The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-12-24

the tidngs; the Christ day, heraded by the
entire angelic choir and sgnalized by the
bethlehem star that guided the wise men to
the place where the Infant lay. Day of
memories of bright days in the sunshine OF
unclouded youth, when the plastic heart was
.Inolded to enduring affection because OF the
thoughtful love of the loved. Day of home
gathering. of unselfsh regard for others, of
yprcsent-laden trees of well-filed stockings,
sof tables groaning beneath their burdens of
toothsome edibles, of tender expressions,
OF song and laughter and mirth and inno-
.cent games. Where in all the world may
there be found such another anniversary,
one so laden with the fragrance of love, or
$50 Astounding in thought that ennobes?
Here we have Christ-child in the stable
at Bethlehem, a scene that appeals to the
sympathy and regard of the young; and the
mother holding the Babe to her nurturing
breast, warming beart-touch to every
mother loved the world over; and the angel
promise: HE shall save His people from
their SINS" thought that lifts the soul to
the heights of the Infinite.
What care we whether lie came in the
day named and commemorated by the
church, when the air OF Judah was chilled
10y the snowy breaths of Hermon; or in the
sspringtime, as many teach, when the birds
at,ilied heavenly music and the valleys were
Gecked with myriad flowers, whose perfumes
were as incense from the upper temple of
'Hody The Christ-work is universal and the
u hrst-day belongs to all the people OF the
whole world Here the Christmas day
~tawns upon scenes of ice and snow; there
Npon wealth of tropical foliage, but every
where it is a day of heart warming, and gift
bearing, and glad carols of praise for Him
-who first opened His eyes in a manger and
whose love has given new name and
lcftier purpose to advancing civilization.
The time of the event counts as nothing be-
fore the majesty OF the glory OF the event
itself
Bethlehem was an insignificant village
-clinging to the outer skirt of majestic Jeru-
salem; yet greatest of all the cities of the
world did it become in that it was the birth
place Of the Christ. Here the King of Kings
appeared in the helpessness of initial infan-
ICY, watched and nursed, as other helpless
children of all ages by His youthful and
sadoring mother, honored above all women
who have lived or who shall live. Joseph
eand Mary had their home in wretched
village of despised Galilee; yet the name of
Nazareth shines as the brightness Of the
stars and shall be as enduring as the .irma-
sment.
Christmas day, the first Christmas. was
the beginning of promise old as the fall
,of man. the Christmas Of to-day shows the
fu6llment in large degree of the prophetic
assurance of mans redemption. The light
Of the Star of Jacob has spread until it's
rays have reached the darkest corners Of the
earth, and where they have penetrated they
have blessed always. Christ in the heart,
1T hrist in the life, Christ in the home, Christ
in the world that is to be; such the influence
4ot Him whom the Magi worshiped in the
manger and of whom the angels sang in their
song to the shepherds on the plains.
Gladdest of the festal days, indssolubly
linked with Good Friday and Resurrection
'day and Ascension, it is an ever-present les
son of the sureness of all the promises of
Cod. As the first Christmas day told of
the hope of Israel, so each succeeding one
declared the development of the Cod
sthought in the incarnate God, until the eli.
max of Divine goodness was reached on Cal
vary. And afterward, as the Gospel spread
over the earth. its peaceful fruits, the de-
'velopment of the Christ spirit in man, fore
Swallowed and do foreshadow in steadily in
creasing strength and beauty the final cul-
mination when the Babe of Bethlehem shall
be in all and all in all among the children
nof men. Then shall every day be full of the
egladness that makes Christmas day the
brightest, cheeriest and happest of all the
sdays of the year.
WILLIAM ROssER CoBBE.