Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-12-26
AT THE PENITENTIARY.
The Convicts Have q Pleasant Entertain
msnt and 3 Good DIneer.

gramme were rendered in an exceptions bic
way, and credit is due all around. Miss
Ella I,rael deserves especial prsiss for her
choice selections, and for her labor tx
pended in training the choir. Mr.. John
Raw, also. for valuable aid in superinterd-
ing rehearsals, and thanks are also tx
tended by the c~onvicts to Superintendent
Robertson, for his help and encouragement.
The prog anime was SIS follows:
PROGRAMME, CHRISTMAS, 1888.
Singing ........... ........."..". "Peace Upon Earth"
singing '.'.......... "Th Ringing Of the Bells
Rec~itstion-"Guilty or Not Guilty" ...... .......~...
By A. B. G. Maust.
Select R~eadinR-"Night After Christmas .....
By W. P. Pritchard
~singing-"The World is Growing Better " Solo.
| Recitation-"A Yankee IN Love- .......Geo. Rohm
Recitation-"One Glass More Henry Johnson
Singing ."Gathering Home
Re~citation-"Joe KgaIney" 1900, n, Picklewine
Sipging .o!........" Meet You By and By.
Recitation-"Labor Is Worship" w. S. Douglass
Singing ":;"..""'.'''''"'" SonS SMeet DGy
CLOSING Address .........-......J. NJ. Plcklewine
On account of the limitsd lime this cos
ing address was not delivered according to
programme.
AfAr the literary programme, a vocal
and instrumental troupe, under leadership
of Profs. Scott, Williams Cater and Har-
ris, was heard, and, in addition 70 the sx-
cellent music, they frtquert,y Brought
down the house by cute and funny say
ipgs.
In his address Of Welcome, which was
an able effort, w. s Douglass said
81 have not the time TO tell about how
the celebration Of this particular day orig
mated. 1t is enough for us that ii is unI.
yersally recogoized in horO: of the Babe Of
Bethlehem.
The birth of Jesus opens up light, and
gladoess and blessings to cheer and bright
en- ever the inmates OF a prison cell. This
ia not surprising when we consider the
wonderful event, and the angelic messen-
gers proclsiming that a Savior was born.
It was a lowiy BIRTH poor Manager re-
ceived the Christ-cIild, thu Lord OF Glory!
His birth is handed down TO uJ as q mirsc-
ulous event-as such predicted, az such
recorded. The Incarnation is the grapdest
truth the world has ever known; the
union of the Divine and human natures in
the one psrson OF the worlds Rsdeemer.
Heaven ard earth are frightened
with its glory; 80 much so, that
this obscure birth has Influenced
all history, sacred and secular, before and
since. The low,y mspg5r has cOmmuui.
Gated a glory 10 all the world. That glory
adorns the universe. 1t is the glory CT the
world that the child Jesus lived in it; Ct
the air, that He breathed it; of the sun,
that it shone on him; Of the earth, that He
walked upon it; Of its fruits, that they
nourishe1 him, and of fallen man, that He
di,d for us.
"And while His birth is presented 10 tie
world rs a wonderful occurrence, it would
be interesting if the opponents Of Chris
tisnity could explain how il charms and
holds the people and nations during ell
these centuries! There is slmething almost
or quite supernatural in the steadfast
unanimity with which the Christian
world, Irrespective of tongue or creed, has
always united in revereOcing aad honoripg
this day. No Divine command or human
enactment constrsins its Observance. 1t is
simply a universal, Spontaneous ontburs.
of gratitude to God that Christ was born.
The hearts of king ald subj Get, of prince
and peasant, of rich and pOo-, Of bond and
free, Of saint and siuner, alike 20 out in
joyous glsdness snd thank giving, az testi.
fled in the r, )icipg cerem)nials aid exult-
ant lsudations with which they glOrifY the
day Of ChIist's nativity. A spD il of love
and tenderness peIvad 8 ell hearts and
opens all bands; peace and good will tri
umphantlY reigu, and heaven. born charity
holds u%ndisputed s~sy.
And We rejoice because he brings TO
the sinful and LoJo wing apower to toothe,
to sustain, 10 deliver and to IeSene.ate.
AS long az men shall feel need Of sympathy
in their sorrow, help in their trials and fer
g~iveness for their sins, this power will
never fail. Aud ifthsre be q cause for ak.
ultstiOn, a motive Of rejoicing to fallen
man, ought it not to be that be is still
dear to his Maker? That Notwithstanding
all he has done to provoke Divine wrath
and make condemnation inevitable, he is
still regarded with urspeakable tenderness
by the Almighty God. And this is what
the lowly mauger and the scene on Ca'va-
~ teaches: Gods love in giving H;s only
Son to pay the penalty due to fall.
en- nan From this grand truth
flows the streams OF Christmas Joy. Ga
this foundation reJts the Christian reli-
gion-a religion born If Faith, nurtured
by Hope, invigoratei by Love-lc oking
for its rewards in 3 world beyond the
grave. We rejoice, too, because this reli-
gion blesses our government ard pervades
the hearts ard minds of many Of our rulers
ard law makers, 40 that our whole nation,
as we'll as the individual man, the family,
sni the social circle, are blessed by the
benificsnt influences which flow from the
msnger Of Bethlehem. And we rejoice
because these influences reach even the in
mates of o prison cell. Brave men and
noble women 20 ont into the dark places Of
the earth to tell the '0ld, old story" ard
its transforming power is seen 10 the sub.
dued hearts and changed lives among the
outcast and fallen.
Truth ard love, peace and good will to
man, will Increase more and more while
the years are going by. the Christian
graces, Faith, Hope and Charity, more
beautiful than the tabled graces OF classic
mythology, are being more firmly grounded
in the hearts Of the people with each re
turn Of this hslloHed anniversary. And
the Christian virtues, more lovely than the
muses.of Grecisn song, will adorn every
heart, and b~eautify every face, and beam
from every eye, where that heart, and face,
and eye finds delight in the Christ child,
that ne was born to redeem and s~anctify
sinful men.
And in this spirit Of Christian love, in
this spirit Of peace and god will to man,
and in the name Of Superintendent Robert
son, who hiss helped and encouraged Us 10
have o joyful day, I welcome you in q
merry, merry Christmas, and bow to one
and ali q cordial greeting.