The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-25
(copyrigh. 1905. BY ]. n. Edson.)

What is the meaning of this joy as the
world gives expression to it? 1t is
truly significant that Christmas is SO
universally observed. The coming of
Christ into the world was for the pur-
pose of accomplishing a great spirit
ual conquest over the hearts of men.
itual conquest has been wrought great
Transformation in material things. The
influence Of the Christ is felt upon
every hand. Civil and religious lib
erty. the safeguarding of life and
property, the exaltation and protec-
ton of the home, and the elevation of
womanhood and the deepening sense.
Of responsibility towards childhood
have come as direct effects of the devel.
opment of Christianity in the world.
Practically all that the world possesses
of material progress and prosperity is
the result of Christ'se advent into the
world. l do not wonder that the world
rejoices at Christmas time, even though
1t does not realize the true message
of Christmas and know it's true and
deepest joy. 1t has received untold
material blessings from the Christ,
even though it has refused to receive
the spiritual, and it is truly signii-
cant, we say, that Christmas is SO uni
versally observed. The world uncon-
sciously pays tribute to the One Who
has given it such great material bless
ing, and Who waits to become its
Saviour and King
A ND If the world has missed the
~ true joy of Christmas as pro-
claimed by the angels, what Is that
joy? How may the world come to
know that joy? What will be the
expression of that Joy? And first of
all, what is that joy? The angel said:
Behold, / bring you good tidings of
great JOY" And all Heaven was filed
with the song of that joy on that
first Christmas morning. Never before
was such a song heard. Never before
did Heaven pour forth her bright hosts
upon earth as 1t did upon the night
when Jesus was born. And what was
| that joy which filled all the heavens
and was to become known unto men
t and ia time FIJI all the earth? It was
not that superficial Joy which Is de-
| pendent upon the material senses for
| realization. 1t was not that JOY which
echoes and reechoes around the world
at Christmas time. What was that
| joy. then? And to tell what that JOY
was. we must search out the source of
that joy. Joy does not exist sole,Y
of itself. 1t is the manifestation 80
something which lies behind it and
which gave 1t birth. To appreciate the
quality and degree of your Joy one
must know the causes from which that
joy arose. To understand the true joy
| Of Christmas one must trace back to
its source that Joy and know the thing
upon which 1t depends. ga Saviour
born" was the burden of the angels
message. Here was the reason for
the joy of Heaven. Here was why the
earth should rejoice. The Joy of
Heaven was great because the Christ
which 1t gave to earth was its
best gift to man. The Joy of the
earth was to be great In proportion as
it received and appropriated the gift.
Christ was and is the source and in
spiration of true Christmas joy. First,
because of the supreme need of man
| which brought Him to earth, and sec
ond, because of His power to supply
and satisfy that need-the disease and
the remedy; man lost in sin, Jesus
mighty to save. A disease without a
remedy is pitiable and distressing and
ends in death. A remedy unbestowed
is powerless for good; it abideth alone.
But disease, be it ever so desperate,
to which is applied a remedy which
Is able to cure. issues in health and
brings unspeakable JOY. Men of SCI
ence search for lifetime for the rem
! edy for some distressing and fatal dis
ease and count it time well spent when
they have succeeded. and joyfully give
their discovery to suffering humanity
Here is joy profound and deep, but
who can measure the JOY which
4 Heaven felt when 1t bestowed it's rem
edy for sin. There was rejoicing
among the angels, and man was called
to join in that song of joy and praise
4 CHRISTMAS, then, reminds us of q
~ world lost in sin. and of a Saviour
come to save, and the Joy of Christ
mas IS known when the Saviour's pow
er is tested and the sinners need sup
piled. Think of the world to which
Jesus came-a world lost in the depths
of sin. No home ready to receive
Him; forced to lie in Manager Few
hearts ready to welcome Him; shut
out with His handful of followers
from the nation whose King He had
come to be. Alone in the wilderness
to fight His battle with the devil:
alone at His trial when He is con-
demned; alone on the cross as He
cries in agony of spirit as He bears
the sin of the world: MY God! MY
: God! Why hast Thou forsaken Me?'
This Is the world to which He came
. | Ia 10 x-coa;x-,d