The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-26
CHRIST MAS SERVICES
ARE HELD BY MASONS
Greetings to the Grand Master
Followed by Two Ad-
dresses.

In keeping with the custom of the
Knights Templar of the Masonic order
throughout the country, Utah com
mandery No. l assembled at the Ma.
sonic temple at 10 O'Clock Saturday
morning (noon Washington time) to
participate in the holiday ceremony.
After the ceremony of greeting to
the grand master, an address on the
sentiments of the day was made by
the Rev. Elmer I, Goshen, pastor of the
First Congregational church. Eminent
Commander j. t. Breckon also made a
few remarks. A musical programme
was also rendered, including quar-
tette selections, "God Is Love" s'Lit.
tie Town of Bethlehem" and "The
Day Is Past and Over Rev. Mr..
Goshen said in part:
The history OF Christmas is so in
WROUGHT into every fabric OF our life;
the associations OF the day are so happy,
It's memories so precious, that IL IS most
dllhcnlt for any one to speak a Christ
mas message that shall equal the rnes-
sages that each heart speaks for itself
This is the time when memory clasps
hands with hope and together they Sit
wonderful garment whose beginnings are
away yonder beyond all sunsets and
sights
What tender sights and scenes come
rushing In at this blessed time
The years have come and gone: they
have brought burdens, some sorrow left
some scars, and we are no longer chill
dren. but men and women with many
privileges. with many responsibilities
But with the coming OF Christmas time
memory waves his wand and over again
we are children.
This Christmas week all over the earth
where civilization has lighted her torches.
where barbarism still holds rule and
sway in cities and In jungles, on noun
tainS and in the plains, along the rivers
and away out on the forbidding waters
OF the ocean. everywhere and wherever
the foot OF man has touched. the Christ
mas fact and the Christmas spirit will
this week light the taDers OF faith and
sing the songs of hope.
No other day. no other event. has ever
had such universal recognition. 1t is
confined TO no one nation. and to no one
people. 1t is celebrated where language
Is as pure as artlculate sound can make
it; it is celebrated where language is
fined TO no one religion. for It pushes
aside the barriers that men have reared
and sounds the eternal note that is uni
versal.
resplendent with elegance; II creeps into
the hovel where sQualor dwells.
II softens the hard places consecrated
to vice, IL scales the walls of the prison.
and through the mystic power Of memory
takes the convict from his cell back to
the scenes OF innocence and sincerity.
IL leaps the barriers of the lazarette
and carries a message that cheers and
comforts the outcast there; II steals
along the corridors of the hospital. stop
ping at each pain-racked couch TO say.
peace on earth" it opens fun wide the
purse OF the charitable. 1t softens n little
the spirit OF the miser: IL creeps up tho
creaking stairs Of the tenement, and.
having a basket and message. IL sheds
over these something OF its cheer.
What does all this mean? Why is this
season and this Christmas day so import
ant, so blessed. so growing? You Will
say this day commentaries the birth of
n child long sung of In song and story.
even the child who was born yonder IN
the maneer In Bethlehem.
But because the ChrIst-spirit saves
both body and soul, because when that
spirit rules q life then meanness and
sordidness and selfishness flies away.
because Of this, I'd give all my poor de-
votion TO him who is King OF Kings and
Lord of Lords