The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-12-22
CHRISTMAS.

volving year, when the Christian world,
from the home Of the aurora in the
frozen North to the uttermost gla5jer in
the Antarctic Circle, from the burning
zone of tue East to the tremendous civil
izalion of the West, in palace, in hut, on
land and main, iu all clmes and among
all nations, celebrate the advent Of Him
who was to redeem the earl, from long
centuries Of shame, open the portals of
Heaven and shake the gates Of hell.
The birth OF Jesus Christ in II stable at
Bethlehem is the one event in all history
that has no parallel and can have no
rival. It is unnpprcacbablc in It's sim
plicity and matchless in its majesty. Il
came when the Persian in the Orient and
the Roman in tho Occident were types of
q material glory that seemed the perfec
tion of human endeavor as we'll as :.e
utmost splendor of Pagan pride. Never
before had the sensual spirit seemed more
dominant and more pervadipg, when
Jesus slept in the arms of Virgin Mary
upon that wild December night, beneath
the misty Galilean skies. And yet never
before was the Chosroes or tho Cesar SO
near to catastrophe, despite the panoply
of their obscene gods. He who for ages
had been foretold by the prophets and
sighed for by saints entered the world in
poverty and humility, descended from
tho Celestia! Kingdom to mauger of
beasts, and, save that the bright battalions
of seraphim and cherubim, and I'll the
angelic hosts Of the Father, giTdiei him
about with their protecting wings, no
little child born of woman was apparent
iy more foriorn and less likely to bring
dread to the powerful or disaster to the
entrenchment Of idolatry. And yet there
were not wanting some porientous signs
Of mighty Significance whereby the com.
ing of the Lord of Glory was announced.
To the shepherds on the plain the morn.
ing stars sang together hymn Of wc.
come, and to the wise men journeying
from the rise Of the sun planetary
beacon fixed their wandering course in
its miraculous procession along the sid.
ereai globe. Mariners upon the s,rat
waters heard supernatural voices pro.
claiming that the ideal of their mythol.
ogy, the great Pan, was dead. The throe
that filed the unseen universe was COM
municated mysteriously to visible exist.
ence, and SO, clad in humbleness but sur
mounted by immortal radiance, tho
Christ. Child came, and henceforth and /
forever the deatbless comprehension of
His advent was to endure until time
should be no more. From that epoch to
this what vast results have flowed be-
cause Of His comingl The Persian is in
dust; the Cesar has lost his empire;
even the gods are gone, save here and
there where darkness has lair only to
exhibit more lambently the light Of light
that shines upon the brow of pnreat
Faith. For the holy name and cause Of
Jesus what myriads have suffered mar
tyrdom, aud what millions have lived in
and died in peace. With the
banner of the Cross what victories have
been won, since the day that Constantin-
beheld the sacred symbol in the heavens
unto the last recorded hour that speeds
the valiant and loyal soul that fights the
good fight and keeps the faith. Empires
have risen and fallen: men have ses-Aa,
to dizzy heights end sunk into abysmal
depths; false prophets have mocksd the
Word, and evil creeds have fourished,
decayed or still survive. The passions
and philosophers that lead astray still
create confusion and disorder. Vice,
beaten back in one field, rallies under the
Prince of the Powers OF the Air in an
,ther quarter. But the holy name of
Jesus knows no blemish, submits to no
conquest, is tarnishe6 by no breath of
alnmny, and fears no foe from the upper
r the under wo.ld.
In proclamation of that venerated name
udacious men have worked their wick.
will, for o season; bnt they we're t
Dashed at last aud forced to testify to /
8 omnipotence. Still through the mist
ages and the midnight pail Of aggres- (,
We sin, the star of Bethlehem CLEANS c
satos.like, cheering the tossed s
ariner on life's tenn sstuous sea. Long q
Ter the present generation is in Its i
aveIand for all the generations yet to q
that star Of stars shall pierce the q
ON, chesr the weary, arm the man Of .
Id, give lie its supremest Eest, shed q