The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-02-02
For the True Northerner.
let -Four Lfght shine.
A burnig and shining light to all the natio

a burnlg and shining light to all the nation
Burns.
The Bible tells US to let our ligh
shine, but it also admonishes us that i
the light within us be darkness. dou
great is that darkness 1t also speaks
of the inconsistency of lighting candle
and putting it under bushel Now il
we will change one word in this pas
sage to suit the present times and say
" Neither do men light lamp and put
it under bushel, but on light,stand,
it will lead to a subject that | wish to
illustrate; which is, if the lamp we
light and put on light stand has no oil
in it, our condition is made no better by
lighting it and putting it on light-stand
SO with one who sets himself up as a
light-a teacher of others. It "the
light within him is darkness" or he has
not the oil of wisdom and understand
ing, he will be shadow in community
instead of light. The following Incl
dent which transpired not long ago nor
thousand miles from Paw Paw, Illus
trates this
The inhabitants of a certain neighbor-
hood wishing to have a Ncrry Christ
mas for themselves and children, pro.
posed to have a christmas tree. The
necessary preparations were made Mt
their school house, and therein Christ
mas night both old and young assembled
to have pleasant time. As "it is a
good thing to give thanks to God always" "
a brother in the church who has been q
preacher for many years but not yet
ordained, was called on to offer up a
prayer Of thanks, thereby acknowledge
inc God even in their amuscments.-
He, thinking it best to make few re-
marks also, spoke in this wise:
L" Brethering people look forward to
Christmas as a day to rejoice and have
a pleasant time, but it is not so with me !;
its solemn time to me, knowing that
Mis Is the day that Christ dte8. That's
what makes me feel so solemn-ah. l
want the young children here to always
remember that this day Christ died for
them.ah. | want them to think of this
when they are having so much fun ard
getting nice presents-ah. I'm not like
other people. Christmas has no joys for
me. as we can never pay him for his
great sufferings.ah."
His prayer was suited to his remarks
and commemorated Christ's Cruciixion.
Now | sincerely hope that when Santa
Clause comes again he will visit him and
wish him a Merry Christmas, and make
him present of the information that it
is the anniversary of Christ's birth, and
he ought to rejoice as did the Shepherds
that came to Bethlehem to see the young
child" and were the first to make Christ
mas presents
A day or two after this Christmas
entertainment, conversation occurred
between a woman aud neighbor's boz,
who is about seventeen years old, both
of whom were present at the Christmas
tree. She asked the boy VIII at he thought
about it, whether Christ was cruci6ed
or born on Christmas. " Crucifted y
said he, "what does that mean ?"-
" WelI,n said she, "did Christ die or was
be born on Christmas ?" The boy
looked surprised and asked, g" Is Christ
dead jocks | never knew that he
was dead"
Here is work for the Home Mission
Society. Although it is not probable
that the twenty-ffth of December is
really the anniversary of Christ's birth,
yet it is celebrated as such.