The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-12-20
me service Of Christmas


lis IF little mement, from Practi-
cal point Of view, whether the 25sh Of
December is. or Is NOT, actually the
anniversary of the birth of our Saviour.
By general consent, the day Is set aside
as sacred to those messages of peace and
good viii among men by which Christs
coming was announced. The spirit OF
the day IS that which He would approve
we're he living now among US. 1t Is de-
voted to love and friendship, to sweet
and tender charity, to good viii and
benevolence. All these are Christ-like
qualities, and in so far as they distin-
gaish the day above all others in the
yearly cycle, in so far it is peculiarly
and especially Christmas Day.
The observances of the day hailow
and consecrate it. There is no person
who performs the.kindly obligations that
custom has imposed, but is the better
at the close of the day for it. It makes
no difference what he believes, he is the
better for acting the part which is
everywhere considered appropriate for
the day. If he do nothing but give his
children some token of his love, he is
the better for II. If he allow friend
shin 70 dictate the choice of some little
present, he is the better for it. If he
do some deed of generous charity that
would have remained undone but fol-
the influence of the day, he is the better
| for it. He is the better for everything
he does that takes him out of the selfish
ness, the hard pushing, the daily grind
the constant selfseeking of ordinary
days.
As people grow older, the more ser
vice they perform. The higher theil
place, and the greater their influence
the greater is the work they do fol
Others. Ich Diem was the legend of {
great Prince. 1t is the motto of ever.
man in life, and the more of man hi
is, the more of servant is he. WheI
young they were waited upon with con
slant and watchful devotion. All ar
their servants, ministering unto thei
E wants and needs. As they grow older
! these ministrations become less, and a
last We, in our turn, became stroni
! enough TO pay back to others the tende
offices which had been performed for us
: Christmas makes of every man who oh
serves it, serving-man, and so
. nobler man.
: 1t goes without the saying that th
man who wants to spend the happies
Christmas will see to it that into at leas
Il enc home ray of sunshine falls tina
, might not have fallen but for hi
thoughtfulness. The "wards of CHRIST
= are all about US. A very little suffice
to create happiness in places of gloom
1t is not the indisposltion to spend
little money so much as to the want o
thought that keeps many man from
knowing the happiness of others. One
+ own happiness follows that as matte
e of course. There is an instructive pleas
: ure in giving to ones own children ant
f friends. The giving to the poor i
1 looked upon rather as duty than
| pleasure. But let one who has neve
: performed this duty, do it, and find TO
, himself the pleasure that follows it
The happiness is all the sweeter becaus,
the kindly deed WAS not done in expec
tation thereof.
These are old thoughts and sugges
tions, but they come to men with fresl
force and strength with every recurring
Christmastide. If the precious deed
that are appropriate to the day are dom
in worthy spirit, and there is hardly
room for anything distinctively unwor
thy the day will be observed in thu
spirit of the Master.
One and all oul readers We gree
with the time-honored and hallowec
wish-A merry Christmas. May i
be merry in its freedom from corrodins
care, merry in the promise of prosper
ity, merry in the mellowing of hearts
merry in the "reminiscences of the past
merry in the joy of the present. May
it be merry with the shouts of children
merry in the sunlight of houses glad
dened by unexpected surprise, merry in
preserved friendships, and in the recon
element of those estranged. May il
be merry with the recollections of good
resolutions fulfilled, and merry wit.
fair promises for the future. May it be
merry in reunited households, and in
those which the Angels of Death has
entered, may there be consolation and
balm afforded to the wounded and heart
stricken.
The Ways and Means Committee of