The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-12-20
TRUE CHRISTMAS
SPIRIT IS NEEDED
Pastor of Phillips COngTega-
tionaI Church breaches on
Timely Subject.
DAYS TRUE SIGNIFICANCE
REAL SATISFACTION AND JOY LIE
IN GIVING.

The preacher at Phillips church last
evening. the Rev p. A. S!mpkin, pre-
scented the thought of the spirit that is
needed TO make true Christian. Basins
mis- sermon on the word of Paul about
Jesus, in the Catalan letter, who gave
himself" Mr.. Simpkin said:
I'VE are about to enter on the hardest
and most blessed week of the year. Lights
and music and laughter. toll and tears
and tremOr or heart, signs and songs
viii mingle as the world turns to race
Christmas.
ct Is the week wonderful when the
thought of all the world worth While
will be given to planning happiness Tor
young and old, for the poor and broken
for sick and discouraged. For a little
day the light that never was on land OF
sea a thing abiding, will break with nys-
tic CLEAN and quiet beauty on all Lne
world In the grayest places for hIlle
day God viii walk among men IN the
figure of the Christ and the beauty OF
him will be visible in the lives or a null
titude of simple men and women VINO nave
caught his age-message and echo his love
song.
For a brief span the human soul viii
reach to catch from the perfect day the
interest OF the ages tears as II sets the
law of love into the forefront Of service
1t will be a wOnder-week for more than
the children, to whom the candle-lighted
tree, with its toys and tinsel VIII De
more glorious than STARTLED heaven
for whom life's keenest memories fade
to dimness. who will find answered the
quavering song OF age:
Put your arms around me, there, like
I want a little petting at life's setting.
For tbs harder to be brave when IeeDle
age comes creeping,
And finds me weeping dear ones gone
Just a little petting at LIES setting,
For Pm old. alone and tired and my lie
long work is done
1.-THE poor and wretched who through
life's misfortune or thriftlessness sit in
dark places will find the eclipse of love
sun DER for d day, and warmth ana
plenty will make the grimiest corners or
life light and sweet
.sBIIt the most wonderful thing will not
be the ring Of Tapture-kssed child faces
about the Christmas tree, nor the poor
piuChed faces that know for day plenty
and love, not the sparkling eyes on Hald
or wife viewing loves gift Back OF them
is the sacred fire whose CLEAN these
faces carry.
Tine spirit that makes the Christmas
is the love that moves to give and to be
I'm the gift. The true glory OF the sea-
son burns in the hearts that love ana
feel and minister to need and sorrow as
we'll as to the hearts idols.
Parenthood's Sacrifices.
IN the hearts of the mothers and
fathers whose very life gives pinch Of
itself in the sacrifices that make the day
a lOve-sanctuary there burns the true
fire. The busy man OF a1T2uSi SlItlng
in his office the bOnd-seryanL of great
concerns that reach him by phone ana
mail and cable, the lawyer and pnysl-
clan, the banker and mlne-master, VIII
sit and once and again smile with glad
ness and heart-warmth as he thinks of
the ministry his gift TO the needy VIII
bring ia the days, as he gives 10 touch
the life of the comm unity.
There will be the glOw-the mirrored
light Of Bethlehem's star-wherever low
ing hearts are planning TO make bit
of giadness for the children Of men. That
is the wonder-spring of Christmas.
Earth has no human pledge or the
golden day to be more perfect than this
vision of men copying God in acts OF
love, help and tenderness
The Christmas wonder was and is
abidingly in the God, giving of himself
Id men God thrOned i'm a temple Of clay
giving his life, truth and love TO men
lis the ideal And it is more ourselves
IN sympathy with the poor and broken
Than even our gifts, a living spirit OF
entering in to share life rather than
our loaf that will make either day
or an age of Christmas. For Christmas
is more than merry feast in the calen-
dar 1t is the solution of all the world
maze and tangle, as God taught US IN
the angel song.
ut is this spirit that draws like a vast
sOul-mOOn the tide of life TO surge IN
mighty strength once in the year break
ing i'm snowy foam about the feet Of en-
thrOned humanity.
rs it too trite to say to our hearts
that happiness for us and the world about
ms is only in this simple obedience to
the law Christ unveiled in his own Civ
ing2 Only the miser-heart can live in
continued JOY al receiving and having.
The Godike find the satisfaction and JOY
that abide and purify as they break life
with prodigal hand for the worlds need.
If for yourselves YOU would find the
DAYS Of Yuletide happiness your gift, let
your child, your wife, your friend, your
poor brother. know the remembrance Of
gift. but let your bread your warm gar
ments your toys or jewels that speak
the Christmas JOY, carry bit OF your
self. for only on the golden threads that
read from your heart with your gifts
can be carried to your soul or from it
the rich music that forever will echo the
angel-song to the heart that has learned
tho lesson of frf1p self giving