Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-12-20
THE CHRISTMAS SERMON.


THE CHRISTMAS SERMON.
It was Father Levitt's idea having
preaching Christmas Day. The church,
"a diminutiVe wooden structure, showing
the marks of time upon its weather.
stained front, stood next to the one large
store which provided family supplies for
the village of Thornville and moreover
was honored with the charge of the post
office When the hour for service drew
nigh a stranger would wonder where peo-
pie were coming from sufficient to fill
even the one small room of this village
Westinghouse, for there were only
few houses scattered about in its imme-
sdiate vicinity. But soon over the brow
of the adjoining hill would appear
team of sturdy horses drawing a farm
wagon or sleigh, which was loaded to its
utmost capacity. Other loads of SINH
lar character would follow it in rapid
succession, until it became evident that
1t was from the farms lying about Thorn
vile that the people came who kept up
the church, bought supplies at the store,
and rarely took letters from the post
office
On this bright Christmas morning the
ssleighs had come, one after another, I'M
It'll the seats in the church were all filed
and the audience was listening to Faith
eer Levitt discourse. He was a char
acter, this preacher of theirs. HIS form
was still erect, although the SHOWS of
seventy winters had crowned his head
with wilderness. a sweet benevOlence
.shone from his face, and his eyes were
full of kindness. He was a widower,
land childless, so that his people were
his sole care, and claimed his entire
time and affection. He lived in one of
the little white cottages, with only
-housekeeper, passing his mornings in
study and reflection, and his afternoons
in visiting his flock. No one knew his
entire past history. There was a story
that he had once lived in the great cit
les, and been pastor over large and
wealthy congregations, but losing his
wife and children, his grief had driven
him to seek quiet retired life, far from
the noise and strife of multitude of
men. However that may have been,
Father Levitt had lived among them for
fifteen years with his peaceful face and
blameless life, and his word was law in
the community. He had baptized and
married their children; he had buried
their dead; he had wept with the sor-
rowing and rejoiced with those who
were glad; he had been in every house
hold with blessings on his lips, and he
was loved, honored. and revered by all.
Many petty quarrel had been hindered
by his judicious management, and many
times had he made peace between dis
putting parties. In fact, he had won
great reputation as a peace-maker. But
there was one strife which Father
Levitt had been unable to bring to an
.amicable conclusion. He could not
hn1rN hut how L,
preached his Christmas sermon, choos-
ing for his text the words:
Z" And on earth peace, goodwill toward
men,
He spoke of the horrors of war, of
the terrible misery caused by hatred
and opposition, contrasting with these
the blessings of peace and the happiness
-springing therefrom. Then he pictured
the human heart as n battlefield, where
the earthly powers, strife, envy, hatred
marshal their forces against all that is
good and pure and heavenly. These
earthly foes must be conquered in each
individual heart before the peace of
God can rest upon the earth. Preced-
ing peace with God must come peace
with man, for elf q man love not his
brother whom he had seen, how can he
love God whom he hath not seen?"
nc OlO LlStu OGSCIlUGQ III S1Iu p4cs uCdTG-
felt words the happiness of heart filled
with perfect peace, mot the dead and
cold peace of undisturbed stones and
SOLITARY mountains, but the living peace
of trust. Tears were in many eyes,
and the thought came to almost every
heart that the dear old preacher was
himself an apt illustration of his sermon.
But toward the latter part of the dis
course, Deacon Marvin rose, and beckOn-
ing to his wife, who dared not do other
wise than follow, passed down the little
aisle and out of the door, in a manner
expressive of the strongest d:sapproval.
There was a slight movement of sur
prise in the congregation. Some of the
young folks Uttered, and the older ones
looked curious. But the preacher calm
ly continued his sermon, stretching out
his hands over them at the close, and
with upturned, fearful eyes, pronounc-
ing that beautiful benediction: ''May
the peace of God. which passeth all
understanding, keep your hearts and
mind through Christ Jesus. f"