The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-12-24

ana Wno gave his S1n to be their seY- ious.
 Therefore, to-day we celebrate the birth of a child who has the prophet promised, has proved to be wonderful, counsellor, prince of peace" whose "kingdom knows no end.' To us ever the day repeats the glad tidings 'un- to you there is a saviour" and with the wide-eyed wondering shepherds we we bow before the child whom we do not comprehend and with the wise men we present our gifts to him whom we know to be beyond all other kings And to us, palpitating through all ages, voicing itself in all languages, swelling above the tumultuous seas, and silenoing for the time all other sounds, comes again the heavenly scDg "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will"
 Christmas day, therefore, brings us not simply the memory of the birth of Jesus but also the memory of his life, which made that day to be. comment orated. We remember him wha, set AlllllIl lll6 COuulllOIlS UL luIlldu lll6t found the sources of his support and strength not in earth, but in heaven. To him the temDter came and found nothing. To him trial came and he re- mained without sin. To him sorn?w came and found him serene in inward peace. To him suffering came and found him strong to endure. To him death came and found him victor when he seemed to be vancuished. Ana the life he lived. he lived not for himself but for men. He had comoas- sion for the ignorant; pity for the poor, sympathy for the suffering, forgive ness for the penitent. solace for the troubled, comfort for the sorrowing, hope for the despairing, and the prom ise of life for the dying. His heart was love. his soul was sympathy, his life was inspiration and his death vic tory. He was the one sinless, strong, sufficient son of man through whose sufferings men found salvation and through whose death and resurrection men found life.
 Christmas day, however, must be to him who would know it's joy not a form nor a memory, but an experience. This was what St. Paul meant when he wrote to the Colossians expressing his joy at being permitted to suffer if so be he might fulfil the word of Cod and make known to them the mystery the secret-which had been hid from other ages, namely, the love of God as revealed in Jesus-a love now made known even among the gentiles-a love and a way of life which he would have known by them through the experience of it in their own hearts; that Christ might be in them the hope of glory. this only is the fulfilment and fruition of Christmas. The form with the fes tivities will pass away and leave the heart empty; the memory will present to the mind pictures of the past, but will leave the soul without power. The heavenly song of peace, the angelic message-unto you a savlour-the sav- ious himself.must be appropriated and possessed by man if he is to know the meaning and the joy of Christmas. The light which floods all the heavens pulsates in full effulgence all about you, but 1t is only the beams which enter your own eye that reveal to YOU the beauty of the things which are. The waves of song from the singer $ lips swell all about you, but 1t is only the waves which enter your own ear and thrill your own auditory nerve which make any song for you The light of God in Jesus Christ revealing his holy character and tender love is all about you, but 1t is only as you i receive that light that you see the i beauty of Gods character and know his live for you. The love of God made known in Jesus nulsates in ten derness and mercy and grace all about you but it is only as you receive that love for yourself and live in it that VOL are warmed by it into the life of love- What you need to-day, friend, Is appropriating faith to make all Jesus ! has brought into the world your cwn.
 Appropriate him and all he brings ! to men as you appropriate sunlight, as you appropriate sound, as you ap- propriate tn eair as you appropriate a mothers love. He may be just as much to every other man, but all that ho is he should be to you, The sun is no less to others because 1t lights and warns you. God is no less to others ' because you make his love and grace your own. Look up and see the heavenly light; listen and hear the am gelc message: behold, and believe the son whom God gave to be your sav- iour Oh, on this Christmas day, say, and say with faith, say with hope, say with joy God loves me. Jesus gave himself for me God is my father. God is my friend' This will make Christmas an experience, a reality; a day of peace to your mind, strength to vour heart. joy to your sorl.