Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1893-12-22
A CHRISTMAS HoMILY.

IL is ProDnOle that human ears had
never heard song so full of sweet
melody aud so freightcd with posi-
ble good as that sung by the angels
on the first Christmas Eve. Who
can sing sweoter than angels? And
what sentiment surpassos TINT of
GLORY to God" aud "Peace on
Earth!' If mortals could perfectly
weave these sentiments into chnrac
ter, each life would be psalm OF
sweoter music thnn TINT sung by
these angels. This, indee !, is the
meaning of the song, and of the ro
markable child, aud of Christmas.
Where, also, on our green earth, is
there spot more worthy to be the
birthplnce Of such bube than Beth.
lchem in Judea9 This quiet village
hangs upon tho crescent hillside like
birds not among lonves, and the
circling hills form natural cradle,
sheltered from the winds, and focus,
lug the SUMS December rays. On al,
most any winter night you cnn staud
upon their oriental honsetops aud
soc the moonlight flooding this cru.
dlo valley with its silvory halo, and
watch the shepherds now, as of old,
tending their tlocks of sheep and
goats, and, 20 real is tho scene, that
you can almost hear again tho angel
song, and fancy that hopo is dawn
lLg anew on n weary world as tho
morning dawn rises over tho NIoab
uplands eastward. The setting cf
these sacred hills is not unworthy of
tile jewel it bore.
Now, for eighteen centuries, once
n yenr, ut least, men have turned
heir thoughts toward tho sacred vii
lage, the sun and tho mangor, and,
like tho wise men of the Eust, have
laid their gifts and homage at tho
feet OF this newborn bnbc.
Christmas dny is tho best of NIL
our holidays. There is more mean
ing in it than i'll any other we cello
orate. 1t is cheoriest and has tho
most reason TO be so. 1t is by ON
phasiR Il dny of The heart and of the
home. Motherhood and bubehood.
aud home and hope, are it's touches
OF nature that mnkcs the whole world
KIN. What is holicr than mother.
hoodt 1t subdues the wurring r,re
OF mnn into brotherhood by its ten.
der memories of years long gone and
It's tender ministcring of years now
present And what il sweeter than
babehood T? Artists have paimted this
Christ babe ns the perfection of MI
babe lovrliness. Tho babe OF the Sis.
llno Madonna Expresses our thought
Of what the Babo of Bethlehem wns,
and who does not love bnbe9 With
II babe md mother wo havo homo
and childhood Nazareth, like Beth.
lehem, il garden among tho hills,
aud hnre wns the homo and child
hood of Christ. Here, yet, Mnry's
fountmn flows from tho rock md ihc
women water carriers, erect und in
single file, bear tho graceful wnter
jars upon their shoulders. The stone
dwellings and simple furniture nro as
of old
1t was in II manger Mt birth md
humble dwelling through childhood
That tho divine chunan babe was in
trodnced to life that hns brought
hope md cheer to multi,udes.
Thus Christmas speaks to man
through soma of the dearest relation
ships he susiain-. and the words il
speaks are that all men should live
for the glory of God and for peace
among men.
Christmas is well celebrated in
song, after the example of tho first
oelenration Music is tho language
of joy. Heart joy speaks in The soft
murlmuring music of the soul when
no ear is present.; homo Joy finds ex
preston IN the chorus of p,ingled
voices around the henrthstone; M.
tion's joy breaks forth in murtinl
hymns or peans Of liberty; universal
| JOY demands angelic hnrmonics.
Oaco the sturs sang together for Joy
and the trees of tho fields clnppell
their hands, aud once angelic mes
scngers sang Il Christmas anthem Of
universal peace
Christmas is well celebrated with
gifts When Heaven gives 40 royal.
~ to men, mon may well give TO eucll
ether. How rich in self forgeifnl-
ness, and how beautiful in sci vice
was that lifo which Christmas cele.
brates. Santn Clans with his loudcd
pack has stood the criticism of the
years largely because of tho spirit oi
giving which no reprosents-Cluisi
nias gifts and Christmas songs.
GILBERT FREDERIrR.
ANOTHER ONE