The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-12-25
Christmas Sermons
CHRISTMAS AND THE CHILD.
SPIRIT
Harry Evans, Pastor
Congregational Church


The thrill that comes to our hearts
at the approach of Christmas is Pc
cular in that there is nothing quite
like it in all the year.
Other days have bright and beauti-
fu: anticipations, but the day OF
Christ's Nativity is childhood
Dry, and special JOY never dies out
in the heart OF the Christian, however
white the hair may have become with
the passing years.
The birthday Of Jesus has in it the
secret Of immortal youth. We are
all children again as Christmas
draws near. Our hearts bound with
delight at the thought of its coming.
The memories Of happy childhood, in
loving, happy Christian home
makes Christmas as great Joy to
grey haired men and women as to the
expectant hearts of boys and girls.
What a charm there is to home.life
that is built about the m anger cradle.
And what pathos and soul poverty to
childhood that has no 'Star in the
east no ''Shep herds keeping watch
over their hocks by night no 'an-
gels song" no Heavenly host no
''Sweet mother and her Heaven.sent
babe" no "Wise men with their gifts
Of gold frankincense and myrth'.
We're there no other proof OF the
~ ~ -; tc
effect upon Childhood, and its pc
culiar fitness to the innocence and
trustfulness OF infancy, this alone
would mark it as OF heavenly origin.
Saint James stated an eternal truth
when he said "A fountain does not
send forth from the same spring sweet
water and bitter Oh what sweet
ness Of love and life has Towed fourth
TO the worln from the manger cradle
OF Bethlehem.
Child-life noorisned on this story
has been raised in an atmosphere of
purity and JOY Words worth beautl-
fully say, Heaven lies about Us in
our infancy and that is true if we
are brought up on the Chris tmas
story.
To me the Story of Bethlehem has
a charm associated with all that is
good and divinely lovely, both in
early life and in mature years. In
fact, the way to me has always been
radie Mt with the light of holiness and
love, because my heart learned its
sweetness in the days of childhood
from lips now still in death.
The whole idea of Christmas ap-
peals to certain recovery of our
youth and is symbolic OF the renewing
and transforming faith. We profess
as followers OF Him who came to
give us the Life more abundant.
Emerson has said "9enius is large
ly the power of retaining childhood
of remaining original"
In some ways We are never 30 great
as in our childhood. The child Of
the mansion will play with the child
of the cottage. It knows no social
distinctions. The spirit Of cast Is
absent. The child-spirit of origin
ality, simplicity, sincerity and love
all the greatest asset of human life.
The trouble with so many of US is,
that Ne arc in hurry to get rid Of
our childhood. Christ ever remained
as He came. He refused to be con.
tam mated BY the prevailing atmos.
phere, and would not walk in the
conventional paths of the Scribes and
Pharisees. He retained the child
ssirit OF simplicity, sincerity and love
through all His earthly life.
May these qualities be seen in us at
this glad season let the child-spirit
make Christmas day of love. The
babe OF Bethlehem came into this
world as the gracious gift Of God TO
men that needed nothing 30 much IS
love. Where Christmas is, there Is
love and the fruits Of love, and the
practise of love make Christianity.
May "The Babe OF the manger
cradle" The child-spirit Of love como
to this sin-cursed and war-ridden
world and bind up its wounds and
bring in universal peace.
A distinguished Jew from Asia
visited New York, he was shown its
schools, skyscrapers, subways,
churches. at last he was taken to the
Presby terian hospital and was great
ly impressed with it, but thought It
most natural that Presbyterians
shovld care for the sick OF their de-
nomination.
But when he walked through the
words he found men Of every fsith
Catholics, Jews, and even > stray
Mohammsdan-me men of oil creeds,
lsnguagss and colors. Going up TO
ono poor fellow 6 Turk b inquired
.'Whss srs you paying for your csre
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