Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-01-02
WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS.

Christmas stands for Christian senti-
ment; not necessarily theological. or
even religious in the churchly sense. but
for sentiment pervaded by the Christ
like spirit. 1t means the opposite of ma
teriaiism. 1t means the mind is more
than matter, the soul than the body. 1t
suggests love. hope. faith friendship.
charity. forgiveness. JOY and gladness-
glad tidings of great joy. There is a
cynicism which affects TO sneer at senti.
ment and to call it " sentimentalism, -
which it no more resembles than brass
resembles gold or paste resembles dia-
monds. The teaching of Christmas day
is the sentiment of sense. What would
this world be without enthusiasm with
out heroism, without veneration? All
that makes man better than brute is
sentiment. The head without the heart
is like what the sun would be if it gave
light but no heat. If this world were IL
lumined by such a solar orb ours would
be q dead world. If life were bereft of
love life would not be worth living. On
this natal day of JESUS the Christ let Us
remember at least this much of his teach
ing-that men cannot live by bread
alone.
Christmas stands for the unity of hui
mauitv. This festival is not national .
but international not sectional. but uni
versal. We have but just celebrated
" Forefathers' day." That was for de
scendants of Pilgrims and Puritans. A
little while ago we observed Thanksgiv-
ing day. That was for Americans. Not
IA great while ago millions of people
made merry and were glad on the
Queen S birthday. That was for Bfitons.
R,f fhrI. do -
Sometimes we sing Hail, Columbia.
Would We sing it oftener. But that is IA
national hymn for the New World
Frenchmen sing The Marseillaise.
Germans sing their song of the Father
land. But the song that the angels sang
over Bethlehem 5 plains by Light was Of!
the great jpy that shall be into all peo-
ple.n Christmas stands for the father
hood of God and the brotherhood of
man. 1t is prophetic of peace on
earth. " and though the prophecy seems
vet far from fuliiilment the dawn OF
each Christmas morning brings nearer
the glorious day when the nations shall
learn war no more. We shall not keep
rightly this happy festival that has come
round once more with the revolving
year unless we in our hearts say
Amen = to the prayer of him Whose
birth we commemorate. that all who
name his name may be one
Christmas represents the sacredness of
simplicity. We need to be reminded
that after all. the best things in this
world are not dependent upon riches, or
splendor, or fame. or place and power.
JESUS was born in a Manager. There
was no room for him at the inn. he
was a Nazarene. Can any good thin Q
come out of Nazareth 7" contemptuous
ly queried the proud leaders of fashion.
the social and ecclesiastical 400 of old
Jeruselum. He was despised and re-
jected by men, What year is this
Why. 1891, to be sure. For " hat do
these figures stand Certes, they stand
for all the years that have passed since
that Christmas day when the child IF
JOSEPH and MARY was wrapped in swad-
ding clothes by humble parents who bad
come to the city OF DAVID in obedience
to the decree of CESAR AUGUSTUS. that
all the world should be taxed Think
what it means Laws. births. deaths.
marriages. kingly coronations. procla-
nations of war aud peace, all reckon.
ingg of time IN the civilized world. are
dated and recorded by a calendar that is
based on the lowly birth as il il were.
rs indeed it was. the central event in
human history. Truly. it proves how
well he spake who said the last shall
be first aud the first shall be last"
Christmas day stands for the blessed
ness of giving. What means last even
ing 5 Christmas trees adened with such
sweet. ripe fruit as no other trees have
borne in all this year Of plenty ? Whal
mean the stockings that were found this
morning hanging bv 10 600 600 chimney