New-York tribune., 1881-12-26
DR.. groREs's SERMON TO CHILDREN.

The services "A. the Church of the Pilgrims,
Al Henry aad Eeus,l5 $50, Brooklyn, yo..crlly morn
ing were largely tc benefit ot the scholars ~ the
sunday-,cloo CONNECTED with the church. 1Ie building
wa. handsomely decorated tic platform in 'front.' o. Ec
rulpt bru, ilcd with small trees, and tie
sid. of the Galleries and choir lott baHs f,st1ou "a with
rarand- Ofmys;lc. SIId4y--c bauL.Is wur. hung
about the pillars aud front az the calces. Tic service
BEGAN with the singing Us tie church cuoiI and Choir
of bows in the opposite -.Ilary OF Christmas anthem.
"Tle Bells RING Out al CATpimas' the mnsc hy
PeUncd Al TIE hrs strains OF the anthem the donrr on
each side Of tAc pulpit op,IJA aud Hc sohoaTs of
the Suuda school marched into tnr church ihc smallest
lending. AHcr passing through tE, central aisle the
schoars took positions as ned 10 them, Tie boys IN tic
so,h gallery aud the -irs H TIC opposite Que Toe last
.iauza o. the sung n cU"rs by IN" choir,
anc the saool. Tar rrhoa! Joined in the SINGING OK tAu
other hymn all or which related to the Christmas fc
Oval Ia announcing the collection, which for the
hOUe and iOTtiy Suudt, school work, The PASTOR the
Eey Dr. stOrfs spoke of The rcsuts especially accom-
pshcG IN Japan. Before giving ont the text oi h,
mon Dr storrs said: it is my privilege at least once
year sEcak to the children and youth Of my coHgrc-
CATION without much thOush whether Others 4ro pres
cut or nos. Aul 10 i, asays pleasure 10 10 do 20
both because U is often easier 20 impcSs 90, truth uIOu
| the yoaag aud becausc know t.at in speaking to the
young speaking 10 the church OF tho future t. hose
who viii be the members OF The church In twenty. thirty
or ioy years from Hence 1t In always pi-a-gIc
and "A dc-Lt to to speak 10 the young. anu
! ~ that the opportunity seldom. on y wish 10
| came sIx times ia ear
The sermon ,yas founded on James i II every good
gilt and every perfect gilt is from above and cuncth
| down from the Father of Lights, with whom b no
yaraJcucs- neither shadow Of turning" Ia, DISCOURSE
which drew lessons from the custom ~ Christmas Civ
ing ana was directed especially the children, was In
part rs follows Ins beautiful text II cIl7 u- that
every ld comes from above, whether earthly 5f the
present Time, spiritual. OF the time 70 The peo
pie of Bible times did not really know much about the
stars They thought that everything rcvOlyed about the
world on which they moved. But thcy could see the
waxng and waning OF the moon and the movements Of
the stars In tn cour,cs ald s they looked on the
| heavens above they must have been impressed with
their glory. Yet text tells that The Father OF
| Lights who made them oil, II Himself without
change. This day to all Of n day ~ brirhinoss
both within and without. Last year. you remember. it
was stormy without, while all brightness within
But to-day is like pare crystal You LOOK at crystal
sometimes, and there Is spcck or law In 1t but
times you Gnd one WLCh wheu you look through 1t, Is
perfectly pure, without y shadow stain. Now thi.
day TO me like Of those perfect crystas But
suppose 10 ask yOu what makes this day such
| happy one You would answer, perhaps: IL ia the
rs" Gifts TO most of very frequently, every
month OF lives perhaps, but this day OF the year
Trey are abundant, plentiful the devdrpps shin
nc In the grass nader the morning These gifts
perhaps toys or Christmas cards, sometimes q mag
niccnt doll, perhaps brou-ht over from Europe and
WitA an extensive wardrube and from tha down 10 n
china doll. To the older folks perhaps t IL watch or
rich ornament You eay tAs IL what this
| day Il Joyous one. It this that i,rks
the angels announcing peace earth marked day
others. You say the litH make the happy
but 10 Is not the gifts themselves. ~ Is first the IOy
| pusse-sOn. We what desired perhaps IN the
| store window and enjoyed then its beauty, but
noS. tht gifts are own. We may enjoy them with
others children love % do, and may keep them for
ycars, There several little bOoks had when small
| boz from ten years Old aud / snll keep them
They Naned by than thr books In binding or
Turkish the books with gold edges. II
one steal fIOi my library, should prefer that
lac should steal Of those costly volumes rather than
other days, when everything Was plain and sinpe IN the
country village where lived, ANA scarcely dreamed OF
thc wealth and luxury oil tue town. You may keep tuO
| book you have Just received IOr many years
I and say: "Iai5 boOS gUt Christmas, 1881
| and ] M chuICA that morning ana / remember
that hc text Of the preacher hat every good gift
comes from aOd and that book ornament, Do nuy
De, RIl cIy back o. EII-a to other days Again.
what makes tic liiiS precious Tie iCtn, Oi IOyB
shown b. the one Who gives them. II they came from
| Ouc who cola toward NJ would lay them aside,
aud thnk httie Ui them but they come from those who
,Uyc and to tI.rir love and t.i1
/ ueilod Of doing it. We don't 20 down iatO tine
dark cellar country house 70 get q hasLt, mi OF
! Suu3uuc, touch % lump Of Ico 10 get warmth
nnd We do not 20 20 the heart Oi who does love
| ts Tor precious gn The gft be very small. but
Che lJgc tAat come. with makes IL yCry precious AN
the Kits thai make CHRISTMAS happy are precious them
because 81 the sense ~ possession iue 4UWeIgc that
.Lcy belong uF, and that them Tor Others
sH1 keep them. and also iIon SENSE OF the love
| with whici! they came.
Nov, IL! chirn and yoGth, the most urnrlons thing