The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-25
CHILD OF RETHLEHAM.

CHILD OF BETHLEHAM.
Now when Jesus was born in Beth
leham of Judea, in the days of Herod.
the king, behold wise men from the
east came to Jerusalem-Mattae
ii:-1.
Risen with healing on His wings,
Light and life to all he brings,
Hail the Son of Righteousness,
Hail the heaven born Prince of Peacel
Holy Father. Holy Son.
Holy Spirit, Three in One.
Glory as Of old to Thee,
Now and evermore shall be.
Hark, the herald angels sing.
Glory to the newborn King.
The brightest day in the calendar is
with us again. The passing years have
not iulled the eagerness with which
men cherish the Evangel of Bethleham.
There have been many messages in
these later days. but in the midst of
our Intellectual unrest and social dis
content. there Is none so meaningfui
so profoundly significant. so deeply
scriptural, none that the world Of men
needs to hear more frequently than
this: Behold, l bring you good tidings
Of great joy. which shall be to all
people. for unto you is born this day
in the city of David, Saviour. which
iv sSN ut L. 81
sage that strikes through out earthly
pessimism with a power that recovers
and blesses our lives. The Christ
child is the most splendid fact in the
history of this old cynical world,
Cramped and crowded as we are by the
things that are seen 1t means much
that this fact stills the great worlds
noisy machinery closes the offices and
workshops, causes the man on the
street, as well as the man in the church
to move nearer to knowledge of Him
whose nature and whose name is Love.
Today will be celebrated in Astoria
and throughout the length and breadth
Of this land. the memorable Christmas
Our homes will be adorned with ever
green's and happiness will not be much
the search as the possession of each
young heart. The song Of Peace on
Earth, Good Will to Men," that fell
from a land where no weary ever dis
turbed the air. and no cheek is ever
wet with tears, will soon soften all
hearts. For one day men will strike
the truce of battle. The sound of strife
will die out from the market and the
street The. very anticipation of Christ
mas is increasing the sums Of joy and
happiness. The aged are becoming
young again through the pleasure Of
planning and giving. Our children are
being refined by joyous expectancy. On
Christmas day not all homes will be |
filled with luxury, but all will try to
be full Of happiness. Thus the Christ
mas season lies over the nation like
a genial atmosphere. 1t warns cold
hearts, expels selfishness. feeds the
freside joys, and makes rich the uni
versal life.
Let us joyful confess the value Of
Christmas as a force In our civilization.
Our national holidays are few in num-
Der, but precious in quality. The high
days Of foreign nations equal two
score; ours are but few. Thanksgiv-
ing stands for the home. 1t is the fes-
tival Of the family. The birthday Of
capitalizes the individual
hero. II asks each young citizen toI
carry his Americanism up to the great
hero's level. The midsummer holiday
stands for patriotism and liberty. 1t
asks each patriot to go UP to those
heights of wisdom and justice where
Adams and Jefferson ever dweIt. And
now, at the threshold Of winter, to our
earth, so long filled with the noise
Of the battlefield, with the sound of
falling walls and cities, with the cru
atty Of the master and the groans Of
the slave, and the cry Of children,
comes the Christmas era. 1t pleads for
peace on earth and universal good will. t
Nothing could be more beautiful than Z
IN the genuine spirit Of Christmas gift
giving. AS God gave his well-beloved '
Son as Guide and Redeemer to erring I
men, so we, in memory Of that precious 1
gift, give tokens of good will, both to /
hem whom God has Joined US in ties b
of kindred and to those less favored t
,nes, who dwell. as it were, under the t
shadows OF our homes-our neighbors +
n the ties of common humanity. What t
light can there be more sweetly signi- 4
icant Of heaven on EARTH" than the It