Professional Documents
Culture Documents
^7XVIII. No
frC shmenPresent
a 'White Xmas' 1 Jii ercu
9 Several years ago it was de-
tw resses g*a
wrs instmas
Sophomores
Present Pageant
the sixteenths of cided that Mercyhurst should be
•—- «..-•«•«..••
Every year the true meaning
Here it is,
l§ decorated to bring [the Christ- of Christmas is brought closer
m b e r, and the whole Mer-
hursti household is attending M mas I spirit to the sstudents be- to us by the presentation of a
annual freshmen Christmas y fore they left for vacation. raH play or a pageant by the so-
fsfjP Perhaps; the j most ^beautiful
phomore! class. We forget our
P ast S l g h t D e f r e s h m e n v| of| these decorations is a scene
^ t l »" ' material Christmas prepara-j.
depicting v the^ birth |of | Jesus.
i-At ^st," sighs Sister M. •j Each year it is arranged fn the tions for a while and enjoy a
Rachel, j, •&£>.
White Christmas is the very college hall the Saturday before spiritual uplifting of our souls
| propriate theme and is being J ;c vacation. This yelir the Student as weiwitnessfthe pageant.
rried out in every way pos- Counc I is sponsoring /:the pro-
'ide. Inlj association with the j e c t , with the aid of the Sen- I This year we are privileged
!Ljte Christmas theme, winter '"; ior C lass. -:;/^;>}*/$v£'''Jt^^S^vS'' to have| Miss Maheu, a new
or'.s are featured in the en- - I think too imany of us pass member of the faculty, to direct
chainment and decorations. ,by ; vhe scene each year, take a
and assist the sophomores in
The entertainment is being ''l.eetng g' mpse, . and perhaps
presented on the stage in acts ir.iurmur, "HoWvlovely," not real- presenting the pageant. Miss
? turjjng various sports—skat- izing all that lies, within it, ^- ? Maheuftook excerpts from the
ing, skfing, tobagganing, and <*•}•• First of all, the crib itself is Bible,? added! some poe'.ry and
th'ers. Of course, the theme.-. a very old rustic piece. ; Orig- Christmas carols and ingen-
Lp. "White Christmas," will inally it was us^ed by our Sis- iously created a delightful and
be sung at the finale. The whole ters of "Mercy in Titusville, and
gssemblyifwill sing different ca- was brought" here when Mercy- worthwhile pageant which was
a
dis as part of the program. hurst was built. It was placed presented Sunday, December
I Among the guests is our an- in the chapel every Christmas 14, at 8:00 P.M.
nual Christmas visitor to this season; later it was moved out
school who is presenting gifts m into the hall where more could | The pageant comprised five
and dispensing good-will thru- enjoy its beauty. scenes: The Annunciation, the
0ut Ihe party.
Natalie Hirtle, an art major, Visitation, the Shepherd Scene,
Last, but not least, is the de- of the Class of '46 was respon- the'Scene of Hhe Wise Men, and
licious refreshment served by sible for the present artistic
charmingly costumed waitresses. arrangement of the figures. The The Nativity.
[.These plus many other little whole scene is built up on boxes It was not a pageant in the
touches lend themselves to the to make the land appear hilly. true sense of the* word because
gay |festivities making for a The main figures are the In-
merry time. fant, the Blessed Mother, and the tableaux were explained by
I Are you having fun ? (Continued on Page 4) 'a choir of' singing and verse
speaking angels. 1* 5; . i •
A
^y*\ »«°" ^
the "Bulletin of the Mathemath- P I ^ S S S M i I At Communion Breakfast
racticiI, dur
g n
» g the Christmas
Candlelight
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
ical ISociety ; of ^ America." i: It^ ^ H vacation; who knows, you may H T o welcome eleven new mem- Hy,; pastor of St. } Lawrence's, s d
Diinner oerve
be in it. \ J^^^BSSB^^^M bers into thel organization, the Albion, \ were present at the The lannual Christmas dinner
was contributed' by Sister M.
The highlight fof the evening Mercyhurst fi Sodality sponsored breakfast which followed High sponsored by the faculty for
Celine of the;;Mat| Department its annual Communion Break- Mass and Benediction.
w i l l b e t h e s o c k dance the student body^of Mercyhurst
*nd is a digest of the disserta- 4 ^ ^ » strictly fast in honor of our Lady on R To open the program, the so- College, will he held on Thurs-
tonjshe submitted j in i partial ^informal. Sunday morning mass her Feast of the Immaculate dalists sang the hymn, "Mother day evening, December 18, in
fulfillment of her doctor's de- will be late, so that our guests Conception, ; in the College din- Beloved," and Ann Nickum, Pre- the school dining room.
may join jus Jin the chapel. A ing room, December 18. f f> fect of the Sodality, welcomed
Pee at the University off Mi-
{Mary Ann Donaher, Junior, all I who were present. Follow- According t o * custom, the
chigan. J 5 « | | j H i H W H H H tea dance will 1 be held in c- the acted as toastmistress for the theme and decorations for the
gym in the;afternoon, and the ing the welcome Connie Schnei-
Though few of us will be able occasion. Rev. Alfred Watson der | gave a dramatic reading party are to he a surprise plan-
10
comprehend the highly tech- faculty willl judge) the best of
Chaplain of Mercyhurst, Rev. entitled, "Wanted—A - Mother," ned by the faculty. I t has long
nical content of j the paper, we the comic snow figures of all the
Edward Latimer, professor of and Joan Cavanaugh, Joan been the custom for the stu-
clubs.
nought you Iwould] like to be religion, and Rev. jEnis Connel- Houch, and Lucille Vitello sang dents to dress in formal attire
A suggestion jbox will be left for the occasion.
