Smith, Head C o a c h Bob White, and assistant coaches Vavrghn and Caldwell. Sen iors who spoke were Co-captains, God frey and Blakley, Darius Brown, Lon nie Davis, Johnny Sharpe, John Miller and Billy Hodge. Following the banquet was the an nual dance for the football team. The dance was held in the recreation rooiu. PRESIDENT CROWNS “MISS S.T.C.” 'ge to which God in Christ invites vv V. iJtivc accii ilia oLcii and are come to worship '"I' (Matthew 2:2) As was the case ® the first point, it is also the last Cause of this verse that claims our attention. The wise men of Persia or a ylon sought Jesus in order that ®y might worship Him. Wise men * Ways recognize the important value ™ worship. Christmas then should be a time of S'out worship and meditation. The season will find preparing t h e 'ristmas tree, singing the carols, pre- a sx^read and performing th 0 u s a n d and one acts. a None ” V. Uiiu UllC U II them must be subordinated to our niore serious moments of meditation ‘'f' Worship. Di\ ine worship at Christ- (See CHRISTMAS, Page Four) College Choir Pre- Christmas Activities Choir Presents Annual Cantata “The Christmas Story” arranged by Alexander Matthews was presented by the College Choir on Sunday after noon, December 11, at 6 P.M. in Moore Auditorium. The program was vrnder the direction of Miss Evelyn A. Johnson, head of the department of Music. The story of Christmas was beauti fully told by the choir, with Annie Mae White, Marian Spencer Gibson, Tran Barclift, and Robert Gregory as soloists. A very appreciative audience enjoy ed the concert and gave many forable comments on the renditions. TO SING AT NAVAL BASE The College Choir has received and accepted an invitation to render its Christmas Cantata at the Naval Base in Weeksville, North Carolina, on Dec ember 15. Choir Will Carol on December 15 After the presentation of the Can tata at the Weeksville Base, the Choir will go caroling. This is a rich and greatly appreciated tradition of the choir which brings happiness, not only to staff and students but to the com munity at large. Members of the Choir dress like the carolers of old and go stealing through the streets late in the night singing and praising God in the highest. They also visit the homes of faculty mem bers making merry with singing. There they also enjoy the repasts which aid them in continuing their journey even through the early morning hours. THE SNOWMAN Once there was a snowman. Stood outside the door. Thought he’d like to come inside And play about the floor; Thought he’d like to warm himselt Bv the firelight red; Thought he’d like to climb up In the big white bed. So he called the North Wind: Help me now I pray. I’m completely frop'n Standing here all day! So the North \\'ind came along Blew' him in the door Now there’s nothirig left of him But a puddle on the floor. m m Left to right; Sophomore attendant, Annie Ruth Bembry; Junior attendant, Doretha Hall; Queen, Helen Hargraves; President S. D. Williams. North Carolina Profess- y.w.c.a. gives annual ors Speak At Negro Christmas breakfast College Conference Seven faculty members who attend ed the North Carohna College Con ference held at Shaw University on November 19, brought back very sti mulating and interesting highlights of the meeting. There were two dynamic and timely addresses delivered by Dr. Roy N. Anderson, Director of Student Person nel, at North Carolina State College of Engineering, and Dr. N. J. Dome- rath, Research Professor, at the Insti tute for Research in Social Science at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Anderson in emphasizing “Job Opportunities” discussed the definition of vocational opportunities, the op portunities for preparation, and pro gress or follow-up. He challenged edu cators to join in the training of collegc students that they may be able to take more jobs as skilled workers and tech nicians. Dr. Demerath, delivering the key note address, declared that, desegrega tion in the schools is likewise neces sary, both as law and, eventually, as social reality. Such changes are nec essary because every organization, be it an organization, personality or socie ty, must achive a certain internal com patibility or intergration, if it is to survive. He said that educators in North Carolina can do four things w'ithin the next five or ten years: They can do n o t h i n g, do something reactionary, do something radical or do something c o n s e r a t i v e. In order for the South to survive. Dr. Demerath stated that is must discon tinue racial segregation in schools, employment, government and public service. , , . , Those who made the trip to Raleigh were President S. D. W^illiams, Dr. Davis, Mrs. E. A. Eaton, Mrs. Agnes Jones, Mrs. Audry Prather, Mrs. Edna Mitchell, and Mr. Muldrow. The Annual Christmas Breakfast sponsored by the Young Women’s Christian Association was a tremen dous success. The Women’s Glee Club filing in singing “Silent Night” did much to create an atmosphere of the true Christmas. Their clear voices rang out with more carols through the morn ing. Lorraine Whithurst gave the medi tation thought, after which the audi ence joined in singing “O Come All Ye Faithful”. Scripture and prayer followed by Earline Joyner, president, and Mrs. D. E. Thomas, sponsor, re spectively. A sermonette, “The Meaning of Christmas” w a s most interestingly given by the Reverend C. B. Sinclair, Riverside Baptist Church, Elizabeth City. The College family joined in singing “Joy to the World ”, and, after the grace, enjoyed a delicious Christ mas Breakfast. The event, which is an annual one, was delightful, and everyone enjoyed it. —Irene Exum DELTAS HOLD STORY HOUR Delta Chi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority held its first story hour with community children on Decem ber 10, from 10 to II A.M. Sixteen children from the immediate area of the College met in the Cur riculum Library and enjoyed listening to a Christmas story and poem, learn ing a Christmas song, and playing games. They were directed by sorors Mary W'ise and Doris Smith, also p\ramid Iris Thompson. Deltas were well pleased with the response on the part of parents and children. The next story will be held on Jan- uarv 7.