Bisbee daily review., 1908-12-22
Methodist Eplseopal Church.


 The Christmas spirit. From whence 1t is? Subject of the evening sermon.
 Some proclaim the origin of the Christmas festival to be heatAen and pagan. With that challenge spuring us on we must look as deeply as possible into the historical facts and see how near the truth they speak. We are also to show how wide the mark they are if they be wrong.
 This is an important matter after all, for be it known among all the big grown up men and women that Christ mas will not remain in the nursery and in the primary room. Just as much follery and nonsense among the high school and college folks on this subject as among the little folks. Just as much brightening of eye, and cheer in the voice and smile of face and quicllness in step with the grand parents as with the grand children. Whence then is all this joy and good cheer and spending of money for that which is not bread. Why this festivity and song and program and gifts and bells? What makes Christmas the most universally observed holiday and vacation time in the entire year?
 Something big and deep and broad, and heart aHDealing or it would not last and be so absolute. -..- -..
 Christmas, did you ever stop to think how completely it dominates and enslayes us. We could not escape it if We would. We buy and sell and rush and work and fret and laugh and go hither and thither as the whim and foible of the Christmas tyrant com mands us. We are willing to admit that the Romans kept the Saturnalia long before the birth of Christ in a somewhat similar, though far less ex- alted manner, as a December festival
 We find that the natives of the Ger man forests cut their yule log, wor- shipped tr"i Gods and had big time once a year, about Christmas. We also discover thu natives of Britton keeping a similar ceremony about this time of year after the D-uidical fashion-even decending so low as to sacrifice human idols. We also find that the early Christians rescued the pagans of all nations from theiT heather ceremony and put something better in its place, and that something better was a festi- val in honor of the birthday of Christ This festival of the early Christians was pupular from the first. Yet at times we must admit it was degraded to very lc v level, reyelry, feastiug drinking and even debauchery marked the celebration.
 In this country three lines of his toricai influence may be traced, all leading to our present Christmas cele- bration. The PuTitans in the New Eng. land states, the Dutch in New York and the English in the more southern states. Christmas has features cling ing to it now that dffpricate and should eliminate. Yet there is' enough of benefit and good ill it to make it pay.
 We would eliminate some of the coGmercialism. We would take the thousands of children out of toy fac tories. We wonld have the stores keep their regular hours. We would have them put on more clerks, so they would not drag the life out of those they have. We would cut out much of the senseless giving of pres ents to friends and about two thirds of the tTF.sh given to children. We would add more help to the postofice de partment for one month. h brief we would m.-ke it a acatiOn time. a rest day. A glad happy, cheer bringing time for all people. We would make 1t conform more nearly to the Christ idea: T bring you good tidings of great joy. which shall be to all peo- pie"
 With few corrections along these lines we would euipha ize the import ance of the religious. the spiritual. the charity. the lcne sririt, the joy bring ing uower of this day.
 Christmas is here to stay because Christ. the savior of man, Is beneath. behind, and in it. It will remain as long &s human hearts are drawn to the babe of Bethlehem. It is in the heart of humanity to remain. It is for us to kceD the day as Christ would have us celebrate His birthday. The world is. purer and happier and better place to dwell in because of Christmas. The world Is better place to live in be- cause the Christ came on Christmas day. Let us De glad, not because Christmas is here, but because Christ Is here.