The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1897-12-24
CHRISTMAS.

story OF betnIenem VIII nave been re-
peated throughout the world, around
the firesIdes of prince and peasant, OF
rich and po)r, OF lofty and lowly,
awakening tender memories OF the
past, opening bright vistas for the
future, reuniting, il but for a day,
the wanderers from the parents fold,
cOndoning offences, repairing wrongs,
healing feuds, s~oftening the proud,
~exalting the humble, blessing alike
the weakness OF age, the vigor OF ma
turity, the ardor of youth, the rest
less spirit of childhood, and the happy
innocence of prattling infancy. In
cathedral nave and modest village
church, In the rude chapel OF the
missionary In far off heather lands,
at sea, on board the wave-tosSed ship,
throughout creation, wherever shines
the faintest glimmer Of the light of
faith, will be heard the hcaven-taught
anthem, "Glory be to God In the high
est. sung in grateful commemoration
Of the Savior's nativity.
The soul-lnspiring story Of Bethle-
hem OF undying interest when the
rugged, but Supplemented shepherds,
wearing the undressed loeces of their
tlocks, and keeping vigilant watch in
the frosty air Of a December night on
the hillsidcs Of Judea, heard, at first,
with fear soon turned to glandess, the
angelic chant Of the heavenly messen-
gers bringing good tidings of great
JOY" to the lowly and oppressed, to
those who suffered and sorrOwed, to
those who yearned for light, while
cropping in the darkness of despair,
when leaving their hocks, and follow
ing, with simple faith and quickened
pace, the star whose pre-eminent
brightness served to guide them on
their way, until at last, these hardy
mountaineers knelt, in joyful adora-
ton, before the mangcr where lay the
Divine Babe, concealing under the
form of helpless infancy, the majesty
and Omnlpotcnce Of Jehovah, drawing
his first human breath among the
humble beasts OF the stable, and be-
ginning His earthly career with the
simplest and least possible mlnistra-
tions consistent with life. The first
act, in the sublime drama of redemp.
ton, was begun. The mystery of the
Incarnation Was accomplished. "The
word was made flesh and dwelt among
u.s."
The birth of Christ marks the dawn
of a new era in the history of the
world, at a time when earthly gran
deur had reached the summit Of pos
sibility, when a single power, Impe-
rial Rome, held unlimited sway over
land and sea. 1t seemed as if Provi-
dcnce had specially designed to bring
to its highest p%Oint-the highest it
has ever attained-the development
OF earthly greatness in order to rem
der more striking the contrast be-
tween the two extremes of human
rank and power. On the one hand,
Caesar, sovereign lord Of the universe,
the mightiest potentate of his own,
or any age, before or after; on the 9th.
err, a child, born in abject poverty and
of humble %parentage, untitled, un.
heralded and unknown, save to the
chosen few, who, through divine ap'
pointment, understood and followed
the light which fell from the Star OF
Bethlehem. In this contrast lay the
beginning OF the conflict between
error and truth, between body anG
spirit, between vice and virtue, be
tween the law Of the world and the
law of %heaven-a conflict which was
to last till the end Of time.
l~nfdelity, which at Its best, is but 6
negation, without even the germ o
hope or promise, may sneer at faitl
holding as true and clingihg with ten
der love and v%eneration to the hal
lowed events that mark the road from
Bethlehem to Cavalry, but inldelity
with all its improved assumption
must, perforce, admit not only thu
beneficial impress left by these events
upon humanity, but also the tremen
dOus and irresistible influence the,
have exerted-and continue to exert
upon human thought and action
which have progressed, stood still OF
retrograded, in proportion as the,
have been governed by the principle.
OF the new dispensation. Christianit,
as humanity helpless at its birth as tn,
Infant in the manger, and yet trl
umphant In spite OF the most vigor
Gus opposition, the most RELENTLESS
persecution Of the combined force
of the world, vindicates itself, its di
vine Founder and its divine origil
and mission.
f~. a.. A. $500. --