Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-12-24
HOW WILL WE OBSERVE CHRISTMAS :

With the dawn of the morrow will
actively begin another anniversary of the
birth of Christ. Holy dayl How shall
we observe it? To each individual the
recurrence of this annual festival has
special meaning. To some it is the sig
nal for the beginning of mad, drunken
carousal, an insult to civilization and an
abomination before God, while to others
IT. means renewal Of obligations to the
Creator, thankfulness for the life, the
death, the resurrection of the Holy One
whose birth the day commentaries. A
little reflection, a little serious thought
will tend to help us all observe the day
as it should be observed. How will you
celebrate tomorrow, the anniversary of
the birth of Christi
If one but stops to think Of the real
meaning of this anniversary, it's beauty,
its ioyfulness, and yet withal it's pro-
found solemnity, must be impressed upon
the mind and heart. Let us all consider
the manner in which this day-hardly
less sacred than the Sabbatb-shall be
spent. Let us follow the imagination
back into the now dim past, and picture
ourselves among the throng that is gather
ing at Bethlehem of Judea; look into
dimly-lighted shelter, where, amid tho
lowing of the cattle and the neighing of
the horses, little group of people hayo
assembled and stand looking intently
and reverently at some object of moro
than ordinary interest. What is it? Only
helpless child at its mothers breastp
Then why this rapt attention, this atti-
tude Of awe and reverence, this bringing
of costly gifts by the wise men of the
Eastp A child is there, certainly-but
aside from the innocence and purity of
that little being, there is an air of hol-
ness and divinity that cannot be mis-
taken. These wise men of the East, who
have studied the stars in the heavens and
delved into the very mysteries of God,
recognize that in this little helpless babe
lie all the possibilities of noble man
hood, and above and beyond this they
know that into the short life of that
innocent being will be crowded more
than is the allotted share of love and
work, of temptation and victory, of pain
and suffering. Let us follow the life of
this Christ child, and learn from it the
true meaning of the anniversary, and
resolve to celebrate the day in manner
befltting its solemn joyousness.
Follow him in his boyhood as he goes
up to the temple with his parents to
worship-not an uncommon youth at all,
only little more thoughtful and obedi-
ont than is usual for one at his ago
earnest in his attention to the service
within the temple, listening to and gath
ering in the truths as they fall from the
lips of the aged doctors of the law. See
him little later as he sits with the
teachers in the temple an, teaches them
the Way of Life. Follow him still fur
ther and see the manifestations of love
and sympathy for humanity as exhibited
in his tender caress of the infant, his
watchful solicitude for the aged, his
marvellous cures of the sick, the manned
the halt, the blind. Let us follow and
observe him to tho end. AS his life upon
earth is drawing to it's close, lot us go
with him in our thoughts, recall some of
his sufferings and think of what he has
done for us. Sec the agony of that strug-
gle on the mount, the glory of his victory
over self, and the beauty of his submis-
sion to the will of the Father as he closes
his prayer Not my will, but Thine, be
done" See him on Calvary's cross, his
hands and feet pierced by cruel nails,
that sacred head wreathed with a crown
of piercing thorns-the Saviour of man,
prosecuted, reviled, forsaken by those
for whom He had spent life of cease
less toll, of abject poverty and undying
love. See the look of love and forgive
ness and divine compassion for his per-
secutors in his last hour as he lifts up
his voice and cries Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do"
If we but stop to think of the life and
death of Christ, his mission upon earth,
and tho agony and suffering he endured
in accomplishing the work whereunto
he was sent" we must feel that while
wo should be joyful and thankful, we
should take great care how we express
our JOY and gladness. Remembering the
holiness of the One whose birth wo will
commemorate tomorrow, let us watch,
lest we enter into temptation and pollute
rather than hallow the day.