The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-23
CHRISTMAS FLAVOR TO i.
YESTERDAYS SERMONS
Continued from page -

nuts. 10 fill the hearts of the children
with joy and happy moments.
/ But a question or two comes into our
! minds: Has all this and the spirit in
| which il is done been suggested by the
! Fathers gift to all the people? Does
the Saviour approve of the way we cele-
brate His birth? These questions steal
over our hearts unawares-
! Christmas has its abuses. While there
| is good comfort, to many in the thought
that all the civilized world pauses in its
wild rush after things of time TO pay
respect to the advent of Him sent of God
| TO redeem the world, yet we cannot but
| feel sad at the thought that our celebra-
| ton OF Christmas too often gives express
| sion to more selfishnesS than gratitude.
While we enjoy our abundance tomorrow
will we have a single thought of those
whose poverty win make them contented
to eat what VIII otherwise find its way
into the garbage? While We enjoy in an
easy chair the comfort CD of an over
loaded stomach will it ever occur to US
that there are thousands upon thousands,
including many children, who Will feel
the fearful cravings of hunger and shiv-
er for want of fire and clothing?
But you say, Don't disturb your en-
joyment of this day by such reflections"
If perchance, should you be disturbed,
remember it is not the author of this
sermon who disturbs you; it is the
Christ. And He would disturb everyone
who viii not learn the lesson that the
highest joy comes by giving joy to 9TH
ers. Christmas, if properly used, would
teach US this lesson. But when we nse
the day to pamper our base appetites
We abuse il.
The custom of giving presents on
Christmas is a beautiful one What
gray-head does not hold, as one of the
most sacred and happy memories, the
thought of those long ago Chr:stmases
when. with expectation high the pres
ents were received. What parent has
not been made happy thrice over at the
expressions of mingled delight and sur
prise as the little ones of his heart re-
ceived their gifts. And who has not
laughed with all his might at generous
old Santa Claus with his basket of pres
ents and his quaint capers. Yes. there
are many happy and beautiful things
associated with Christmas day, and the
giving and receiving of presents. But
We want to ask the question: Did you
give your gifts in the spirit of 1T is more
blessed to give than TO receiver Or
did you give them in the spirit of Il eX-
pect a present in return?" Is your gift
a token of love instead of selfshness? !
And when you received that present last |
year possibly from some unexpected |
source did you exclaim, There, now, |
III have to make her a present next |
Or are you going to refuse /
to give TO some one this Christmas SIM |
ply because you received nothing from /
that source last Christmas? Remember |
that that which is not an expression of |
true love is not a gift
Another question: What lessons do the |
the children learn by the celebration of
this day in home and Sunday School?
Are all the plans so arranged that the |
children are made to think only of them
selves? Were the children asked to bring !
l donation of money to the school that Il
presents might be bought for poor chill
iren? or We're they taught only TO ex-
Dect presents and not to give? If so,
hey are being educated in selfshness.
The spirit of Christ is not impaired to
hem. And nothing should be done in
His name which teaches and fosters
pirit contrary TO His. ,
But some one SayS:s you are speak .
ng from the standpoint of a Christian.
am not a Christian" If by that you
mean you are not under any obligation
@ Christ. we would remind you that you
ire living in the United States and not
n Patagonia. Your superiority over the
'atagonians is due to Christian princi- ,
lies which you and your country in a
arge measure accept. And what right
lave you to use this day or observe il in !
my way if you do not intend to impart :
Is spirit? The day was instituted for
christians, and properly belongs TO them.
We're / not Christian 1 would not give
single present on Christmas day. or re-
member the day by any act, unless 1 in
ended as far as possible to teach there
" the spirit of the Christ Doing the
is ab;sing the day and doing I
more harm than good. whether you are
Christian or not 1t might be well for :
Is. to ask ourselves if we really COM {
nenorate Christ's birth, or celebrate a {
lay that for US, has degenerated into a
of the Saviour of the world
nd His mission of ministration.