The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-23
COMPELLING POWER OF
CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL.
Spirit of Season Necessary to Whole
some Life, Says the Rev. T. M. Ship
herd-Unbounded by Sects.

Christmas spirit and the compelling
power of 1T were touched upon by the
Rev. T. M. Shipherd yesterday morning
In his sermon to the people of the Belle
Vile Avenue Congregational Church, TAX
ing as his text lux H., IA. In part he
said:
1.-THE text is a hymn and the angels IN
heaven are represented as singing IL. 1Ildt
the poetry and music of Christmas has
not only not failed but that 1t has IN
creased during the years IS a matter ~
the greatest possible significance to inc
the ioy and fitness OF human lie mas
expanded into music and burst forth INTO
song. 90
wholesome life. Love and kindness are
symptoms of abundant life. They are tne
oyerplus which the individual In health is
bound to bestow upon his toliows, Tor
kindness is The necessity OF functlohihs
life. Generosity is the imperative OIL lhe
healthy soul. The generous. patient, tol-
Grant. constant friend and neighbor Is the
angel of heaven In the earth. g..
"From such has come the necessity Ior
Christmas and all the generous aIectloh
which il begets and ministers. The Christ
mas season is that portion OF the year
which is made sacred TO nlih1stTaloh anu
generous giving. The birth OF Jesus does
not compel IL, but the anniversary OF tne
birth of Jesus seems the most lifting time
10 he seized upon and made the excuse
for this overflow OF lire ana Nhrhlen aiu
love which we call the Christmas spirit.
Gle who imaglnes that the deeper spirit
of Christmas depends in any fashion upon
| the historicity of the date or OF an tne
stories surrounding the event has missed
| the deeper meaning of the season.
1--WE shall lose the best OF the SEASON
| and the best cause for gratitude II we 40
NOT see that Christmas does not preah
down upon us, but that CHRISTMAS preaHs
out from within us. Ihat Chrlstnhds 10
strong. deep and wide N our elNiiN"
is but too clear. 4
"The Christmas spirit cannot be kept
within the boundaries OF religious SEES,
1t cannot even be kept out OF me de"!sn
synagogue. Its anthems reso,lnd from we
hearts and lips of our school children tne
wide land and the wide world over. lhtu
| every tongue and into the heart OF every
race and tribe the exultant NE OF 1 ouu
hears ready witness ana bursts nv SUNS
at Christmas time. -
peace. like strife. is contagious. Virtue,
| like vice. Is absorbed from our nelghoors'
| Christmas, like dependency, is catchlns,
TO live in America at this season of the
year and to expect to escape the glad
Christmas spirit is less than sanity
In closing Mr., Shipherd pleaded for a
recognition of the spirit of God IL Christ
mas. which spirit is not TO be limited OF
confined by denomination or sect, and used
the words of MarleY's Ghost 10 scroose
when he said; Know that and etnrlstlah
spirit. working kindly in its little sphere.
whatever IL may be, viii find Its mortal
| life too short for it's vast means Of useful
ness. Know that no space OF regret can
make amends for one life's opportunity
mlsused."
"But YOU were always n good man OF
business, Jacob" faltered Scrooge.
Business cried the Ghost, mankind
was my business. The common welfare
was my business: charity. mercy, forbear-
ance end benevolence were all my business
The dealings of my trade were but a drop
of water In the comprehensive ocean of
my business