The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-25
CHRISTMAS.

Long before the Christian era saw
20 tribes of the northern hemisphere
from the Mediterranean TO the Arctic
Ocean had yearly held high revel' when
the sun once more set his face towards
tle cold and chilled north. The name
ana record of the man who first dis
covered that the shortest day of De-
oember was the last day on which the
sun was journeyins away from the
north have been lost in the cpscurity
Of 4 forgotten past.
But the feast kept on, though the
founder was forgotten-oust as men
to-day light fires without Knowing or
caring whom II was that first brought
ihs SLIT down from heaven. For all
may warm themselves before q CHEEKY
dame. and all may rejoice in tho depth
of cold and killing winter over the
certain promise OF returning spring.
THAT Is why the feast of Noel and
Of Yuletidc endured 1t had a foun-
dalton of imperishable truth behind
IT. 1t rejoiccd in the hope of tho COM
vest IL the midst of darkness AMI cold
it simulated with fire and ever
green the brightness, warmth and
verdurc OF the summer We, too, are
Kin to those rude forcfathers And
so the impulse for revelinss is not
altogether strange, even in this latc
day. OLD habits are hard TO break,
and the nations OF the world are to-
day the oIdes. nations that time has
seen
But we arc not savaecs wo do
not worship the sun. nor sacrifice men
TO appeasa an unseen God. The be-
ginnings of our Christmas are known.
The land may still be seen where the
first Christmas was celebrated; the
very words in which IL was announced
are heard throughout the world. and
the miracle that II foretolls is FAR
iruer and far more important than
even the return of secdtime and har-
vest. For that miracle goes to tho
life. II is the wonderful truth that
the God who made this world cares
Tor each one in it. and that the
spEingtme of immortality lies waiting
Tor the awakening touch of human
viii And SO the Christmas or to-day
IS strange mixture OF savage sur
N!rai and divine revelation. And in
nothing is the divinity of that con
ception more clearly manifested than
III the care which lie taken a, this
time for the old, the weak, the sick.
ne deformed, the children-for those
VINO without protection could not care
for themselves. for those who yearn
loF happiness they cannot secure by
their own effort. At Christmas
ildn Tho hands OF time turn back, Old
aEo renews the raptures and delights
Q; youth; the long sought spring of
fejnvenation is found, and tho heart
mat is touched b. the Christmas
spirit knows again the unquos,ioning
satisfaction of youth in the iuinsss
% the JOY OF C!vins-that JOY which
never grows oldl
There Rra in Richmond some l5o, 600
people. and not one OF these Will b.
deliberately unremembe rod or over
looked to-day. This city has been
oiessed with material prosperity, bul.
hhove all, has II been blessed with &
spirit of sympathy and kindness and
iove and charity. There may DO emp,y
stockings, but they viii be tow com.
pared with those that have been nued
ny loving hands and the Christmas
spirit There viii DO vanished face.
mat cannot be recalled There VIII
DO breaking hearts FOR death and gor-
roy" who do not stay their coinings
ior any time or season. Blu, above
ind beyond and dominating pu The
sorrow Is the glad consciousnese in
tais city and among its people o,
something OF the JOY tn. angels fel,
When the multitude of tho heavenly
Aosth sang together, Peace on earth
+ood VIII toward mem"
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