The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-12-20
THE CHRIST IDEA.
The Thought and the spirit That Give
Sweetness 10 the Day,

No uay IN all inc cHanRIbS ye
brings SO much Of precious memo
and yet more precious promise rs tn
which commentaries the advent
Him who brought the glad tidings
salvation, above whose lowly cradle
Bethlehem OF Judea the morning sta
sang together, and at whose feet Il
wise men of the East knelt in adori
ton. Wherever in the world the ligf
of Christian civilization has broke
through the msts OF superstition an
men have learned the lessons taugt
by the lowly Nazarene, the Christina
anniversary ia celebrated in song an
ceremony.
Whether or not the day UNIVERSAL
accepted as the anniversary OF hi
BIRTH marks in reality his advent upo
earth, is Of little moment. 1t is tn
Christ idea that brings JOY to tn
sorrowing, comfort to the weary heart
ed, and hope to the despairing. 1
is the Christmas anniversary alone
all the days in the calendar OF year
that typifies the fatherhood of Coo
and the brotherhood Of man, the on,
day in which the men OF all the differ
ing creeds and sects in Christendou
unite in common worship and are
united in common faith.
The origin Of the Christmas anniver
sary is lost in the myths and tradition
of the past and many of the Christmas
customs have been borrowed from
other forms Of worship. The mysteries
of the birth. the life, and death Of itf
founder are beyond our infinite compre-
hension. OF the faith he came to es-
tablish, the doctrines he taught, aud
even the words he spake, men have
disputed and dispute to-day, in his
name deeds of infinite cruelty have
been wrought. and for his sake wars
have been waged and his children
driven to the dungeon and the stake.
The spot where he was born, the places
were he taught and walked his blessed
way on earth. the scene of his earthly
sorrow and suffering, and the sacred
mound whereon he gave his life for the
redemption of a world, are in posses
sion of those whom we call intidels.
Bethlemhem, Jerusalem, Gethsemane
and Calvary are guarded by those
who worhsip at other shrines than
those Of Christian faith. But year by
year the truths he taught have spread
among the nations Of the earth and
his law of love and sacrifice has touch
ed the hearts and ennobled the lives Of
countless millions of his children.
Without the recog ALTON of this deeper
of the Christmas anniversary
it's celebration is but sounding brass
and tinkling cymbal. Nor stately
ceremony, nor chords of grandest bar
nony. nor Christmas tree, nor Christ
mas gifts are worthy to commemorate
lis life and wondrous deeds if they are
lot children of the Christmas spirit.
Apart from its sacred associations,
t is good and blessed thing that one
Il the divisions of time that we cal
lays is set apart for loving words and
leeds of generous Kindness, day
wherein the sorrows and trials of life !
re forgotten and its shadows flee |
way, when memory dwells upon the '
unshine and men are moved to
thoughts and deeds OF charity. when
he dwellers ins all Chritendom are
nited by the bond of brotherhood and
ach link thinks lovingly of all his
elbow travellers up on the highways of
ife or along the dark and toisone
aths that lead to the darkness of the
avn Of death.
Christmas is essentially home day.
is not in the pomp and splendor of
athedral worship nor yet in simpler
,rms of alteration that the true
christmas spirit finds its best expires
on. The lowliest home where virtue
wells and love is mistress. where
mple gifts Of love commemorate the
chest gift of God TO man, bears trib
te to his memory, and eSemplifies his
fe.
1t is the children's day There is
, sweeter music on this earth than +,
e laughter of child, and Christmas
the day Of childhood's mirth and
lighter. And it is because the low
est child that is or was or ere shall
, is paitaker of his love and mercy !
at gives to Christmas day its sweeter c
Gaming. D.!
And above all. it is the day of good
ii when all who dwell in Christian I
nds, of differing creeds and differing s
eech, turn to the little child of v
for present comfort and for !
ture hope. .