Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-12-23
THE INEVITABLE CHRISTMAS.
Tho international Sunday School
Lesson for December 26 is "The
Birth of Christ" Matt. 2: LIP.
CBY WILLIAM T. ELLIs.>


Christmas does not seem Christmas
without their merry laughter and ex-
pitement, the spirit of the day dwells
In the heart. of the child. That Is why
all the unfortunates who have no
children should make it their first con-
great day in the presence of little
ones whom their own forethought and
bounty has made glad.
The difference which a. child makes
IN home has been noted by every
body. The babe Is a heavenly messen-
ger of humanizing, love evoking,
youth renewing, thought provoking
family cementing powers. A childless
home seems more like a hotel, mere
habitation, than like a true home.
Without little one to keep them ten
der and sympathetic, men and women
grow peevish and selfish and over par
ticulars
And what difference has been
made in the whole world by the
Christmas Babe! All the Christmas
trees have been lighted by Him. All
The happy laughter Of merry hearts at
this giaddest season is of His inspir-
alton. The loving gift giving, the
with which this season abounds, all
have their source in the manger.
Whole nations, too, have found lib
erty and life as they have followed the
Christmas star. The radiance of that
star is today penetrating to the re-
hottest corners of earth. Let US larry,
In our own Christmas keeping, to re-
call the significance of the fact that
the same occasion is being observed in
all the continents Of earth today.
Tin Horns as Echoes.
All the joyous racket of Christmas
beating of toy drums, the whirr of
miniature machinery, and the whole
welcome medley of Christmas sounds
lis, after all, a real echo of the
angels song. This merry making of
the little children, as truly as the
superb music of the multitude OF es-
pecially trained Christmas choirs, con-
tinues the message Of peace and good
will which first sounded on the Judean
hills. If we do not find the Christ in
the life of today, we cannot find him
back in Bethlehem
BY the days happiness Of little
children. by the rude simplicity of the
scenes Of the Advent, by the revela-
tions that came to plain men about
their common ways. Christmas sum
mons this old wqyld back to the heart
of childhood. and to the simple joys.
Let us always with the excessive soph-
istication that is suffocating our real
life. Strip off the piled-up material ac
cessories that keep US in bondage. Let
us be brave enough to follow the Wise
Men and the Star to the little town of
Bethlehem.
The World Needs Christmas.
When we come to think deeply on
the subject, we see that this old world
Just had to have Christmas to keep it
from wearing out. The renewing pow
er of this festival of love is really
necessary to the maintenance of life
on a high levol. If we did not have
Christmas, humanity would soon get
~, ifc ir1,
marks heathendom The Kings birth
day would seem to be part of hte Di-
vine plan to keep the world young
In the hands that were once dim
pied baby hands, stretching out with
eooings and crowings toward Mother
Mary, is the key to all the puzziing
problems of our time. A Chinese schol
ar in Berlin has lately written not
able book in German to show how the
Orient's CLAIMANT needs cannot be met
by mere culture; but Chrict, and
Christ alone, can satisfy the great de-
mands of his people. This is the faith
which Christmas re- establishes. Civ
ilization advances only as it hastens,
like the Magi of old, to the King Of
love. The ina gination is bewildered by
the spectacle of the followers in the
train of the three-the Consumers
League, so active at Christmas time;
the many special Christmas charitieo;
and orphanages; the crusades again
preventable diseases; the child labor
laws: the societies for the prevention
of cruelty to animals: the hospitals
and schools and churches--all these
have been called into existence by the
Christ who is in overy sense the
worlds Savior and King.
Following our Stars.
The wisdom OF the Wise Men con-
rfSSsxd in thar p,illip IN he
highest vision they knew. Christmas
represents idealism. 1t is the day sac
red to all who are brave enough to
dream greatly. One of it's lessons is
that which Edwin Markham has writ
ten,
I'm spite of the stare of the wise and
the worlds derision,
Dare travel the star blazed road, dare
follow the vision"
To have a glorious quest. that is life.
The pursuit of the noblest goal Is the
worthiest occupation of man. That is
the eternal teaching of the Wise Men.
They were no impractical dreamers
out of touch with real life: the worst
as well as the best, may be found in
this Christmas story. Herod and his
fellowplotterS We're there; but, they
like all evil, were doomed to be foiled
The good Is sure to triumph. Christ
mas is coming for the whole world
There is the creed of this new era.
There's a, guide time coming" Turk
tsh soldiers may stand guard over con-
tending sects at the literal manger
but still the Christmas peace spreads
everywhere. Even the turbulent Otto
man Empire is being emancipated to
liberty, fraternity and equality by the
genius of Jesus. A day Of world interest
has dawned. The churches are serious
ly considering how thew may best give
Christmas to the uttermost person on
earth.
Yet doth the Star of Bethlehem shed
lustre pure and sweet;
And still it leads as once it led,
To the Messiahs feet.
o Father, may that holy Star
Grow every year more bright.
And send it's glorious beams afar
To fill the world with light.
William Cullen Bryant.