Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-25

every nation. kindred, and tongue in
which the Carpenter Of Nazareth Is held
| In reverence deyoutly and gladly unite;
In the onward sweep of time destined 70
| bring in the age OF universal peace. tho
| impulses and aspirations which centre IN
| festal season are assuredly the foremost
| forces. IL IL a happy and q beautiful omen
| FOR the race that as each year wanes TO its
close the twin sisters OF cheerfulness anu
charity. bursting forthin n thousand forms
| OF expression, should spread their divine
wings over an eyer-broadenlng area OF
human hearts and homes. IL should De
remembered first of oil that Christmas
time is the accepted season 10 diaw near
to the one whose birth IL commemorates.
Athwart the narrowing horizon OF time
He stands the sublime ana benehcent
ideal of that for which humanity - ever
striving. more instinct with life, more DO
tent for good, that when IN person ms
dear feet trod the shores OF Galilee where
he Taught and prayed and assembled dome
crowned Calvary. where he died so many
centuries ago.
How sweet and moving 1t all seems
Some travellers following star from atar
a group Of shepherds 10 field listening 10
the glad chant of a celestial chorus; a oabe
with manger for its cradle; little boy IN
a spacious temple, seated em0Dg oevout
and learned men, grave ana SANITY
fgure walking upon waters, stllllng me
tempest with his voice, the same raising
the widows son TO life; the same restoring
sight TO the blind. hearing to the deaf.
speech TO the dumb. hope to those III de-
SPAR: the same dying upon the cross, cry
ING in ms awful agony. while dark shadows
gather about HIM, and the eartn rocks,
" Father, forgive them, for theg know not
what they do"
All these things should be cherished in
our hearts Oh this Chris mas morning, ana
as we celebrate Chrlst's glorious advent
upon earth, His tender lnjunctlOns to re-
member the poor should not DC forgotten.
To be obeyed at all time. this command
ment appeals TO us with special force al
Christmas time. In no way can we mike
brighter and better our own Christnas-Day
than by sharing with those less fortunate
the good Things which We enjoy, by
making light their burden and happier
their lot. This seems to me the most beau
full and not the least important OF the les
sons which Christmas teaches.
LYMAN ABBOTT.
Rev. Thomas Dixon, DR., OH the Lesson
Christmas Teaches.
The supreme thought of the Christmas
days is sacrificing love. Ihey. are the
worlds gift-days. Herein lies their true
meaning. Man does well TO crown them
Win lOVe ana Joy.
10 is the anniversary of Gods wondrous
gift. God so loved the world that He gave
His onlv-begotten son. The true celebra-
ton of Christmas is to follow thus the
heart of God. We should spend and be
spent. We should give. What day In
the history of humanity when IN the
manger at Bethlehem there was given
70 the race that peasant babe most
humble cradle A parentage poor ana
4 4. T., 90 l.ot
reset the calendar of time. And The earth
is his inheritance
| do not marvel that Julius Caesar. the
foremost man of all the world. could make
a calendar for the world. But do not
understand. from the human point OF
view, how peasant babe born in manger
in Judea could undo the work OF the
Caesars and write anew the history OF the
race. He sat on no throne. lie welded
no sceptre He commanded no army. lie
wrote no book. he had no great man
hood, the death of felon. amid the
jeers of a rnbble, cruciied between two
thieves. And yet, miracle Of the ages, lie
rules the world Since that day the his
tory of civilization has become the history
of Christianity. Kings baplze their
princes IN HIS name and count It honor To
be called His followers. His word OF
brotherhood anu IalutIuONh uAi 'Ao"' A"'
been the power that has lifted the masses
of humanity until the common people
wear the crown of royalty. and tyrannilcs
crumble at the to1ch of His free spirit. Ho
lived in a world of slaves. and dying,
pointed them the way of life and freedom.
Henceforth the way of progress IS the
way of Calvary. He who would live must
die. He who would get must give. lie
who seeks self destroys self.
Man is rich in proportion as he gives.
The dlvinest things IN nature are those
which give the most. the sunset, the flower,
the sons-bird, the diamond.
Sunset is the smile of the dying day
pouring out to the uttermost its gift OF
light.
The diamond gives back all thesunshine
1t drinks.
The flower expires in an agony of loving
sacrifice pouring out its breath IN sweet
incense on the altar Of life.
The hooking bird IN his matchless love-
song drops from bough to bough until, as
field and forest ring with afoOd OF echoing
MELODY. he hutters to the ground ex-
hausted.
Christmas-days are glft-days. To give Is