Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-12-25
From ne ".idrvca,c Of Missio.as.' -
CHRIST.MtS.

general sense of the prOprletles OF the sea-
son: or. the small addition to the luXurles
of the table and the comforts of the home
circle will tell of the desire and effort to
realize in the habitations of the poor some
thing of the good will " whose coming in
the advent promised. Many pulpit will
give out the message OF gladness and good
cheer. while full-yoiced choirs and deep
toned organs Will echo the anthem of the
multitude of the heavenly host, on earth
peace goodwill To men," 1t Is well that a
brief day of the passing year should shine
with the reflection of the great light, and
that the memory of the coming OF the Prince
OF Peace should still for moment the tu-
multi and excitement of this worlds restless
strife. Ii Is we'll too, that many poverty
stricken dwelling and bed of suffering should
be visited with gracious reminders that
fountains of charity and streams of benev-
0lence have been opened by the son OF God
10 distribute comfort and blessing among
the needy and the sorrOwul. Ii Is but a
poor memorial ct His coming If 1t bring
only supplies To them that are full, and
mirth TO the merry of heart Peace on
earth. goodwill to men, has wider reach
than that. The ears OF the lowly are turned
ID catch its music. and the hearts OF the
lonely and the sad open To the melody
The light shines for the guidance OF the
lost. and the glory of the Lord round about
Is the assurance that the blcsSedncs' and
power of the heavenly kingdom have inva-
dcd the darkencd and diSLonCrId world 10
redeem IL from its desolation and DIES pair,
and transform it into the home OF love,
purity and peace.
The song is still but prophecy; the day
Is ONLY i'm it, dawn. Cloud and storm may
vet darkcn the sun Is he goes To his zenith.
Hope deferred has made many hearts sick,
and apathy and Indifference have succeeded
10 The eager expectation of them that first
saw the rising of themorning-Star. Has the
song become mOckery of human hope?-
Has the prophecy failed? Is the promise a
delusion? Does our Christmas mean no.
thing? and is all Its song and laughter but
the cracking OF thornS under pot? -
No. surely The hope still lives in the
hearts OF tens of thousands. The Church OF
God einbodies it and Is inspired by 1t; and,
though the far of music of the angels comes
10 as through the shout of battle-felds and
the wailings OF grief. and the groanS of dis
appointment, with softencd tone and in the
measure of a sigh. its uttcrancc is still dis
lation of ''ioy to the world Every sue
cessive wear brings new response to the
message. and bears the word OF hope to in
crcasing multiudcS. The light Is breaking
into the darkest shadows, and the music OF
the gospel l. ncw-creating sous under the
cribs of DEATH We may well make thejOy
% .he la,e redeemed an element of our own
giadacss and raise higher note of praise
i'm contemplation of the widening area OF
the triumphS of the Prince of Peace.
Nor should the season fail T. furnish slim
illus and incentive 10 wider plans and more
intense effort. The glory due to God III the
highest. the honor of the lncarnate Son, the
consolation of earth and heaven, and the
commincling of their interests; the con-
seriousness ofpersOnal blessing in the heaven
~ regions in Christ, and the hope of increase
and Of an incalculable enlargement OF fell
lowShip and power, appeal To u to turn
from the merely sen>uOuS enjoyment OF the
time and devise literally for the speedy
attainment of the con~ummatlOn. They
OF a nation or o.. s generation Is ialnt and
low-toncd but when the work OF faith the
labor of love. and the patience of hope,
shall have their reward, the song OF the
nations and generations of all earth and
time shall bee heard. d" rs ;hc voice ola great
multitude. and a. the voice of many waters,
and a, the voice of mighty thunder-, saying,
Halleigiah, for the Lord God omnipotent
rcigneth." Ii i ours 10 repea vi carry
forward the GLORY t. Gvd in highest,
on earth peace goodwill 20 mer dntil 1t
shall meet and blend with that grdnder peal
of music that shall signal the final and
complete triumph of the Son OF God.
Though with the woes Of sin and strife
The world has suffered long,
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two Thousand years of wrong
And men, az war with men, hear not
The love-Song which they bring:
% hush the noise, yc men . strife,
And hear the angels sing.
For 10, the days are fastening on,
BY prophct-bar,ls forctOid,
When with the cyer-circling years
Comes round the age of gold;
When Peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient Splendors fling,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing
The Lordly Roscoe Conkliug'S going to
Senator Bayard for information as to what
he really did say concerning him in one of
III, campaign speeches, Is one of the most
notable instances of mans getting what he
went for, and with compound interest, too.
: nator Bayard concludes the very spicy
correspondence with TIE following manly
words
"To your inquiry, whether "wish to
leave the matter here" | can only reply
I that have no wish on the subject but to be
| simply Just 10 myself and others, and whcr-
ever that leads me shall try to follow
The clerks in the city po'toilice at Wash
ington were measured by tailor, a few days
ago. for the uniform suits they are to be
compelled to wear. One of the most eff
I cicnt of them resigned as soon As the tailor
approached him, and the others exhibited
thar sort of resignation which would retain
them their places. They must wear the
/ livery there Is Observation-Disclosures
tonous it may be. \ little odd to some of
Us to find the men who wore the blue"
/ compelled by the l. ;. to wear the grey
The 1icrqndria Gazette says truly
when republican senators, from their seats
in the highest council of the nation, eulo-
gize John Brown. an incendiary and muir
dsrer. who was hanged after fair trial and
h.. In, ,,r.,oa.- of Iav- a. ,,-a- Yesterday