The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-12-29
THE FESTIVAL THAT NEVER
GROWS OLD.

GROWS OLD.
| Nearly two thousand years have pass
ed away since Jesus was born in Beth
lehem, of Judea, and though the inter
Vening centuries have witnessed muta-
tions which have overthrown principali-
ties and powers, revolutionized CONT
nenis and consigned to oblivion the
proudest systems of philosophy, the
simple origin of the worlds only endur.
ing faith falls upon human ears to-day
with the same sweet notes of hope and
cheer as when the FIST glad tidings of
the new evangel were proclaimed by
angelic hosts TO the listening shepherds
who kept their 1ocks by night on the
star-lit plains of Galilee.
The wonderful legend of the Nazarene,
though unembellished by aught save
the humble offices of life of utter self
abnegation, is invested with a tender
interest which can never be obliterated
as long as human suffering is potent
to incline the heart to Him
whose mission upon earth was to bear
the burdens eff the weak and to exem-
pity in His own life those graces of
character whose imitation by His fol.
lowers have SO diminished the sum of
sin and misery in the world.
Without form or comeliness; hkened
to root out of dry ground; despised
and rejected of men, this man OF sor-
rows, in whom the holy prophet attest
ed ''there was no beauty" being touched
by the spirit of our infirmities, healed
the sick, cheered the faint, raised the
fallen, opened the eyes of the blind. and
by His death and resurrection solved
the problem of the ages, giving the
blessed earnest to His followers that if a
man die he shall live again, and that the
grave is but the narrow way through
which the ransomed pass to eternal rest
beyond the skies.
Grant that the recorded manner of
His advent and the marvellous story of
His resurrection, judged by the severely
| critical standard of human reason, I'M
alloyed by faith, may inspire doubt as to
the authenticity of the wonderful story
0PCh 1853 luC vi
Christianity. But is it not even more
irrational to concede that the central fig
ure of a cunningly devised fable should
hold triumphant sway over the most
gifted minds that have aided in the ad
vance of civilization during the last
twenty centuries, and is potent to mould
thought and give character to achieve
ment, in this, the age of the worlds best
progress? And yet, how true it is that
the name of the son of Mary has fur
nished to art its highest inspiration;
impaired to poetry its most tender grace;
influenced the tone of the worlds pur est
and best literature; given to music its
most majestic Interpretation, and Is the
rock of our only hope when the grave
closes over and forever shuts out from
sight those whom we love-
But even more convincing evidence
than all this of the potent spell which
the traditions of the old, old story, ex-
ercises over the hearts of men is the
untiriDg joy with which the annual
recurrence of the festival which CON-
memorates the announcement Of the
religion of love and peace, is ever wei
coined. At no season of the year are
the sympathies so quickened and the
affections so enlarged as upon the an
niversary of the glad morning that
brought peace and good will to men.
In this brightest and most kindly of all
festivals, the toiler for wealth and fame
forgets the cares which are continually
operating to separate him from those
joys which are more to be desired than
honor or gold, and grows young again
amid the sweet mementOes of happy
childhood. The season is one which
awakens the strongest heartfelt associa-
tons, and never is the earth blessed with
such a reign of universal benevolence as
on the day which commentaries the
event that gave to the world its only per-
feet example of love aud charity.
That our readers, one and all, may be
able to enter into the spirit of the day
which has been preceded by so much
kindly and thoughtful provision for the
happiness of loved ones is the sincere
hope of the NEWS, which earnestly
wishes all of its patrons merry Christ
mas and the realization of all the
hopes which center in festival de.
voted 10 the bestowal of gifts and
indulgence in general good cheer. But
amidst the call to happiness, the flow of
spirits and the exercise of the pleasant
amenities which prevail at this season,
let the sympathies of those favored by
fortune extend beyond the walls of their
own glad homes to those cheerless
abodes where gaunt penury keeps sullen
place at hearth and board, and to whose
inmates Christmas brings no glow save
that which is kindled by the hand of
charity. If the day happily comes to
you bright with the sunshine of hope
and your hearth-stone proves the rally
ing place of an unbroken family, add to
the sum of its enjoyment by the perform
ance of some generous act which shall
bring joy to the hearts of others and 10
you that peace of mind which the con-
seriousness of duty faithfully performed
alone can give.
If, on the other hand, the day be
fraught with sorrowful memories and
fearful regrets for those who have for
ever passed beyond the care of earthly
friends, let the woes of your own heart
stimulate you to action in alleviating
the Affections of those more sorely
stricken by fate, and by your ministry
to their wants and in the contemplation
of their peace strive to forget your own
pain.