Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1899-12-22

tietLt-sftf -. ,tNlN ANt AiHNo 'h''N
.Ik3F,-ssl .-Svsstfdl dow from time into
,t8sHyH1IIBW " bessed anniversary
WDlaF1JbT" which marked the
.wn Of hone for humanity, the day when
man saw the ultimate victory over death ana
the triumph of the immortal over the mor,"'
Through the darkness the watchers uhuer
meath the midnight skies saw the rising OF
n glorious star, and it's light Is sun snlh'.s
,pou the world to be beacon anna tne
storm. to lead generations yet unborn 10 tne
humble manager sanotilied by INFINITE ioVe
and compassion, and made holy by the pifth
Of hone 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'veNed world
thrilled to the anthem. for IN " was nearu
the thanksgiving of the slave. whose chains
were TO be made light by the love OF the
Christ, whose stripes were to be sootheu ny
the hand that touched the leper ana
cleansed him of his foulness, whose shame
was made glorious by brotherhood WIN
the carpenters Son Of Nazareth, who came
TO preach the Gospel TO the poor. feace
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 oil
the earth men come to bow down and oner
their gifts Of frankincense and myrrh, the
incense OF grateful and loving faith, at the
feet of the infant Jesus who was born hlng
of the Jews" but who reigns Lord OF the
earth, proclaimng now, as in the hour when
~ = nj
| that goodwill that endureth from genera
| ton to generation, and that pities the snort
comings and failures of men with bound
less tenderness.
| What bring We, who come to-day to look
| upon the holy mystery of the Christ-birth,
| 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 PARKWAY lands
that they may slay the heather who believe
| not in Him. and rescue from impious hands
| the sepuIcher in which His mortal part lay
| few brief hours. Christ has revealed Him
| 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 copqueror, the gold rusts in
| the Golfer of the mser. What are honor
renown, riches, as a sacrifice to the King
| who had nowhere to lay His head, to the
conuueror 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:
| "Stln 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 q
| glorious flower, shedding its perfume on the
winds that sweep around the world, puri
| flying influence and beauty which even the
| most careless eye can see. Gather up some
| wandering ray from the star shining oVei
| the manager, and bear it into.the dark places
| of the earth, that it may light some soul II
the midnight of despair, and lead it to the
/ source of immortal radiance. Catch somC
wandering tone of the angelic song and re
| peat the strain above the pillow where Pair
| wards off the tender hand of Sleep, where
| Regret sounds the dlrge over wasted hours
| where Sorrow means in some haun &c
chamber in which the ghosts of lost days
walk wailing for the sweet sin that left sucl
deep and singing wounds. He who borr
the griefs of men yearns over the wandering
sheep, and you who have seen His 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 He is born unt'
You and unto the world. You are the mes
sengers whs are to bear abroad the peac
and goodwill that the Heavenly cho
proclaimed on that first Christmas night
you are to 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 thi
day Saviour, which is Christ the Lord"
LOU v CHAPLIN