The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28
THE MAsTERs ANNIYERsARY.

III N -1oL n % ANN v El(S1AAI Z.
Ere the News again reaches its read
ers Christmas will have come and gone
with all OF the agreeable developments
OF that most kindly of holidays, and
the pleasant air Of mystery which has
pervaded SD many homes for days past
will have given place 10 those delight
full surprises and joyous revelations,
which render dear 10 the hearts OF young
anil old the observance Of the festival
that was inaugurated when the glad it'd.
ings--peace on earth. good will toward
men"-ieIl like q soft mantle over the
rough Landscape OF humanity, ton
ing down its sharp outlines and
harmOnizIDg its iints. That the
day may bring To one and all
Of our readers Joy and glsdaess. is the
earnest wish Of THE News, which has
reason To enter with its Patrons into the
full spirit Of the festivities which attend
this season Of good cheer and gladuess.
The sweet and hallOwed associations
OF the day aTe as far reaching in their
@--A1Chtc - NlNHAAANAAAoAAg anu ~ Qullt
impossible for even those who dlscred-
IL the old. old story of the origin Of the
Christian faith to Withstand the charm
which will invest the tradition so
long As the birth OF the Babe
Of Bethlehem shall be commence
rated by the exercise OF those
gracious amenities which were first ex.
smpliied in such fullness as TO win and
subjugnte the hearts Of men by the
Great Teacher, who, during his brief
sojourn on earth. associated himself in
dIssolubly with all the precious inter
csts Of human life and death. Sceptics
may deride the story which Is accepted
by every enlightened nation under the
skies to-day as the foundation OF the
best System Of morals which the world
has ever known, and infidelity may go
up and down in the earth seeking to
oVeiturn the affairs dedicated to the wor-
ship Of . supreme intelligence, the
symmetry OF whose plans bear mo- like
ness 20 the unassitted ordinances of
fate. But the Christian citadel will Sc
curely withstand all assaults from with
out, and those within the fortress will
never be spoiled by the enemy SO long
as the purest flowers of rhetoric; the
MISREPRESENTATION of art, and the best
expressions Of estheticism which grace
the Christmas season ia such inviting
profusion continue To derive their power
to enlist the interest of the lover of the
beautiful by virtue Of the suggestions
which they convey Of the won
derful legend which is familiar to all
but which can never grow wearisome.
Whatever of grace and beauty the
character of man may have gained
since the evangef Of love and peace was
proclaimed on the first Christmas morn
ing, comes from the spirit therein con-
veyed. The cardinal principle of
Christianity is To ameliorate the aspcri-
ties of life; TO Tighten one anOther's
burdens by a mutual spirit of helpful
ness, and to diffuse spirit of love
which shall cast out fear. The ami
versary of the advent of
the Great Exemplar who
reflected all these beatitudes in His
life is an suspicious season for their ex-
ercise. Let us then, each and all, agree
To endeavOr to enter into the spirit of
the approaching festival and discover
its real meaning by the discharge OF
these benefcent offices which should be
extended, not only to our friends, but
which should likewise invade those poor
homes into which not the poorest gin
or the feeblestE glthOughtfulmerry- max
ing can come save through the ministra-
lions OF thoughtful charity
The commemOration of the
miraculous drama of the Nativity
makes the whole world kin. Let US
yield To the kindly impulses which the
day inspires, and add TO its joy
by unselfishly going forth to do our part
in lifting by our own benevolent deeds
the thought of mankind up to broader,
purer heights. and relinquish, for this
one supreme day in all the year, all
sordid thought of gain and worldly care
even as the shepherds left their iOcks,
and followed the star that guides men
to-day, as surely as 1t did the Magians
of old, 10 the PrincesOf Peace.