Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-01-05
COLUMN.
EDITED BY JoNESBoRo w. C. T. U.
TIE CHRISTMAS DAY, AND MORE CHRIST
DAYS DEMANDED.

TIE CHRISTMAS DAY, AND MORE CHRIST
DAYS DEMANDED.
The poetry of the gospel is in the
Christmas tide.
Ring, happy bells, across the snow"
is the music OF millions of hearts at
this time, emancipated by-they know
not what. And yet they are enamel
pated.
IT'S a barren heart indeed that does
not bud with some little blossom of
tenderness, good will and congenial
feeling at this season. Seldom is
Christendom stirred by so universal
and potent on impulse as now. The
season is biimful of quivering expec-
t%ations, earnest longings TO give, and a
nameless delight in the world wide fra
ternity that is felt.
IT'S a season of wonderful ideality.
1t becomes legitimate to talk of angel
songs, spirital visitants, fairies, fancies
and fantasies Agnosticism yields its
doubts, rationalism its arguments, and
criticism its facts, while the airy mes
sengels troop by, the bells ring merri-
ly, little children dance, the stars gilt
Ter, the people shop, and the old story
of Santa Claus is repeated in millions
of homes.
Something has happened. Noday of
all the great or gala can approximate
10 this. Humanity is built up end
built over, the whole world is kin once
more, and owns it. Its the birthday
of the King - childhood ascends the
throne and holds first place. Churches
are festooned, affairs wreatbed, homes
decorated and lighted, business suspen-
ded, general vacation declared good
wishes, congratulations and substan-
tial tokens pass from hand 10 hand, and
a million voices sing the prayer
Ring out the darkness of The land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be-"
The season makes us ideally young
again. The man or heart re
news itself, and times cleaning shut,
tie flies through the warp and wool OF
memories half held, eliminating all
the retrospect until eyes are dim with
the mist which, to hide away, we turn
again to the hard facts of the present.
John, the beloved disciple, tells us
land we know that the Son of God is
Gomez We know it at Christmas tide,
or we are more sensible of it then than
ever.
Allowing all, for what of pagan rite
or mystery, German love of festival
OIL English love of home, may naturally
blend IN the event, there is a large
something to be accounted for-this
universal surrender of the worlds
heart to the day is not all explained.
We think out from the center of the
one Christ day, and are led to ask of
others-it is the transcendent and par
amount fact in the history of the Cos
pei, that, to a great many hearts on this
sad earth, every day is veritably a
Christ day. Because of these hearts,
loving stronger than death, firm, stead
fast and aggressive in their loyalty to
the King, the gospel has been moving,
like an evangel of light around this
world. They who have borne His spirit
of Joy and peace, suffering sorrow, and
yet good will, have gone tenderly forth
and have sowed by the side of all wa
tiers. For his dear sake they have been
erecting hospitals, asylums and schools:
charging charities, building temples
and churches, and scattering the seeds
of truth everywhere. Even now, they
project the life and hope of a better
civilization into the darkest corners of
the earth.
Only of late, some of them have
tainted, and yielded their last breath
beneath The Himalayas, where, in the
sweet passion of His love they had gone
to offer the bread of two worlds, to teach
salvation, instruct the ignorant, and
gather the dark faces of heather wo-
men within bands of ribbon white. "
Throughout the world the followers
of Christ are laboring in sorrow and
tears to initiate the Savior's miracle of
love, in feeding the multitude, which
is very great. In the Dark Continent
are men and women entering into the
labors of the first explorer, who have
given themselves to Africa for the sake
of the Christ who gave himself for all
the world.
If the world could hold close to its
heart the love of this kingly Christ
through all the days as upon this Crist-
mas day, it would be next to impossi-
BILE for us to be mean, selfish, or to feel
the narrowing lust of gold" as now.
The great truth of this incarnate love
to us would become an expanding force
in our lives, forcing us to larger and
loftier views of the worlds brother
hood continually.
If Christ so loved u.s." then indeed
we become debtors to all men" in
turn, and would naturally desire each
day a Christmas day for the payment
of our debt. 1t is the marvel Of all
thought that we who believe and re-
joice in our King can not afford him
more days nay, indeed, all the days,
since He has thus humbled himself to
be our Savior.
- l..L 49, GL.:L.s...:lI - L.