The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-26
! CHRISTMAS SERMON
Behold, I Bring You Glad It'd
ings of Great JOY"
AN ELOQUENT ADDRESS
Rev. A. L-Goodfriend at the Emmanuel
Baptist Church-The Love OF Child
rem the Greatest Blessing
Heaven Can Bestow.

One of the best OF the many Christ
mas sermons delivered in Butte yester-
day was by Rev. A. /. Goodfriend at
the Emmanuel Baptist church. His tex;
was Behold. ] bring you glad tidlngs
OF great Joy" The speaker said:
From millions in both ~hemispheres OF
our globe the voice OF Thanksgiving Is
lifted up to the God Of heaven. The APP
preparation of this day as a festival is
not only appropriate. but natural.
Let US imagine ourselves living at
the time OF Christ. in company of the
shepherds who first heard the glad it'd
ings from the heavenly choir. As the
shades of night are falling the shep-
herds gather from the surrounding hills
for their usua evening chat. The topic
for discussion is undoubtedly the cele-
bration of the coming holiday. and pos
silbly the appearance Of the coming de-
~liverer. as outlined in prophecy. Sud
denly a light shines around about them.
Startled, they rise to their feet, ani,
gazing upward, surrounded with celes-
tial light n splendor. they behold Ga
briel. who makes the divine announce
ment. The air is filled with harps and
heavenly harpists. IL seemed as though
M a ttAiit uoNh W ANNOUNCE
the glad tidings. For unto you is born
This day in the city of David a Savior.
which is Christ the Lord and while
they still listened with wrapt attention,
behold another choir chanted in notes
OF sweetest harmony, Glory to God In
the highest; and on earth, peace and
good will toward men,
Let us rejoice that Jesus was born
in a mange and in extreme poverty.
The hunhla hirth of IaG1a gives Rnlrap Va
and hope to the toiling millions. Had
he been born under regal roof and his
birth celebrated by millions on earth.
then His greatness would have been at
tributed to His circumstances. But the
manger shows that the poorest OF the
poor may be honored Of God and rise
to highest eminence even I'm the worlds
estimate of greatness. Men nay look
on the treasures of the world. on rich
tapestries. on magniicence and loaded
tables: God looks on famished child
hood, on earthen hoors and for treasures
to the possibility of the heart.
With the advent of Christ came also
a new revelation of the soul. The soul
Is of one essence. one life with God.
This gives the loftiest view Of the ma
ture OF man. Mar has a kindred nature
with God. The idea OF God IL born in
us and God becomes a real being TO us
I'm proportion as we develop into His
likeness.
with the advent OF Christ came n
new era for childhood. In the Christian
home the child r. dedicated to God. This
does not necessarily mean that the child
should be educated for the ministry; IL
means that God has a claim upon its
heart and life. What a contrast between
Herod's idea OF childhood and Christ's.
Herod said. Destroy Christ said. 'Suf-
fer little children to come unto me. for
of such is the kingdom OF heaven
I'm a Christian civilization the child
should receive the greatest protection.
the best training for its immortal ca
pacities. No treasure can be too great
TO be expended for it's welfare, its in
tellectual and spiritual culture.
Our civilization will improve more
with the right education of the children
h with any other agency. Let US
give to u children. first of all, love
at home. The home may be very hum
BILE. very obscure. but II we impart love
to childhood we impart the greatest
blessing that heaven can bestow. Let
us help TO build the human soul into a
temple where God may love TO dwell
and lavish His choicest treasures"