The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-12-16
Christmas.

HNA1 OF angel song and angel glad
ness, day of peace to men who
are inclined to peace, dag of redemption
for those who accept the tidings; the
Christ day, heralded by the entire
agelic choir and signalized 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 uncIOuded youth, when the
plastic heart was nodded to enduring
affection because of the thoughtful love
Of the loved. Day of ome-gathering,
Of Unselfish regard for others, of pres
ent-laden trees, of well-fIled stockings,
Of tables grOaning beneath their burd-
ems Of tOOthsOme edibles, Of tender
expressions, of song and laughter and
mirth and innocent games. Where in
all the world may there be found such
another anniversary, one so laden with
the fragrance of love, or so Astounding
in thought that enObles?
Here we have a Christ-child in the
stable at Bethlehem, a scene that ap-
peals to the sympathy and regard of the
young; and the mother holding the
Babe to her nUturing breast, a warming
heart-tOuch to every mother loved the
world over; and the angel promise:
'He shall save His people from their
sins" a thought that lifts the soul to
the heights Of the Infinite.
What care we whether He came in
the day named as cOmmemorated by
the church, when the air of Judah was
chilled by the snowy breaths of Her
mon; or in the springtime as many
teach, when the birds triIled heavenly
music and the valleys were fecked with
myraid flowers, whose perfumes we're
as incense from the upper temples Of
God? The Christ-wOrk is universal
and the Christ-day belongs to all the
people of the whole world. Here the
Christmas day daWnes upon scenes Of
ice and snow; there upon a wealth Of
tropical foliage; but everywhere 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 a new name and a
IOftier purpose to adYancingciviliza
The time Of the event comes as nothing
before the majesty of the glory of the
event itself.
Bethlehem was an insignificant vii
lage clinging to the outerskirt of
majestic Jerusalem; yet greatest of all
the cities Of the world did it become in
that it was the birthplace Of the Christ.
Here the King of Kings appeared in
the helplessness of initial infancy,
watched and nursed, as other helpless
children of all ages, by His youthful
and adOring mother, honored above all
women who have lived or shall live.
Joseph and Mary had their home in a
wretched village of despised GaIiIee;
yet the name Of Nazareth shines as the
brightness of the stars and shall be as
enduring as the armament.
Christmas day, the first Christmas,
was the beginning Of a promise old as
the fall Of man; the Christmas of to-
day shows the fulfllment in large de-
gree Of the prophetic assurance of
mans redemption. The light of the
Star Of Jacob has spread until its rays
have reached the darkest corners of
the earth, and where they have pene-
trated they have blessed always. Christ
in the heart, Christ in the life, Christ
In the home, Christ in the world that
is to be; such the influence Of Him
whom the Magi worshiped in the man
ger and Of whom the angels sang in
their song to the shepherds on the
plains.
Gladdest Of the festal days indisso-
lubly linked with Good Friday and
Resurrection day and Ascension. it is
an eyer-present lesson Of the sureness
Of all the promises Of God. As the first
Christmas day told Of the hope of
Israel, so each succeeding one declared
the development Of the God-thouRht
In the incarnate God, until the climax
Of Divine goodness was reached on Cal
vary And afterward, as the Gospel
spread over the earth, its peaceful
fruits the Development Of the Christ
spirit in man, fOreshadowed and do
foreshadOw In steadily increasing
strength and beauty the final culmina-
ton when the Babe Of Bethlehem shall
be in all and AL in all among the child
rem Of men. Then shall every day be
full Of the gladness that makes Christ
mas day the brightest, oheeriest and
haPPiest Of all the days Of the year.
WILLIAM ROSsER COBBE.