**are of the distinction that "Ave Maria." H:
injthe college hall. If you have
tfc* work of one of our own has
any ideas for the carnival, Campaign Results Father Connelly, as guest The students are eagerly
Reared in this ultra-scholarly please drop them in the box.
speaker, urged the sodalists not awaiting the ' final touch that
Periodical—last heard of in T. Many committees will be form- $ 1.35—Halloween P a r t y !
Pt to sacrifice .moral principles for will finish the Christmas cele-
W. class. j ed and so we'll all have to give 122.97—Student Relief Ball material desires. Father Wat- bration at Mercyhurst.
our services. The work will be 333.00—Corsages son, in making his closing re-
j 'Knowledge is bjfefc toll* un- wearying if only a few carry the 70.00—Janus Play marks, recalled the intense life
ess
it is guided by grace." load, so let'stall cooperate. Let's of p r a y e r that began among same spirit of prayer was ne-
38.80—Dollar Day
Herbert j make {this the biggest and best Mercyhurst girls on a similar cessary in the present uncertain
Winter Carnival} Mercyhurst 56.00—Bette Cahn's Concert
occasion just six years ago and dangerous state of world
ever had. In that event we can 55.00—OGA Raffle when the first shocking news of affairs. To close the program
The only w a y ' t o have a be sure fthat it'will! be carried Pearl Harbor came over the
end i s the sodalists sang the hymn,
to be one."—Emerson on in future years. $676.62 So Far radio; he told the girls that the "For Christ, The King."
Page 2 THE- MERCIAD
December 16, i 94 -
3
The Return of the Spirit *iwfo « "Friendship Train > >
At the November Erie Union Sodality Meeting it;was CXCtltfJ( ©CO Symbol Of jC'hri$tma$*Givin
decided that the intention for the month of Decembei "And she brought forth her About a month ago a special train left our west coa
would be The Return of the True Spirit of Christmas. firstborn son land wrapped him
How far away we have gotten from the true meaning up in swaddling clothes and and began an eastward cross country trip gathering '1
of Christmas! laid him in a manger: because ney and food for distribution among the war-impoverish^
there was no room for them in European nations. The train was named MTO-.I
v
THE MERCIAD Page Z
ea
r
m e
a great deal about "Christmas Spirit" as this wonder-
fe ** j approaches. We think of brightly colored decorations.
3fle
Perhaps it's a little early, but~~| of whose birth the star! was a;
• ^ • r
e S
a P P picture yourself, if you will, on sign. In Jerusalem, at the
L| * * °0f families gathered together, andlof all the stories and Christmas afternoon. The ?jpre-5 court of Herod, these Wise Men
[^ ^associated with Christmas. sents have been opened and the learned that Bethlehem was the
s aS
ein tor ies and poems are part of the "Christmas Spirit." delicious Christmas dinner has place of the birth of the ex-
frefch * t(J m a n y / ' T h e Night Before Christmas" may seem like been eaten. In our thoughtless pected! Messiah. They followed
|i*°ji 8 poem, the fact that it was based on the legend of St. wayido we sigh and say, "Oh, the starf to the house of \ the
I child * e a rly Christian bishop noted [for his generosity to well, after all the t:me spent Holy Family where they offered
- an inspiring message in itselfj getting ready, it's all over for to the Child Jesus the choicest
the most important! part of Christmas is the re- another y e a r ? " of Arabian gifts—gold, frank-
rHLjyer,
^ " n c e ofIthe birth of our Saviour. When we think of this, Once again, we ask you to incense, and myrrh. WarnedSby
brfl
f " her the words, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a L* rememberlthe true meaning of an angel inftheir sleep of Her-
r0T
r 9*iven, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Christmas. We should look for- od's design upon the Child, they
un j „fufv God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." ward to the Twelfth Night after returned by another route to
When Christ was born, the the glorious feast of the Nativ- their country.
ity with as much expectation as Now you see why we have no
Ma Lett Wise Men brought gold, fran-
kincense and myrrh. Today, we we do the night before Christ- reason to allow those "day-af-
xtnte* This letter was re- give gifts in remembrance of mas. On January 6 the Cath- ter-the-big-arTair" doldrums^ t o
^ bv the Editors. We this^ occasion as tokens of our olic Church commemorates! the get us! Another!; great day is
would be inter- manifestation of the glory of approaching.| There is much we
friendship. As we look"*upon our
Christmas dinner, we thank God Christ to t h e ! Gentiles in the can do to make our gifts more
d
r ' Merciad Editors, for our blessings. These are person of the Magi—Gaspar, acceptable«to the Infant Jesus.
