12 THE ACORN. rainy season in Judea, and shepherds could hardly be watching their flocks by night in the plains. Perhaps the most powerful among the causes that co-operated in fixing this day as the proper one was, that almost all the Heathen nations regarded the winter-solstice as a most important point of the year, as the beginning of the renewed life and activity of the powers of nature and of the Gods, who were originally merely the symbolical personifications of these. In more northerly countries, this fact must have made itself peculiarly palpable hence the Celts and Germans, from the oldest times, celebrated the season with the greatest festivities. At the winter solstice, the Germans held their great Yule-feast, in commemoration of the return of the fiery sun-wheel; and believed that during the twelve nights reaching from the twenty-fifth of December to the sixth of January, they could trace the personal movements and interferences on earth of their Dieties. The inhabitants of the village of Konz, on the Moselle, were in the habit, on St. John's Eve., of taking a great wheel wrapped in straw to the top of a neighboring eminence, and making it roll down the hill, flaming all the way. Many of the beliefs aud usages of the old Germans, and also of the Romans, relating to this matter, passed over from Heathenism into Christianity and have partly survived to the present day. But the church also sought to combat and vanish and it was to a large extent successful the deep rooted Heathen feeling, by adding for the purification of the Heathen customs and feasts which it retained its grandly devised mass or communion service, besides dramatic representations of the birth of Christ, and the first events of His life. Hence sprang the so-called "Manger Songs," and a multitude of Christmas carols, which at certain times and places degenerated into farces or Fool's Feasts, and at a later period came the Christmas trees, adorned with lights and gifts; the custom of reciprocal presents, and of special Christmas meals and dishes. And so we have it today. No matter whether this is the exact date of Christ's birth or not, we may, in a way, emulate God's love toward us, by giving some little gift to another, or simply letting him know, by words, our good will toward him. THE ACORN. 13 We, as students, need not spend our Christmas pouring over our books, as most of us did on Thanksgiving Day, nor should we spend it having too good a time. There is a happy medium some serious thoughts (probably of our Christ) and many other pleasant but lighter thoughts; but don't ruin your whole vacation by studying "Greek law givers," geometrical propositions, or the properties of Hypophosphorous Acids: OUR LECTURE COURSE. For two years past, the Weber Stake Academy has offered to its students and friends, two of the finest lecture courses in the State. In fact we have been the pioneers in this city in presenting an outlined course of lectures from our leading home talent, and some from the east. How well these lectures have been appreciated, and how much all have been benefited by them, we will let the many participants say for themselves; for none can judge more wisely than they. All who attended those given last year will find it difficult to say enough in favor of the men and women who so ably expressed the best thoughts of the leading authors in American and English literature, or who advanced philosophical ideas for to-day. But the triumphs of 1904 will be so hidden by those of 1905 that the two might be compared to a spark and a blaze. Still as it is the small that makes the great, so in the sparks of last year's efforts, the blaze of this has its beginning. Last year Prof. Clark of Chicago University gained the hearts of all the students and friends who heard him, and needs no introduction to the public here. He will visit us again, and give two dramatic recitals. But this is just a part of the treat we have in store. We have made appointments with other eastern men, who will give us equally interesting readings. Edmund Vance Cook will be with us next month in the after-