The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1906-12-19
Christmas
TParkersbure Dlspatch-News j

cast as 1t las become day of more
general Observance Yet it is a
day for all. and even the atheist
answers the question. IF a man
die shall be live sgainP once
year, as he enters into the joys of
the Christmas season; for without
the Christmas st Try. All hope of
more blissful eternity closes with
the day. It matters not whether
one be Christian or pagan. Jew or
Gentle. it is the recognition of that
great vital principle that though
he be dead, yet shall be live egain. :"
In all sges and among all ma
tionalities there has been wonder
fully concurriDg idea. similar, at
least. to the story of the cross, that
it was not all of life to live, nor of
death to die. Even the untutored
lndisn had some thought that
there Was q future beyond the grasp
of his mind, the joys of which
were beyond his experience, and
that the truly "Hsppy Hunting
Ground" was beyond l,fe's oon-
fines.
Tue anoienis had their Idols and
mad Worshipped their typical and
representative gods, b, cause of
their intuitive conception. of true
and living God Their idols were
not worshipped or represented
as their real god, but as represent
tives of the ideal, which was con.
elusive of their having at least
come idea, however, vague, of the
Godhea1.
Everywhere. and in all ages. has
mankind, had some idea of exist
ence of the. Deity, and some CON-
ception of an eventually better
future state.
In all sges has the inward mont.
tor of man suggested that there
was a corresponding reward foI
the good and for the evil deeds of
the body. That the body was 8
physical and earthly being. and
that the mind, or soul of man, was
aspark of the Divinity iteelf. That
the enc was satisfied by the things
of earth, that the other went out in
the search of it's kindred, and bull
it's hopes in an immortality be-.
yond
In this beautiful hope has 81
mankind, even the atheist, shared.
Yet. until nearly two thousand
years ago. the word had gone forth
but the day bad, not dawned fo1
the coming Light of the WORT ;,
Ages after ages-had rolled by in
their countless flight, until the
faithful grew weary of Watching
and had stationed septinels in the
watch towers TO note the coming
of the promised morn. Their i'm
patient voices were heard to CRY,
"Watohmen what of The night?
This question was asked again and
again and the solemn sound died
away with it's echo. But growino
more impb tiert as the hour sp-
preached, the voice was cnce more
heard at Bethlehem: "Watchmsp,
shat of the night?' The time The
watchmsn gave not. but replied.
Tne morning ccmeth" Just
then the Star of Bethlehem soughl
to newborn Gcd as-the orient
lighted it's pathway with heavenl.
olushes. The angels rejoiced, the
earth WAS glad, and the heavens
we're lighted with new brilIianc,
At dawn of the story of the GROSS
IF the coming of the sge of Peace
on earth, good will towards men"
Since that time has the anniver-
sary of that day been one of grea'
rejoicing to ell Christians of ali
lands and nations. Since that
time not only do Christians. but
he people of all olimes unite in
celebrating the day as the anniver-
sary of the hope of bIissful i'm
mortality, until it matters not
about any special creed or faith,
wherever there rests in the breasts
of men the hope that somehow, or
where. at scms future time, hsp.
bier future state awaits them, do
men unite in celebrating the day,
as the anniversary Of the hope of a
brighter and better day beyond
1t was night. Jerusalem slept
IS quietly smid her hills as child
upon the breast of it's mother. The
nOisaIaes aa1finaI akoa5 I'LL