Melchior, and Bal hasar. What are you going to give the
K n u l d like to take this op- gifts, too, the Igifts of God. . Introducmg "The J Merciad"
i .
I ' L of thanking you and This year, however, we must girl of the month! Originating in the Eastern Christmas Babe ? .With the Wise
Un
r llff for the publicity you remember four "Christmas Spir- Church in the 3rd century, this Men will you say, "We have
T Not a little bit of Ireland (as feast soon spread to the West. seen His star in the East, and
f Zen my programs in the it" should extend farther than her= name might imply) but a
I t honors the Wise Men who are come with gifts to adore
doubtless aware that our families or close friends. little bit of Elmira, New York followed a miraculous star from the Lord ?" | m
You areness is highly compe- There are people in «foreign is Alice Catherine Murphy—or the East in search of the King M.eH.
hu9i
D
P and. A P publicity of any kind countries who are starving, sick just "Murph." A typical "home
and lonely. Remember, "it is
r i a y s appreciated- not to more blessed to give than to re- ec" student, Alice is busy knit-
B1
« the .I lego,
o*n. bout vio.ble evi- ceive." There is joy in giving, a ting socks (Christmas presents,
u t Vlfll
\f. that people do listen. no doubt), loves blue and "Star-
joy within yourself for having dust." She's the proud posses-
1 1 have been at this sta4 pleased God. "Lay up foi your- die £jcour C Wise Jnan
t think we have developed selvesl treasures; in heaven" sor of a newly-obtained driver's ^Henry^Van Dyke's "The Other Wise Man" will live as long as
g program that has license, and four fenders still
evenin should teach us t h a t we should we have Christmas, for it is a story beautiful in its simplicity. But
inC r * listener appeal. The help others enter into the remain On Mr. Murphy's?Chev-
it is thought-provoking, too, and strangely enough, when you are
LTus sponsors have been se- "Christmas Spirit." rolet because his daughter has
finished reading the book you do not ask yourself, "Was there
U driven it only twice!
fc in good taste, and have really another Wise M a n ? " b u t rather, "Would; I*have hadfthe
t 0 deliver their The thoughts behind the poems Another hobby of A lice's^ is strength to do what he d i d ? "
Lowed j-me and stories, the remembrance of letter writing, and some of Rip-
message fan keeping with the Thefbook contains outstanding words of wisdom. For example,
Sogram, which of course is our Saviour, the joy of giving, ley's "Believe It or Not" col- after seeing *the reluctance of Artaban's friends to accompany
Lnsense-pure and simtple. the good will towards our fellow ums can't compare with the ex- him and fearing t h a t he wold never reach his goal, his father
Through you and your staff, men —all these spell out the periences she's had via the post- said to him, " I t is better to follow even the shadow of the best
j w0uld like to thank the girls "Christmas Spirit." > age stamp. Can it be that her than to remain content with the worst. And those who would see
Mercyhurst for their cards \ Ci M. liking for milk and! ice cream wonderful things .must often b e ready to travel alone."
letters, Mail response from give this blue-eyed blonde such
a creamy complexion? • The author tells of a £ fourth
)tt is always gratifying. If Guide :^"That is a skyscraper."
I reCall, Janice p irges, who
Justed last spring, won a love to see it work."
You'll find Alice is treasurer
Mercyhurst Girl: "Oh m.y! I'd of the junior class, assistant Did You now Wise Man, Artaban, who set out
from the mountains of Persia
editorV of / "The Merciad," cap- Mirror, mirror on the wall, when he saw the star that her-
wry valuable portable record , •
during our "Somebody tain of the Mercyhurst Gray We've come to tell you aided Christ's birth. But Arta-
[player Ladies,|and a member of S.O.S., ban never reached his destina-
pes Me" contest last spring. "The dignity, t h e |grandeur, Who's on the ball;
Again, thanks for past fa- the tenderness, t h e everlasting Janus Club, and the choral read- tion because he stopped to aid
With their talents and wits three people in great need. First,
n-aiid.any evening or morn- and divine| significance of moth- ing group. As long as "Murph" They've come to be known as
that anyone of you has. a erhood."—Talma ge is near with her now famous he nursed back to life a dying
minutes to spare down "jokes," there's bound to be Mercyhurst kids! beggar in a grove of date palms
few laughter. and by so doing missed the ca-
town
please feel free t o stop One-two-three —h- ready, let's
at WBRC and go through "Be cheerful always. There "Merciad" salutes you, girl ravan that set out for 'Bethle-
go with all the things that we hem. Later, /while continuing
station. is no p a t h b u t will be easier of the month, Alice-Murphy!
bet very few of you know. Did his search, he saved a peasant
I wish you continued success traveled, no load b u t will be I 1 , -' * % • **•":' M . H .
UHMHSM
Page 4 THE MERCIAD December 16,1947
9
* STARDUST *
* My First College Prom
A t a a s t t h e d a y arrived! I t w a s Saturday morning and tonirt,
I'd b e attending t h e Student W a r Relief Ball, my first colle r V *<» o U 1*1 11