Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-24
CHRISTMAS

| When the star OF Bethlehem aros,
over Judean hills, the soul Of the woric
was born. From that day the spiritual
and mental activities Of humanity
alighted for comfort and faith and
hope upon the meek and lowly Per
sonege who represents to the Christian
world ali it knows Of immortality.
With the coming Of the Christ child
there entered into the mind of man a
belief that this little life of ours
short. stormy and in many respects
prohtless-is only the beginning of am
other life, or a continuation Of this one,
somewhere and somehow. If It were
not for this hope, this faith and this
confidence, not many ages would pass
ere the darkness of death and despair
would seize upon the human race.
without hope, the trials and griefs and
struggles Of the day would be pitiless.
Here and there ray of sunshine in
the soul; now and then a song of
sweetness and gladness; days of cheer
and days of pleasurable toll. But in
the long run--what? If there be no
God and no Christ, no future life, 10
existence beyond?
We go together through this brief
journey, shoulder to shoulder. elbow to
elbow, cheering each other, helping
each other as we pass along; but
when the last moment is reached, we
go singly-all alone and each for him
self-into the future. What if there
then be no guiding hand, no helpful
presence to the soul? What il there
be no soul and no future, and that the
sleep we enter upon alone is the sleep
that knows no waking?
Hence, even the meanest and the
worst among us is moved by the ap-
proach of Christmas. Because of
gifts? No. Because of the hope and
the confidence which the great fact
of Christmas commentaries. The faith
of the child is the faith of mankind
Christmas is the expression of the joy
of the world, and the tokens which we
exchange at each recurring anniver-
sary are merely reminders of the mile
stones passed and passing, along the
nation of hope If 1t were not for
these tokens and these milestones,
cheerless indeed would be the course
of our passage.
So, let the joy-bells ring tomorrow.
Let all the old Scrooges get up early
Let all the children rejoice in the Wis
its of Santa Claus and be glad that he
remembered them. Let praise and
good cheer enter into all human hearts
and call forth blessings on the day ANA
the fact that gave so much encourage
tly circle Il little closer together and
sing the the cheeriest songs and talk
of hopeful things. BE hapy yourself
and make others happy. If you chance
to recall that away back yonder i'll the !
east are resting the hearts and hands |
wipe manfully away the tears and sing
a little louder than before. If per-
chance in this land of sunshine your
little home circle misses one whom you
laid away under the palms and pepper
trees with flowers and tears and grief, |
choke down your sorrow and look up
to the Christmas star that would shine
into the loneliest and lowliest heart. |
It's only little while until you, too,
start upon the long journey of the
future; only n little while until you
llso-are missed from the circle and your
place be vacant at the Christmas
cheer. SO enjoy the present while you
may. Take pleasure in it as you pass
llong and give out all the joy that be-
its an occasion so fraught with human
destiny.
For ere long there may be for us all
l great gathering, when all the beaut-
full Christmases of the past will be
Joined into one and we may see and
know the why and the wherefore of
his brief earthly journey of ours;
when all the Christmas chimes and
Christmas cheer will come together in
1ne great song of peace and good will.
SO, a merry Christmas to you now,
and many more of them hereafter.