The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-12-22
THE GRACIOUS CHRISTMAS.

- oN~-N~N 49,
by Christian people.
Christmas means to all day in which cares may
be laid aside and the soul and the mind dedicated
to the most thorough enjoyment of all the blessings
that lie in our way, ignoring and shutting out en-
tirely the trials and pursuits of the year that
has gone and of the present. 1t knts the world
into one vast common brotherhood of joy. Through
out the confines of the GLOBE whether in the jungles
of far away Africa, where the solitary missionary
pours out his soul in excess of gladness and
rapture or in the crowded drawing rooms Of more
crowded cities; where life moves ever swiftly on
ward, looking backward never, there is on this day
one deep overwhelming sense of gladstone ecstasy.
For this day marks the event of all events in the
history of the world-the birth of Christ
Christmas morning-how the bells Of memory
tingle-what tender and hallowed "reminiscences
this magic word calls up--how like the murmurs Of
lost music come and go the purple lights of the
beautiful long ago.
How the page Of life rolls back, and we read
maybe with fearful eyes, the characters written
there and through the long closed corridors of the
past we hear the soft echo of those who have gone
out from among US, and come back no more.
But while Christmas saddens, it is season
of rejoicing. There is hardly any home so poor in
this broad land let us hope, where the music of
happy and innocent childhood will be hushed or
little stockings be hung up in the hope of finding
something in them when the morning dawns.
And if there be such homes, would it not be quite
as we'll for people who endow colleges, already pos
sessed of ample means, who build churches with
steeples which pierce the Skies who sport diamonds
that do them earthly good-would it not be just
we'll if they would set apart yearly portion Of
what they spend so needlessy, fund to give
the poor around them a happy and comfortable
Christmas?
God can hear prayer just as well from the modest
little mission house along the wayside as He can
from the costly and luxurious church edices in the
crowded and fashionable cities. Christ was born in
Manager, and He never preached in any costly
cathedrals yet His words have come down to
through the ages-ever new, beautiful and
sweet to fill hearts with hope and to make glad
these lives of ours which otherwise would indeed
be miserable.
And, remembering what Christmas commentaries,
it should ever be a season of good will toward
men, Petty differences and personal animosties
should be forgotten-so far hushed that winds
| of idle gossip would be able to them. We
should remember own frailty, and have charity
for our neighbours. And when the joy bells ring on
Christmas morning, happy is the man who can lis
ness in my heart this day for any living thing
1t is fact of obvious significance that Christmas
is the festival of the year celebrate by giving
gifts. Other days we keep in other ways, but the
expression of the Christmas idea takes this one
peculiar form, and SO nearly universal is it that
throughout the Christian world the character of
trade is influenced by it, the most extensive prepar
atoms made for it. In what way, indeed, could
the greatest freest Gift in the history of the world
be SO fifty comnemorated as in the making of gifts.
How could the Babe of Bethlehem be more truly
honored than in making Christmas the brightest
day in the year for all? And, though we are
hardly conscious of the fact, what are the good
wishes of the season which we exchange on Christ
mas day but the echo of the angels songs with the
message of ''peace earth to men of good will. p
Let it be remembered that the spirit of Christmas is
prominently one of unselhshness and sacrifice
This it Il for which the day stands. When we give
only in the expeottctcn of receiving again, when we
go YEARLY through the list of pro1ants which repre-
sent merely the past Or anticipated oblga..ons. We
enter but imperfectly, if at all, into the Christina,
spirit.
On Christmas day let US lay aside the cares an6
the remembrance of all troubles and perplexities, 81
far can. And for day in the year le
charity, patience and love prevail in our homes anc
in our hearts, and let that day be the anniversary
of the ver-msmorable and glorious day on which
Christ was born. Let celebrate the day with one
accord. Let the devout worship; the light hearted
make merry; the we'll to- do give to the poor. LIE
friends and families long parted come together il
loving reunion; let arrangements be wiped out
enemies become reconciled, and those who have jo,
to spare, scatter them where they will do most good