Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-12-20
CHRISTMAS

aud nations that are ranged under
the banner of the Cross, will have
come and passed. Gladness bright
ems the eve and lightens the heart of
the old, and Young. on this day, the
anniversary of the birth of the Prince
OF Peace. There is q relaxation of
the tensions of the muscles. for We
are respited from all toll and com bat
with the world; the mind casts aside
its anxiety: and, IN the suspension of
bodily and mental struggles. we WELD
ourselves up TO the festivities that
has characterized, for hundreds of
years, the celebration of this dav. To
children 1t is day of exceeding iov.
as they associate with it a harvest of
good things, and for DAYS and weeks
prior to its dawn, they speculate and
dream of the rich gifts Santa Claus
Is preparing TO pour into their laps.
There Is a tremulous throb of glad
ness and glow of pride in the
breasts of parents, for the day brings
a reunion around the festive board
Of the family circle that has been
severed, and while the merits of roast
turkey, old ham. mince pies and 9th =
er edibles are discussed. aud the heart
grows warm under the influence Of
egg-nog, apple toddy, etc. the Incl
dents of the year are pleasantly re-
lated.
What memories are awakened in
the heart Of the Christian. and how
deep are his emotions as bis thoughts
float back over the ages gone, to the
early morning when a new star fash
ed it's brilliant light among the
spheres which spangle the heights
that beautifully wall the world.
There is the lowly manger on which
Bethlehem's star looks down. and
there is Heaven and Earth meeting
In the birth of the God child. Who has
entered upon pilgrimage in which.
before His journey closed, He is com
PEELED to do battle with all the pow
ers of the world and hell combined.
The contest is one freighted with
suffering; tears must flow: Gethsem
ene's agony and bloody sweat are TO
be endured; the mockery of a trial.
leers, rebuffs, the ignominy of being
spit upon, crown of thorns pressed
upon the brow until the blood trickles
down the face, heavy cross borne
up mountain side, soldiers and men
haunting the victim as he staggers
along without murmuring; and then,
to crown all this agony and torture,
TO have the hands and feet nailed to
tree. All this suffering must be
undergone by this glorious, but hum
bly-born Prince; and, thank God. He
is capable of enduring the struggle:
Love and Heaven triumph, satin is
defeated, the grave overcome, the law
fulfilled, and man, today, kneels at
the Cross a renewed and redeemed
being.
In the early days of Rome, a tenn
pie was erected to Janus, one OF the
Roman deitles. This temple was
closed In times of peace, and opened
when Rome was engaged in war.
During a period of 600 years it was
closed but twice; once, after the end
ing of the first Punic war, and again,
IN the reign of Augustus Caesar,
when the Saviour was born, who, &C
cOrding to divine prophecy-if we
remember aright-was to enter the
world in a time of peace. We wish
that the temple of Janus was closed
today; that there was an end to ''wars
and rumors of war;" and that all
governments were moulded and tenn
pered with the spirit of him whose
words were all love, and who "spake
as man never spoke" But, let us
not awaken such thoughts on Christ
mas. We know the children will be
happy today. Our earliest recollec-
tons are bordered with the unalloved
pleasures of Christmas, and our
thoughts wander back to them now.
and paint them the halcyon days of
our existence; for, the heart, then,
ID its beautiful innocence of child
hood; knew nothing of the bitter
trials awaiting the man. Let us all
be glad today. Let the hearts and
hopes of all be as bright as loves
young dream, and let spirit of char
ity and "good- will toward all men"