The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-12-19
CHRISTMAS.

CHRISTMAS.
The Christmas season is upon US and all
are more or less moved by the spirit of the
time. Manifold millions will awake next
Wednesday morning to greet the dawn OF
the natal day of the Prince of Peace.
From the frozen peaks of Alaska to the
cinnamon groves of Ceylon there will float
the sweet triumphant notes of the Christmas
song.
Adown the ages there has run for CEN
turtles the exultant melody of the angelic
host which woke the echoes in the Judean
mountains on the first Christmas morn with
the heaven-born strains of the noblest,
sublmest anthem that ever smote upon
human ears: "Glory to God in the high
est; on earth, peace, good will to men,"
Rejoicing multtudes will take up that strain
and crowd in reverent humility to conse-
Grated affairs to render homage due to Him
who was born in Bethlehem.
Kingdoms have risen and fallen; en-
pires have persisted and passed; crowns
have crumbed; kingy splendor has faded;
sceptres have fallen from nerveless hands
and the names and memories of men who
sat in grandeur in high places are buried
in oblivion. but the name of the Nazarene
hangs upon the lips of countless millions
chanting songs of alteration to His glory.
Against the sweet and simple story of
the wayside inn, the lowly manager, the
young mother and the babe nesting on
her bosom, the Star in the East guiding
the wandering Magi to where was to be
found the virgin mother and the child the
shafts of skepticism have been hurled for
centuries. Science and philosophy have
been invoked to aid the warfare on the
comforting belief which millions of the
children OF men fondly cherish, but every
assault has been in vain.
Each passing year but adds thousands
to those who gladly believe the old, old
story-and the ever increasing army of the
church of the living God goes resistlessly
forward on its conquering march, bringing
each day nearer the time
ssBy prophet bards pretold
When with the ever-circling years
Comes round the age of gold,
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing"
During the Christmas tide there is more
charity, good cheer and general desire to
please than is found at other times of the
year. While it is more of feast for the
young, it also means much for the mature.
Many imbibe the spirit of the season with
out thinking of the cause for it, and posi-
bly, not even caring why there is so much
joy and good fellowship in the world at
this particular time of the year. There is
no denying the fact that our thoughts and
deeds at this time are better, nobler than
usual and our desire to do something good
is above the normal. These qualities are
all right and to great degree admirable,
but a little thought, with the rest, might do
some good.
If we will only think moment of the
cause of this good feeling the joy that
is in the world at this season, more than
any other-and allow ourselves to be i'm
pressed with the idea that the true spirit
means not personal or family joy and
happiness, but the joy of mankind; that
conditions exist among people which rem
der it exceedingly difficult for them to ex-
perience the least of the joy and happiness
which flows so freely to US. If we will lay
aside little of our selishness-and we are
all more or less thus afflicted-and try tc
allay some of the sorrow and suffering oil
those less fortunate than we, the world viii
be more full of real joy and we shall be
more happy in that we have made others
more contented than their natural condi.
ton would allow.
The essence of the Christmas spirit il
'good will to men," the abnegation q
selfishness, which is the ruling factor a
all times. This Christmas spirit spreads
like an infection and makes the world bet
ter for a time at least. Hard men ar,
softend by it, and, though they may grow
hard again, have for the time being a new
kind OF enjoyment in following the Gus
toms Of the season. 1t is more important
however, to have the Christmas spirit thai
to simply follow the fashion of the day. l
is the Christmas spirit of unselfishness tina
should be cultivated and then the custom
will be observed as a matter of course
Those who have never found any particu
lar enjoyment in Christmas ought to stud,
how to make Christmas enjoyable for them
selves and other people. The other peopl