Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-12-25
A Theme Of Theoes.

The wears unvarying cycle and the perfect
succession Of ecclesiastical review brings again
To our inner contemplation and exterior enjoy
ment the cherished festival Of CHRISTMAS. rs
the world grows Older. and It's appreciation of
the beautiful i'm nature. tradition and art he
comes more fully developed, the esteem where
IN is held the event which christian people ;o-
dav commemorate evinces az increase IN pro-
portion to the progress which trie knowledge
and culture win And these, though partaking
ofboth natures. are more Of the AeGn than OF
the mind. IT, therefore, We would crown with
final triumph our striving upward toward those
mental heights, whence may be obtained atrue
conception OF the intrinsic excellence of Beth
lehem's lowly birth, We must conjoin with i'm
telectual effort the patient and pray crlu prac-
ticcs Of Him whose words plead always with Us
-~ Give Ne thy heart ..
Such. II seems 10 rs. is the brief We; pregnant
lesson which reaches out from the Long Ago
and entreats the attention Of the true christian
this Christmas-tide. Pulpit eloquencc may
combine with theological research To enlarge
successfully ON the theme. but the one enduring
basis remains as the years go by, and these
hallowcd commcmOrati0ns rccur again and yet
again the one small whisper from Saviour
lips will come 10 us i'm the silent watches of the
night, suggesting the only Christmas token
worthy of Ills acceptance Give Ne thy heart
In the precedence which they observed m
their two-iold greeting of the Infant God the
magu. Of old anticipated this same request
They presented unto Him most precious gifts
vet before doing So. il was an inner tokcn-thc
soken Of their enduring honase-which, pros
trate before the manger-crib, they offered for
Ills acceptance The same Divine inspiration
which prompted their journey across weary
leagues beneath the silent stars may boz pre-
sumed 20 have suggested their initial action in
this regard an instant response 20 the Christ
Childs afer-cry-" Give Ne thy heartr
Viewed thus in a spiritual sense We can cas-
ily determine the source whence have been
drawn those pure delights and perfect pleas
ures which are associated with the cherished
Christmas time IL is the one sitt season which
retains that kind feature amid the yicisSitudes
of life: because of am anciei precedent unri-
walled in its authority. And the little folks
whose especial festival 10 really is. low cothcy
regard this gracious Day2 May We not be sure
Of our words iu asserting that. 20 the virgin
mind of childhood miniature world Ji mar
Vicious fairy io-c ami fancic> quaint and queer
the plcasau; Christmas and its tccmins udcap-
peals with a fascination as hcaitllul as IL Is -y-
preme? Is il not certain that the child regards
this queen Of days as . very cpitome of all that
j. good and true IN nursery tradition hn,
mayhap. beside the hearth logs weirdiy flick
sring light. when day is done and sleepy time
approaches To him, be very sure, 1t Is one
white wonder in fairy legend, the cap and
crown Of frcside >cug and story-bciore whose
delightful strangcneSs the er>t while apPrec.a-
tel Cindere,las Goody-rwo-ShOes and Giant
Killers pale their Intellectual inianune fires
Mothers, make it a sacred duty to foster We'll
this sweet idea which your little one, entertain
FOR the Christm, s-tide Upon and around the
bare recital in O. cir eager ears of Bethieheus
simple touching incident doubt no, that those
innoccutly imaginative mind, viii rear "a fabric
of delicate structure. Yet lasting tenure.
Tax VlEGlNI, FRS PEEs- extends q friendly
hand in earnest greeting Co It's friend, and pa-
irons \ Merry Christmas aud Happy
New Year"