The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1903-01-01
BILL ARP.
WSsySssa aNsSsMaSsSswst%&&StH%Si&%S$&

there occurred in Bpthlrhrln. NI'iaSc
of Judea, the most notable event III INC
worlds history. An event that 'hahSe"
the calendar of time and c"ipS"a the
creed and faith of nations aNd mas es-
tn1iishcd the Christian religion IN AL
civilized countries. This event was put
the birth of Il little child. but no other
child was ever hc.aldcd by the angels
singing. "GlOry to God III the highest,
on earth peace and good Will to nan.
from the very first that child was Il
suspect and Herod was alarmed. lie
was not "a Jew but was a convert to
'he Jewish religion. and it was whis-
pered to him that the child was the Son
VI "od and would grow up and rule
INC people and take Ills kingdom away
from itlm. He did not believe it, but
II "'"i h'" MN, for it came to nm
from many sources and he determined
TO put Al end to 1t by killing the child.
In the meanwhile the ANGELS r,mc and
spirited the child and it's mother away
by night to Egypt. Nobody in Brthlc-
hem knew the chlh or its mother. and
so licrnd'S cruel murt!crct'S could not
find them. llcrod said they were hid
den around them Hmuna In" poor pco.
Pic, and so to MAX, it sure he or:lrrcd
III" muTnrr"rS to so from house to
mousse ahc XIII every child under two
years "id. and they did it, Was there
ever such horrible brutality? /, yas
worse than pharuah who ordered tho
midwivcs to kill the male infants of
the Hebrews, but to leave the females
awe. Is it not strange that men can
be found who would kill littlr innocent
rhlldren Just to please d king? | won
der how they killed tiem. Did they
cut their thr0ats or smother them or
knock them in the head or stab them to
IN" heart? Did they snatch them from
thelr mothers arms while they scream
ed and begged for mercy? Did they
leave them there in their blood or
| throw them in wagons and haul them
away to the pottcrS field. Historians
say those murderers probably killed a
Thousand. for they did not stop at
Bethirhem but went all along the coast
region where the fishermen lived.
| what Il creature that man ElcroG must
nave been. No wonder that the Lord
| sent worms to prey upon him and cat
! y
but the little child escaped. aud with
Joseph and its mother STAYED in Esvnt
! "hlli tierod was dead. He grew M 10
MANHOOD and was cruriiicd by hi; own
people and then they began to ncrsn-
| cut" MS followers. For about thrcr
hundred years the Christ ans were Dur
Suru and driven from place TO place
ana suffered martNrilOm 10" their faith
! lucy hau no peace or protection until
/ ~ &
ana took pity upou them. Before that
they had no friend at court in any
! Kingdom. In the second century DiO-
clctlan pretended to tolerate them
! whllc they were quiet and made no
| public demonstration. but OUn time
they secured the use of an cid church
ana all gathered there To Lave service
ana commemorate the birth Of their
| Savior and start IL Chri"tian Gust ON
| ThiS made DiOclctian very mad and
after the men and women and children
were all inside and had begun service,
ne sent some DrutcS there ana locked
| lne doors and barred the windows and
set the house on fire and burned them
all up. 1t is amazing how Christianity
! could live and survive its persecution
for the first five hundred ycms His
| tory says it is impossible to estimate
the number of those who suffered mar
thousands and tens OF thousands.
Some were beheaded, others thrown to
wild beasts and others rruciiicd. Nero
had some OF them Smearcd with tar
and fired by night in the public streets
Marcus Aurelius had them chained to
the seats Of red hot iron chairs. st.
Blandina and st. Fclcltas, who were
noble Roman ladies, were compelled to
witness the torture and death Of their
f.h nd l>nh lad
These are only mentioned as examples
of what thousands suffered.
But neither the world the flesh nor
the devil could stop thc sure and steady
progress Of Christianity. Christmas
has come to stay. 1t means ceremony.
a festival of love and loyalty to Him
who was born on that day. In PrOtes-
tant Germany it Is called the children s
festival and they arc taught that the
Savior loves them and cares for them
land said Suffer little children to come
unto Me, for such is the kingdom Of
heaven"
Christmas signifies new era--a new
date to time and chronology. The iiG-
ures on each letter head and on every
note and account and receipt prove the
birth Of Christ. Jews, Gentlles. atne-
lists, infidels, skeptics. every civilized
nation and every man and woman have
to use these figures whether they be-
lievc them or not. 1t is wonderful,
wonderful. And now we are all near
ing another Christmas. 1t may rot he
the exact anniversary Of the SaVior's
BIRTH and there are many learned COM
mentators who say that the shepherds
did not watch their focks by night IN
midwinter nor were taxes given III I'M
til about April. BE that as it. may. the
good Christians Of the third century,
the fathers OF the church. met and
made it movable festival to be held
in April or in May. But E'md:"d
years later st. Cyril had the pope AND
the priesthood to meet and fix nay.
a day certain, and after long cons"ita-
ton the 25th Of December was a@rctd
upon by the majority, and tn" rest
cnncnrred Not because any or them
believed that was the true anniversary
of the Savior's birth, but because that
day would better suit the masses OF tine
people.
But my young friends, Christmas is
time for love and kindness, time
for peace and good will. 1t is time
| 1o