Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-12-30

Y
-...1 49,. 23d and awakened
I&SIDR 9gSSEll in the morning Of
December 25th. II
was determined, however, that this ad
iustment of the calendar should work
no 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
wide congregation of millions reached
through the public press. Responding
the Pastor said:-
1t is a new experience to many of us
this losing of 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 al those advanced
hours by striking out one whole day.
So some of us have heightened our
days into nights and have figuratively
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
hare 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. Only In
two ways could an enforced expendi-
ture of life's energies be approved as
wise and judicious. One Of these
would be in the service of our God, the
other in the service OF fellow-men; and
II is not strange that in Divine provl-
dence what might be termed "Over-
eIertiOn" in these two directions Is
usually non-injuriOus, and that there
are compensations Of mental and spir-
itual rest and refreshment. peace and
Joy Obtainable In no other way, from
no other quarter-w which the world can
neither give nor take away.
Sunday and Christmas "Shadows OF
Better Things to 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 to us in a
commemorative way and as shadows
Of better things to come" Hebrews
Z H. The birth of Jesus as 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
our minds today.
Christmas day reminds us Of the ne
cessity there was for a perfect man to
give himself as the Ransom-price-the
corresponding price for the first
Adams transgression-before reconcile
alton with the Father could be posi-
Die, Hence, as the Scriptures portray,
the great LOOOs. the "First-born Of eV-
cry creature" (Colossians /, 15). hum
bled Himself. laid aside His glory and
dignity as spirit being and took the
lower the human nature, In order "that
he by the grace of God. should taste
ueath for every man." (Hebrews H.
" Begotten of the Holy Spirit at the
ume Of His consecratiOn at baptism,
II was necessary that He should be
OOrn Of the Spirit in the resurrection
that He should become ''the First
iruits of them that slept" ''the First
OOrn among many brethren" "the
tirst-born from the dead" Il CORN
aians XIV, 20; Romans viii. 20; COlOs-
slams 1, 1877
The Meaning Of Christmas.
My text for the occasion is the mes
sage OF the angels who announced the
savior's birth-"Glory to God in the
highest and on earth peace. good Will
"ward men" Luke Il, ID.
1t Is essential that the dignity, the
glory, the honor of our Omnipotent
lreator should be maintained; and II
Is advantageous to the interests OF all
MS creatures to know of His great
ness' to appreciate His glory and TO
render to Him the homage His glorious
deserves. 1t may be asked,
Mny should the angels lay speciai
s'resS upon Divine glory and honor at
such time? Had there been any re-
sectlon against the Divine glory ana
aonor? We answer. Yes. For more
'uan four thousand years our eartn'
70 large to US, but really so small
portion OF the Universe. had been 3