Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-28
A Christmas Sermon and Its
Lessons.
A City Official Who Presides at
Bull Fights.
A Point Based On o Drunken En-
ployee of the School Board.
The Importance of the Christmas Mes
sage-Its Effects Upon the World.
Services at Other
Places.

the IOflOWlux SSTuou dJ tnc lhliu Sch-
gregational church. 1t contains much
that is worthy OF consideration.
Text: And the angel said unto them: "Fear
not; for, behold l bring you good tidings OF
>,
In order that we may fully understand
the import ance of this text, it is neces
sary that we should refresh our memo
ries as to the condition of the then
known world. 1t was anything but
"peace on earth and good will toward
men," The Roman empire was enjoy
ing victory over all her foes; even the
Jews were subject to her. But they
were looking for the coming of some one
who should deliver them from what
seemed almost slavery. Their condition
was not one of satisfaction or content
ment when the message of this text was
heralded to them.
In considering this text wish to treat
it as message, and to ask few ques-
tions concerning it.
First-From whom did this message
come? The source OF message often
gives it peculiar importance. When
the president OF the United States issues
message all the intelligent world drops
everything else and turns its attention
to it until it has been duly discussed
and properly considered even in the
minutest detail. at once such mes
sage becomes of vast Importance, some
times not so much because Of what it
contains as because OF its source. He
who stands at the head of our nation
speaks in the message and all the world
listens. May we not with glad and
prayerful hearts listen to the message In
which our Heavenly Father speaks to
the world?
Ofttimes the peculiar characteristics
of the author of a message are stamped
upon the face OF it. In recent maga-
zine article upon GermaDy's young en-
peror, the author embodied a tele-
graphic message written by the young
ruler in which is set forth the we'll
known traits of character possessed by
William II. "God is love-" and in this
Christmas message every word is filled
to overhowing with this beautiful trait
OF character SO wonderfully displayed at
all times, and under all circumstances
by our Heavenly Father. His love,
mercy, forbearance and earnest desire
to save all men are indelibly stamped
upon the very face of this glad message.
Do we not feel like saying of it's author:
sit is God. His love looks mighty,
But is mighler than il seems
'Tis our Faith T, aud His fondness
Goes far out beyond our dreams"
Secondly whom was this message
brought? 'And the angel said unto
them" 1t has always been true that
messages containing news OF peculiar
importance were entrusted to corre-
spondingly important messengers; and
the same kind of messengers may carry
messages of entirely different character; /;
as, in contrast with this text, it was an
angel who was sent with the message OF
death when David transgressed by num-
bering the people. In this instance
death was spread abroad as the result of
the angelic messengers visit. In days
of old God used men to carry messages
of varied Importance to the people, AS
may be seen IN the account of Noah's
preparation for the flood, or in the send
ing of Jonah to Nnevah to "cry out
against" it for its wickedness. Some
times peculiar looking persons were used
to convey His messages. Like Isaiah,
who, in the loneliness of the field, re-
ceived his inspiration and then went
forth into the busy haunta of men and
declared the whole counsel of God. But
upon this occasion the message was not
to be entrusted to man. Its importance
era in the history Of the world, and
must be heralded forth by one of Gods
special messengers. The messenger has
discharged his obligation, The world
has receipted for the message by appro-
pri2ting TO it's own use the contents, as
we will shortly see, and now the respon
ability rests upon US.
Third-To whom was the message
cent which shall be to all people,?
Men may try to build barriers which
will shut out those Of different color,
nationality or social standing; but this
wonderful message, sent out by the
omnipotent God. has no such barriers.
The ''great Joy" contained in these
4'glad tidngs" may be claimed by us
all. Capitalists may secure corners"
in marketable goods, they may control
stock and buy up corporations at will,
they may grind the laborer and rob his
family by overworking and underpaying
him. but these "good tidings of great
joy' can never be controlled. What
this message contains is as free to us as
is the sunlight in cloudless day.
There are none so poor, none so sinful
and none so despised but that this mes
sage may be realized by them.
Four;h-What about the contents of
tulH ultB6hE6 DOulCblbCb VIC iCeth
messages which contain sad news, and
as we read them, or listen to them read,
we picture lives filled with disappoint-
ment, hearts crushed beneath great bur-
dens of woe, and homes where nothing
but tears and gro'ns OF sorrow seem to
be in keeping. Yea, sometimes they
leave upon our minds pictures of towns,
cities, states and even nations in the
wake Of some terriby!destructive power.
But the message contained in our text
this morning is void Of any such sugges-
tion. On the other had it is filled with
that which brightens life, and gladdens
the heart wherever it touches. Nearly
two thousand years have proven that in
this message there is a power which
lifts the fallen when all other powers
have failed. The drunkard has found it
able to conquer his appetite; the thief
has found it able to work complete re-
formation in his life, the harlot has
found in it an open door to
mercy and forgiveness when all
earthly doors were closed against her,
and the heathen, sitting in dense dark
ness, has found it a lamp to his feet, by
the light of which he could find that
true God after whom all hearts crave.
Sin bruised and weary-hearted humani-
ty has found in this message precious
balm for all it's woes, a gracious remedy
for all it's ills. No soul has ever gone go
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