The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-12-31
For THE RECORD.
CHURCH NOTES.

1.-THE first part of the following, was in.
tended for last weeks issue, but reached
us too late for insertion. 1t will be found
of interest, although little behind time.
Ed
8. December % ''Satnt Nicholas. . OF
''Santa Claus, or however else the merry
hearted fellow be called, will always have
charm for children. His reindeer, sleigh,
Arctic furs, and Overlooking pack of toys
and other presents, make a familiar pic
ture, everywhere, in books, in shop-win-
dows and in the stimulated Imagination of
the little people.
Whether be be dreamed of as coming
down the chimney, or be seen, in proper
person, presiding at the Christmas-tree,
the bright eyes and warm heart of child
hood claim him as tried and true friend.
But as ''the time draws near the birth
of Christ there are holier and more
tender feelings stirred. The children of
older growth know who is the true Kriss
Rrfngle (Which is but the Dutch for
Christ Child And it is no serious loss
when the infantile illusion of the kind
hearted old Norwegian is merged into the
clear understanding that all the kindliness
and bountifulness of the season has its
origin 10 the Birth of the Holy Child of
Nazareth.
still linger-even for years--like many an
other myth, in the fancy, while the his
torc fact is being firmly rooted in the
faith and affection Let them still clap
their hands with childish glee. at sight OF
fruitful tree in the parlor or Stuffed stock
ing, hanging by the nursery Fireplace.
But the deeper delight will take root in
the heart, and strengthen with advancing
years, never to die out or grow dim UNI
less blightcd by sin and seishness.
sRejoice, our Saviour, He was born,
on Christmas-day in the morning."
And the more the heart ponders the Won
drous truth, how God thus came TO dwell
among us, Emmanuel, the more it sees
that goodwill and peace, friendliness and
generosity mast follow the belief of that
truth ''If God so loved us, we ought to
love one another. The greetings and
gifts and sober merriment, follow, as of
course. Aud the gradual extension of the
sense of the universal brotherhood of man,
and consequent ending of wars between
ly, If slowly, tending -follows of necessi-
ty The Christmas lesson is the only
philosophy that can make peace on earth !;
and IL is making IL, as a comparison of
this with any past age of history plainly
shows.
o. December 26. ST Stephen, the first
Christian martyr, has been thought most
worthy, by the Christian Church, to have
place next to the Lord Himself, in the
yearly commemoration. And we need
not look far for a good reason In bis
martyrdom he gave evidence at the true
Chrst-like spirit of which we have spoken
filed his soul While the Infatuated mob
hurled stones upon his head, he kneeled
down and offered the prayer that brings
at once TO mind Christ's, as they nailed
Him to the cross-the prayer of forgive
ness, love and goodwill even for enemies:
lord lay not this sin to their charge"
December 81. st. John the Evan
gelist martyr in will but moi in deed,
whose common designation is the Be
loved Disciple, and the Apostle of Love,
next follows in the train: while the last
of these three bright days after Christmas
is appropriated to the Innoeents, the
children OF two years old aud under,
whom Herods sword slew, when he
sought the life of the Young Child, Jesus.
They were unconscious martyrs, real wit
nesses for the Newborn King, and the
earliest Of all the sons of men gathered
into that Paradise of God, to a en- which
the Son If God was manifesto
In this cluster of Saints, The Church
presents three fold typ Of Christian
character, lights around the True Light
that, coming into the world, eulghtens all.
I" As rays around the source of light
Stream upward ere be glow In sight
And watching by his future flight
Set the clear heavens on fire.
So ON the King of martyrs walt
Three chosen bands, in royal state,
And al earth owns, of good and great
Is gatherd in that choir"