The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-12-29


December 25th. 1t
was determined. however. that this adj
juStment of the calendar should work
10 real loss; but that Sunday and
Christmas day should be observed as
one Pastor Russell was called upon
for sermon in the interest of his i'm
mediate hearers and also for his world
vide congregation Of millions reached
through the public press. Responding.
the Pastor said
1t is new experience to many of us
this losing Of a day for the rectifica-
ton Of the calendar. And yet | reflect
that. after all. many of us have lost
many days each year in very similar
manner AS we journeyed westward
we have kept setting our watches back
rapidly, and thus making our days
twenty-five hours long. until now we
have reached the reckoning period. and
must make good all those advanced
hours by striking out one whole day.
So some of US have heightened our
days into nights and have tiguratively
burned the candle at both ends, only
to find that in the end there must be
compensations. and that we really
have gained nothing over those who
have taken life moderately.
Some have done this in the pursuit
Of pleasure. others in pursuit of wealth,
others in pursuit OF honor, We admit
that extraordinary effort, in any of
these directions is unwise. s, Only in
two ways could an enforced eIpendi'
ture Of life's energies be approved as
wise and judicious.. One OF = these
would be in the service of our God. the
other the service OF fellow men and
it is not strange that in Divine proy-
aence what might be termed g"''oyef
eyertion" in these two directions is
usually non.injurious.. and that there
are ccnpensations3 Of mental and sRirr
ftnal rest aud refreshments peace and
ioTs, Gl.ainableEi in no other way. from
no other ouarter-which the world can
neither give nor take away. III: ...9-is
Sunday and Christmas Shadows Of
Better Things 70 Come
Since we are obliged to lose Sun
day. how fortunate we are in having
Christmas day instead. and thus to
combine in our experiences the two
days which mean so much 10 us in Il
commemorative way and as shadows
of better things to come. hebrews
X. IT, The birth Of Jesus rs the Babe
OF Bethlehem already links this day in
our minds with His birth from the
dead on the first day of the week.
And these two events, inseparable in
their Importance to the Church and
The world. combine peculiarly before
onr minds today.
Christmas day reminds us of the ne
cessity there was for perfect man to
give himself as the RanSom-price--the
corresponding price for the first
Adams ranSgreSsion--befOre reconcile
alton with the Father could be posi-
bic. Hence, as the Scriptures portray.
the great Log0s. the First born of ev-
cry creature tColossians j. 15,. hum
bled Himself. laid aside His glory and
dignity as Il S!iGit being and took the
lower. the human nature. in order that
He. by the grace of God. should taste
death for every man" (Hebrews ii.
81 Begotten of the Holy Spirit at the
time of His conservation at baptism,
it was necessary that He should be
born of the Spirit in the resurrection
that he should become the First
fruits Of them that slept" 1.-The First
born among many brethren 1.-The
First-born from the dead" Il CORN
thians XIV. 20; Romans wifi, 30; Colos-
slams j, 49,
The Meaning Of Christmas.
My text for the occasion is the mes.
sage Of the angels who announced the
Sayior's birth-"Glory TO God in the
highest. and on earth peace. good will
toward men, Luke ii. H.
Il is essential that the dignity. the
glory, the honor OF our Omnipotept
Creator should be maintained: and it
Is advantageous to the interests of all
His creatures TO know Of His great
ness. to appreciate His glory and to
render 10 Him the homage His glorious
character deserves. 1t may be asked,
Why should the angels lay special
stress upon Divine glory and honor at
such a time: Had there been any re
Fiction against the Divine glory and
honor! We answer. Yes. For more
than four thousand years our earth.
so large TO us. but really SO small a
portion Of the Universe. had been a
scene Of disorder quite out Of accord