The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1913-12-11
THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS.
The Birth of Our Lord and How
Was Celebrated.

attention to what | am going to
write to YOU. You know Christmas
will soon be here, and you will be
hanging up your stockings and look
ing for Santa Claus to come down
the chimney to fill them up and then
you will have all kinds of nice things
to eat-candy, cakes, nuts and the
like and will be giving and receiv-
ing presents. Now | want to talk to
you about what caused us to keep
Christmas and to give presents.
! Don't you remember that our dear
Savior was given to US at that time,
and then when He lay a little babe
in the manger that the wise men
came from a long distance to wor-
ship Him and bring Him presents?
One beautiful night as some shep-
herds were out in the fields taking
care of their sheep and goats, for in
that country the cattle were driven
d long distance to Craze on the best
grass, all of sudden bright light
shone in the skies and the shepherds
were very much afraid. Then the
angel told them not to be afralI, for
he was bringing them joyful news,
for that very night there was born
the Saviour in the little town Of
Bethlehem and they would find Him
wrapped in swaddling clothes. That
means that His mother did not have
J any nice things to dress Him in, but
Just put on Him whatever she could
get, for they were very poor. Is it
not wonderful that the Lord of
glory shodld choose to come among
US so poor and humble? Thatmust
have been to teach us to be kind to
the poor, and not 70 look down on
people because they are poor.
Then directly a great many angels
came and sang, Glory to God in
the highest and on earth peace,
good will towards men, Shortly
after these things the wise men
came to bring Him presents and
kneel down and pray to Him.
Now, how did these wise men
know about that little baby? They
were guided to His birthplace by
star which went before them until
it stood still over the stable, and
when they got there they went in
and knelt down and gave Him the
presents they had brought for Him:
gold, ,frankincense and myrrh. Now,
the things they brought were very
costly and the very best they had to
give. Don't you think those wise
men took a great deal of trouble to
come from such long distance just
to see humble little baby? These
men were very learned, and they
knew that the birth of the Saviour
was foretold by the holy prophets
from the most ancient times, and
they knew that He was to be born
in the little town of Bethlehem, and
they knew that He was coming just
that way and at just that time. |
want you to get your Bible and turn
to Isaiah, chapter 9, verses 6 and 7,
and then to Micah, chapter 5 and
verse 2. The wise men stopped at
Jerusalem, which is very near Beth
lehem, and made inquiries as to
where the baby was. They called
him the King of the Jews, and that
made King Herod very uneasy, for
he was afraid that this little child
would grow up and take his power
from him. He did not know that
Christ kingdom was spiritual not
an earthly one. Was not that a wicked
deed King Herod did? He sent out
soldiers to kill all the little babies
around, hoping to kill Christ among
them, but Joseph. his stepfather ,and
Mary, his mother, carried Him away
into Egypt until King Herod died.
Now,if you want to do something
to please Christ, give to some child