Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-12-28

xEFHAT is tenderest and best in
!, Nv the heart of man is evoked when
IN &C. the keys of memory are touched
4 49, and the song Of the Christ-day
CrT1y is sounded 1t is the music OF
the home and the loved, glad, if subdued,
melody recalling the earliest days OF recol-
lection--an eager rush for wellhlled pend
ant stockings, for the laden Christmas tree,
with its gifts for all of the household. Aye,
and the eager rushing about the house
with merry shout and joyous greeting for
all. Then, the Homecoming of the absent
and the gathering of all about the family
board.
Whether the corridors Of our memory
mansions be long or short-our lives be
many or few, the harmonies ring along them
just the same, telling OF the presence IN the
heart of that which is old as immortality,
and which shall never die-love. There,
then this Christmas day, that Christmas
day, and every Christmas day, is present in
the heart this love for the home, with its
inmates, for friends and for humanity.
The Christ-day practice of opening the
heart to unselhsh influences is born of
the teachings of Him whose birth the day
commentaries. His the life beautiful, the
life rounded, the only completely perfect
lie. lie Taught luG iSSspuS VI lONOs ENAtAN~
ness, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, be-
nevolence, chastity and self-denial. What
is higher and best in humanity is of His
teaching and from the latter has come the
Christian home, the best development OF
unselfish affection and contentment to be
found among men.
Tire Christday is attuned to melody that
ever shall thrill the soul and cause it to
bring forth what is best in it. The herald
song of the angels to the shepherds on
the plain is fresher, stronger, closer, more
harmonious than ever, in the light OF the
newer blessings which have come from the
Gospel of His peace. The lesson of real
humanity, refined, Divine altruism, and not
the coarser sort sometimes called by this
name, was unheard of until from His peace
on the Mount of Beatitudes He gave 1t
forth. music sweeter than angels ever sang,
that higher song that man lives not unto
himself alone, and that the greatest happl-
ness is that which comes OF dong good unto
others.
Peace on earth good win to men! That
higher song which lifts man above himself
and makes him but little lower than the
angels.
The Christ theme will never die. First
heard on the plains Of Bethlehem, with the
IEONHluk ilEiOA-ACluRAN bAh Nt-ANN i-AA.NN
away. within whose walls were heard the
teachings Of the law Of revenge and love Of
self. heard there for the first time, it has
been sounding ever since, spreading wider
and wider, until now it compasses the whole
earth. In Christ's day Rome had waxed
to its noon of majesty, yet Rome passed and
was not. On that kingdom rose other
kingdoms, which persisted In their turn.
Since He lived one system after another sys-
TEN of philosophy has been built up, only
TO be torn down again. But the words of
the Christ be and abide, and they shall stand
forever, influencing men to nobler lives and
higher results in living. His Kingdom is
an everlasting Kingdom, and OF its dura-
tion there shall be no end.
Meet and right is it, then, that the
Christ-day shall be one of gladness in the
human heart; that the children shall take
part in it, since He loved them and blessed
them, and that gifts shall be exchanged in
token Of that love for one another, which
He bore fer AZ lumani'v