Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-12-22

dawn Of hope fer 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 sanctifed 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 he could look un-
afraid upon the face of his God.
peace on earth, goodwill to men" sang
the heavenly hosts, and the war-vexed world
thrilled to the anthem, for in it was heard
the Thanksgiving of the slave, whose chains
were to be made light by the love of the
Christ, whose stripes were to be soothed by
the hand that touched the leper and
cleansed him of his foulness, whose shame
was made glorious by a brotherhood with
the carpenter's Son of Nazareth, who came
to preach the Gospel to the poor. peace
on earth" the Christmas bells to-day ring
out the message that was flung to the winds
Of night by the angel voices on the plains Of
Bethlehem, and from the uttermost ends of
the earth men come to bow down and offer
their gifts of frankincense and myrrh, the
incense Of grateful and loving faith, at the
feet of the infant j Jesus who was "born King
of the jews" but who reigns Lord of the
earth, proclaiming now, as in the hour when
He took upon Himself the likeness of man,
that goodwill that endureth from genera
ton to generation, and that pities the short
comings and failures Of men with a bound
less tenderness.
What bring We, who come to-day to look
~ IL &c fha az ,t,~tb
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
buckling on their swords bid farewell to
home and friends, seeking far-away lands
that they may slay the heather who believe
not in Him, and rescue from impious hands
the sepulcher in which His mortal part lay
q few brief hours. Christ has revealed Him
self as the Saviour of those who know Him
not, the lover of peace and the hater OF
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,
renown, riches, as a 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?
Oh We who seek the Christ that We may
bow down and worship Him, remember:
"still stands the ancient sacrifice;
An humble and contrite 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 life should be like 6
glorious flower, shedding its perfume on the
winds that sweep around the world, a puri
flying influence and beauty which even thu
most careless eye can see. Gather up some
wandering ray from the star shining owe,
the manger, and bear it into the dark places
of the earth, that it may light some soul il
the midnight Of despair, and lead it to tn,
source of immortal radiance. Catch som,
wandering tone of the angelic song, and re
peat the strain above the pillow where Pail
wards off the tender hand of Sleep, wher,
Regret sounds the dirge over wasted hours
where Sorrow means in some haunted
chamber in which the ghosts of lost day
walk wailing for the sweet sin that left sucl
deep and singing wounds. He who Dor
the griefs of men yearns over the wandering
sheep, and you who have seen His face, VIII
have read the tender message of His love
who have trodden with Him the road iron
Bethlehem to Calvary, remember on thi
Christmas day that again He is born unit
you and unto the world. You are the mes
sengers who are to bear abroad the peac
and goodwill that the Heavenly choi
proclaimed on that first Christmas night
you are to interpret the meaning of God BIZ
come Man, you are to vindicate the martyr
dom that bought the highest good with il
carnate Virtue, for unto you is born thi
day Saviour, which is Christ the Lord"
LOU v. CHAPLIN.