Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1910-12-21
Christmas
Observance
BY REV. r. L. GILLoN.

1t is not the purpose of this article
to discuss the origin of Christmas,
nor to deal with any mooted questions
pertaining thereto. but to say some
practical things with hope of slim
ulating some interest in right observ-
ance of the day. Some of us do not
believe that Jesus was born on Christ
mas day, and yet we have come to
uniformly observe the day as the time
Of His birth. Let that be as it may,
the fact is that Jesus is the center
and heart of christianity. He is our
all and In ALL He came into this
world as a man. and therefore had
physical birth, whether that birth was
in spring, summer, autumn or winter
does not change the fact of His COM
ing. Since Christmas day is the time
set apart for the observance of His
birth, then the question naturally
arises, How should the day be spent?
The popular and prevailing idea seems
to be that it is time for hilarious
ness, frolic and fun, rather than time
for seriousness, meditation and wor-
ship. There is much to be said touch |
ing the social side of religion, and not |
for one moment would we advocate i
the elimination of merriment, bestow-
ment of gifts, etc. But these things !
are all too often carried to the ex-
IRENE, and thereby come to be sin |
and disgrace in the sight of God. The
idea of gift" is associated with the
birth of Jesus. He was Gods gift to
the world, and therefore the greatest
bestowment of special favor humanity
ever received. He came to lift the
veil of night and gloom from sim
cursed hearts and lives and open to
them pathway of fnexpressable joy
and delight. Hence the giving of pres
ents to gladden. hearts and to meet
actual necessities is a good thing, and
is, when rightly done, religious and
pleasing in the sight of God. 1t is
far better thing to give to the poor,
who are really in need and trust God /
for the rewards, than ito spend lavish ,
ly on personal friends with the idea
Of receiving from those friends gifts 8
In return. Such acts are selfish and
do not SAVIOR of the right observance
Of Christmas day,
1t also goes without saying that
Christmas is good time for the as ! !,
sembling of the family circle around
The old hearth-stone, enjoying hours of !,
social fellowship and partaking heart :,
ly Of the Christmas dinner. But
even this should not be allowed to =
interfere with our worship and heart
levotions to God Certainly the drink
ng Intoxicating liquors, thereby re-
iucing the finer senses of our natures
INTO beastly, fiendish appetites is so
adverse and foreign to the question
lnder discussion, we refrain from
peaking of it further than to say that
uch conduct of necessity merits Gods
and dishonors, rather
han dignifies, the sanctity of Christ t.
mas day. n
Since Christmas is on Sunday this a
ear, this article makes a plea for II
he attendance on church services Is
10Th morning and evening. How could n
gu better spend the day? The reg I
lar services will be held in all the IL
hurches OF our city To lend your a
resenceN and mingle your voice in b
he chorus of some one of the con-
10Y to the World, the
ord Has Come" will be honoring to
iod, dignifying to the cause and ex-
pleasing and satisfying to d;
be individual heart and life. May n,
re hear Gods call and make next p
unday day of worship and thanks a,
living for the Fathers mercies ex- p
ended to us one more year, and thus n,
bserve the national accepted birthday
our Lord as will be pleasing unto
lin. ~
Herald want ads bring results. w