Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-12-25
EFor the X cowoo Courior.1
Christians

Christmas
LAS again come AID another year is about
W w "ooeo 10 tr.o great past. Tho worry name
.. .n's great Christian festival has lost mono
OF It's interest in tho past eighteen hundcrd
yours, but now, rs then, it is o season of
Rejoicing to tho old and youhg, tho rich and
poor. The little ones count tho days for tho
coming of Kris Kringle, Santa Claus and
other eprtcs, who arc expected to supply
them with toys, gimcracks, &c., in abundance.
Older heads arc no less interested in tho
contemplated season Of iun and frolo, when
business is for tho time put aside.
10 all rejecting minds has it not higher
Significance and should not it's Observance 10
very different from what it has beon? Each
recurring Christmas is measuring line in
point of time, an epoch, marking our progress
towards tho great future, and furnishes Il
poriod for reflection and improvement. Con.
slider tho past twelve months and read its
changes, here and elsewhere. knowledge
and science havo progressed rs usual, but
fiminc and postionce, disease and death,
have not been asleep. Many have passed
from time to eternity and others have taken
their places in tho race Of lifo Even in our
midst there has been 1t ono iiroside mourning
Tor q lost futhcr, mother, brother or sister,
at another there has been joy at the new life
ushered into existence, mourning and iov,
strange intcrmiXture in lilo. But such is life
here and elsewhere and such has il bccu from
the fall OF our forcparcnts, and such will it
a ho
with health and life in the same town. Sor-
row and mourning have dwclt with joy and
gaancss. So will it over DO.
low have we improved tLo year that is
now closing? Uavo we madc any progress
In moral and intellectual elevation, or arc wo
still groycling in sin and rercry? Are wo
now nearer tho grave, but further from God?
This is serious question for ono and all and
worthy OF serious consideration. Past
experience teaches US that infancy and old
age, childhood and middle age, youth and
manhood alike fall each year before tho sickle
of death Observation teaches US that no
holds his lifo by any tenure save only
the will and mercy of God. What, then, is
dearest to every man he holdo by no title, but
w WV pleaSurC OIL MS creator.
What, then, is life? 10 exist is not life,
Breath is not life. limo wasted is exis-
cnce. limo used, improved is life. How
many of US, then, have lived since the last
Christmas bells announced tho anniversary
of the Prince of Poacc, tho birth of a Saviour,
the day when peace on earth and good will
among men was proclaimed here, and wien
the angels of heaven sang roans of praise for
Tho salvation of man? Let each answer this
question for himself. Again, what is life?
IL is span, q point in timo. 'Man that is
born OF woman is Of few days and full of
trouble" "1t is grass, which in the morning
hoursheth and growoth up and in tho eve.
ming is cut down and withercth, for the DAYS
of our years arc threescoro ard ton, and If
by reason of strength they bo fourscore years,
yet Is their strength labor and sorrow; for it
is soon cut of aud wo fly away" "What
man is he that livoth and shall not soc dcath7'
when l consider thy heavens the work
OF thy fingers; tho moon and tho stars which
thou hast ordained; what is man that thou
art mindful OF him, or the Son of Man that
thou visitcst him?" Liro is nothing when
considered from tho standpoint of man. but
whom viewed in connection with tho wisdom,
power aud goodness Of God, how incxpressi,
bly, worthless is it, unless passed in obedience
to tho commandments Of God.
But what is life? A race for happiness
and how foolish tho raco wo run. Obssrye
tho jostlng world undor tho dominion Of
man, and hero you find ono class digging and
delving for wealth as the source and end Of
happiness; another class will be seen
who in tho walks Of scionco and literature
discover tho true source of happiness; another
seeks hor in fame and honor in war or politics
These are tho higher man. Thoro is another
class who in tho vino cup, in worldly pleas.
urca, in rovolry aud liccntiousnoss, drown trou.
Die and thus seok happiness. A fow, a very
low, the sovon thousand who hayo not bowed
tho knoo to Baol, have discovered what Solo,
mon long since declared as to such pursuits
"Vanlty of vanitios, MI is vanity" and have
concluded, rs he did, "to servo God and kccn
his commandments, for this is tho whole duty
OF men" They know thore is no content.
ment from any earthly good and hcnco ADOPT
the divine injunction, "seok 70 first tho king
dom OF God and his righteousness, and all
these things shall be added anto you."
Considering thcso things how foolish nnd
arc tho ways Of me,. Ife
knows life is short and doath certain. and In