The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1899-12-22

] HalDf fft ...I..I
/ dawn Of hope for humanity, the day when
man saw the ultimate victory over death and
| the triumph OF the immortal over the mortal.
/ Through the darkness the watchers under
meath the midnight skies saw the rising OF
a glorious star, and its light is still shining
upon the world TO be a beacon amid the
storm, TO lead generations yet unborn TO the
humble manger sancthed by infinite love
and compassion. and made holy by The birth
OF a hope that should lift the lowliest man TO
the divine heights where be could look un-
afraid upon the face of IBIS God.
Peace on earth, goodwill TO men" sang
the heavenly hosts, and the war-veXed world
thrilled TO the anthem, for i'm 1t was heard
the thanksgiving OF the slave. whose chains
were 20 be made light by the love of the
Christ. whose stripes were 10 be soothed by
the hand that touched the leper and
cieansel him OF his f0ulness, whose shame
Was made glorious by brotherhood with
the carpenters Son of Nazareth, who came
TO preach the Gospel to the poor Peace
on carth," the Christmas bells to-day ring
ont the mess ge that was flung 20 the winds
OF night by the anec. voices ON tine plains of
Bethlehem. and from the uttermost ends of
the earth men come 20 bow down and offer
their gifts Of fmukncense and myrrh. the
incense Of grateful aud loving faith, at the
feet of the infant Jesus who was born King
OF the Jews but who reigns Lord Of the
earth, procaiming nov, as in the hour when
lie took upon Himself the likeness OF man,
that goodwill that endureth from genera
tion TO generation, and that pities the short
comings and failures Of men with a bound
less tenderness.
What bring sc. who come to-day 20 look
upon the holy mystery of the Chrst-bir,h.
as an offering acceptable to the Saviour OF
men; what treasure that shall not perish
what incense that shall be OF goodly SAVIOR;
No longer do men don armor OF proof, and
buckliug on their swords bid farewell to
home aud friends, seeking faraway lands
that they may slay the heather who believe.
moi in Him, and rescue from impous hands
the sepulcher in which His mortal part lay
q few brief hours Christ has revealed lliH
self as the Saviour of those who know Him
not, the lover of peace and the hater o.
wars. The captains and the kings depart,
the stiffness of death bushes the shouting
Of The multitude, the Laurel withers upon
the brow of the conqueror, the gold rusts in
the Golfer OF the miser. What are honor,
renowu, riches, as sacrifice TO The King
who had nowhere to lay His head to the
conQueror who vanQuished death, TO the
Creator Of the world and the fullness
thereof?
On ye who seek the Christ that We may
l... 4 I....., .rH ....,.t.fr, Hin, ,or,...,I....
"stiil stands the ancient sacrifice:
An humble and conirite heart"
II Christ be truly born unto your souls,
let your lives proclaim the message that the
bells ring out this Christmas day. The
alteration which strengthens your soul anew
for the conflict Of hfe should be like
glorious flower, shedding its perfume on the
winds that sweep around the world, puri
fyug influence and beauty which even the
most careless eye can see. Gather up some
wandering ray from the star shining over
the manger, and bear it into the dark places
OF the EARTH that il may light some soul IN
the midnight Of despair, and lead it to the
source of immortal radiance. Catch some
wandering tone Of the angelic song, and re-
peat the strain above the pillow where Pain
wards OIL the tender hand OF sleep, where
Regret sounds the dirge over wasted hours,
where Sorrow means in some haunted
chamber in which the ghosts Of lost days
walk waiing for the sweet sin that LETT such
deep and stinging wounds He who bore
the griefs Of men yearns over the wandering
sheep, and you who have seen Ills face, who
have read the tender message Of His love,
who have trodden with Him the road from
Bethlehem to Calvary, remember on this
Christmas day that again lie is born unto
you and unto the world. You are the mes
sengers who are to bear abroad the peace
and goodwill that the Heavenly choir
proclaimed on that first Christmas night.
You are 90 interpret the meaning of God be-
come Man, YOU are TO vindicate The martyr
dom that bought The highest good with in
carnate Virtue, for unto You is born this
day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord
LOU V. CHAPLIN