Hello Mr. Earle,
I read through that piece – it is totally awesome! This piece must be printed [elsewhere]. There is this connection with that Christmas carol "Silent Night Holy Night" – which is such an interesting story by itself. I don't think ordinary folks over here have a clue – where it came from and how it came into being. It's just being sung in folk music on the TV at Christmas, and also in the churches, Catholic and evangelicals alike. In this place on the Czech border...I sometimes go in to church there, because they read Bible Scriptures, the true book and book of all the books
When I read this piece, Christmas 1914 – I can picture those trenches – my gosh – as long as around the world, it was pure hell, I know when my grandfather [talked] during lunch time [about] the artillery on the horse in France, and then my father fought on the Eastern Front, my uncle in France and Belgium in Second World War. My other uncle is still missing in action, I guess he went to Russia – he was 19 and I was 10 months old.
I guess German women didn't talk much about the wars, when it was mentioned they didn't wanted to be reminded. Yes it was a brief few moments the spirit of Luke 2:14 transformed the living hell of a tiny part of the worst war men had yet seen. It didn't last long. Yes I think this song "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" should have been called "The Carol from Flanders". By the way the head of Flanders spoke the other way on the news and said, the French-speaking and the Flander-speaking people should tolerate each other and learn each other's language – that would be his Christmas wish.
It is amazing that no one knows about this carol "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" because in 1994 a long lost arrangement of "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" in the handwriting of Joseph Mohr was authenticated. Mohr had written, "Melodie von Fr. Xav. Gruber" in the upper righthand corner. I've read in the Internet it is called "The Eternal Song," a dramatic piece. They wrote in Oberndorf the rich business people were at odds with the River Ship Transporters on the River Salzach, i.e. rich against the poor or so, and this Assistant Pastor Joseph Mohr takes the side of the poor people and is writing an unforgotten Christmas carol for the poor people. Mohr invented the text – he lived 1792-1848, and that teacher Xaver Gruber, 1787-1863, was composing this text. By the way, the history of "Silent Night, Holy Night" was on TV yesterday as a documentary. They both figured they needed a carol to sing at midnight mass – and the two of them performed first time on Dec. 24, 1818. What an awesome story – they just sing it as always – most probably not thinking anything while singing it.
Going back to that First World War. Anybody coming out of there lived in hell for so long. Yes, as the French say, "Tout comprehendre, c'est tout pardonner." Trying to understand the actions of ordinary people leads to forgiveness" or Mr. Earle, do you have a better translation?
Bye for now. Thank you so much for this great information which you have sent me. The truth could never be paid anyways. I wish you all the best, and also for Susan from Old Germany, also a healthy happy new year.
I.R.