Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-12-27
THE ANGELS SONG.
REV. ROBERT coLLYEg CONSIDERS CHRISTMAS
AS A TIME OF PRAcE AND GOODWILL

When l find myself that sort Of man that
call a liberal Christian, said the preacher, it
will be as easy to me as laughter is to little
children on Christmas morning to summon up
in my heart the blessings Of peace, 10 exercise
a perfect good will toward all the world.
When Chrlstmastlde comes around every year
I look back to a Christmas long ago-so long
ago that it almost seems to have been another
hfe-When L was casting my eyes across the
Atlantic in search of new home. could not
tell then whether l would find q palace or q
poorhouse l have found palace; but can
put all the egotism aside and say that it is all
due to the blessing and goodness of God and
the love of Him that kept in my heart. But
l hold it true as has been said, that according
to the love we show for our fellow beings go
strong is the love Of God within us, and I
know that loving those who love me and doing
good to those who do good to me is no standard
to measure my love for God by. Glove your
enemies There is the great standard, that is
the great principle Yet it is the one STUN
bling block that find it hard to get over,
though 1 say it 365 times year. I find it
hard not to hate the man that know hates
me. Everything in me revolts against it. II
can't be better than God," l say to myself,
and when some one says, s.Toss your heart
over to God and all the rest will follow" I
don't find the solution 80 easy. Perhaps I
can't just toss my heart over.
But when Christmas time comes and see
| workings of the divine love, say to myself,
surely God can't love one man and hate an
other, and what poor thing my heart is that
l cannot mold it after His. Then l say it is
time to make some effort. The divine love for
man is like the highest note in the melody
some surprising singer reaches when the
Academy down there shakes with the thunder
of applause. / am q humber voice. indeed;
but must l not strive, encouraged by that
great example to reach some higher note than
l have ever touched before in the song which
the angels sing OF goodwill and peace-peace
and goodwill throughout the universe?
Ii can't love the man or woman who has
done me deadly injury, let me at least be sure
| do not hate them. Let me keep in view the
! possibility that may some day love them; let
me be sure that will help them if they need
it. This universal demand for love and peace
is not of Thanksgiving but of Christmas. Our
| Thanksgiving is founded on Plymouth Rock,
but Christmas stands on the Rock of Ages.
When I bless the children of friends even
| though they may be a thousand miles away,
| they shine out to me like stars. / get more
| pect no return. | used long ago to know o
house-mother who always did her houseclean-
| ing just before Christmas She didn't care for
| the rest Of the year. but all should be clean
| and bright for Christmas. Her custom may
serve me as q parable. say to you that you
should brighten the windows of your soul at
| this holy time SO that love and grace may be
| seen shining ont through them. You should
| make your heart clean and pure just as she
did her hearth, and welcome to it ali mankind,
| as she did singers who came to sing the carols
| on Christmas morning. while the fire lit up the
whole place with its warm and GENIAL glow.