The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-28


Childhood or Christ,
The childhood and you;h of our
Lori had little meaning tor them. md
1t was manifest IN their own lives
They did not feel the Significance Of
Christ entering into the condition ot
childhood that he might he the chill
drcnS Savior rs well as mans We
look ut Il from a different standpoint
OF biblical truth and come closer to
Christ, and so We NaIuc more all that
relates 10 that marvellous carccr which
began in Bethlehem and was CONSUME
mated on Olivct.
Perhaps u cause for this growing love
for Christmas, IS the plnc" 1t holds in
the heart1 IT our children. Because
II commentaries he,hIrth Of the child
ChriS' o! Bethlehem: Il Is che childrrn'S
special festival. II gains IN our anc.,-
ton because Of child.cH. whose help
leSsncsS appeals IL uur tenderness and
whose natural jOyfnlneSS rrproach"s
our needless gloom and jOylCS5 matur-
it's
love TO dwell upun thc childhood
OF Christ not rs a phase Of III" which
passed away with HIS growth In years.
but as a revelation Of something which
WAS always about Him. He was al
ways ch!ld-likc, ever in His DcrCcC:
manhood. When lie took tn" little
child and set Him IN the mids: Of Ills
disciples, iIc WAS bus illustrating His
own lie, fresh and unSpottCh. The
world could not mar the chiliIshncS7
NO" could It dry up within Him. HIS
love FOR Chilhhond Tic neye- g"cw tn
he sour. St1in AMI int0lcrHnt man: 4
child was child. and It's happiness
was Has and that PERHAPS Is what
draws ~ many liStlc children 20 II tn
Al. happy. indeed. Is he who has never
lost his Childhnod' He can enter into
the life and the jnv ~ The Christmas
festival! without reserve To him tn"
great Christmas Gift nf the Father To
Tcn is always jOyfll thing and such
men have been and always will be- TIM
hcS' s@!uts. wcrShIrpiug AZ the mIu-
ger cradle.
II brinSs joy 10 tho believer that
God is more Ike man. and l:rnycn Ike
the most perfect homc-l!fc on earth.
Christmas helps Us 10 believe thiS.
There Is rest and joy 1t this time Tor
We turn away from the hard grind nc
this weary Wnrk-I-,lay world 10 mIItgle
our worship wIth the Heavenly huSts
and ~ We, Ike the shepherds 81 old.
gather around the mHngcr cradle. we
see Gndhrad and NAN kn., IN an urrN-
0licablc union. Il makes us more ten
der. ~ we stand by the crude ur crib
OF our own Mi" babes and nur hearts
hope foT a lie nf loving usefulness ana
gentle ministratiOn In those whom
God has given us. And together with
lhrnI. We how before the Lord Christ.
believing that IN Him the words ut
the prophets were fulfilled. and a SI-
Won: born. who bears our Sricls and
carries our SORROWS and whose birth
dav H. a note from the depths OF cicr-
nifty. \ note often forgotten fl the din
and discord Of life. yc' none the less
returning year aftc-' year and always
when II docs go lending itS own chatm
to NE. which. without come such ale
VIationS would BE- almost too grim and
dtsheartcairC 10 bear.
At the evening service the FOLLOW
Ing musical programme was carried
out:
Preludr-lntormczEn. .,.... ......... 90. Bach
Carol-iIark. the Herald Angels Sing.
....... ..,...,.. .....-....-.. .......- Warr"u
Hymn -lInrk: Ten Thousand ITarps
and Voices. -....r....s..... liHrw"ll
Antbcm--AnEcls from tic Realms NJ
Glory, ..... ,..,......,. ...,.......W arrCn
flynn M.
BASS SOlp-.TCrusalcm.., ......ParlsCr
Charles EulnuG
POSllUN". ......-..-. ......-..SHhiStldn Each