Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-12-22
CHRISTMAS DAY

How swiftly the years go by 1t
seems but yesterday when the last
Christmas chimes were rung; since
there were welcomes and gifts to Gig
nifty the gladness in mems hearts
that the Christmas of 1915 had come.
And onw the 1oy-bells are ringing
again, and the greetings and the
gifts for the Christmas of 1915 are
here. The day has all the old Joy
and the old sanctity. 1t commemor-
ates the birth OF One whose life made
such an impression upon the earth
as none other ever did; of One who,
thought of as either human or d.
vine, has no parallel among the chill
dren of men. Millions, the most Gull
tured of the earth, believe in His d.
vinity, and link every hope OF this
life to come with His name, His
teachings and His intercession. The
noblest temples which they can build
are dedicated to His worship, and
the day which is set aside as the
anniversary of His birth is honored
by the ringing of joy-bells, by all the
majesty which comes OF chanting
choirs, pealing organs, burning in
cense, and the solemn splendor of
the mass. The chants and the pray
ers repeat the story of a Savior that,
in His divinity, took upon Himself
mems burdens; how from the man
ger he emerged and walked through a
life Of sorrow steadily up to q death
full OF ignomy and agony, that there
after men might accept their bur-
dens meekly because of the hope
through Him OF a life which should
have no burdens, but should be ra-
diant with everlasting light, and res
onRnt with music more rare than
ever thrilled upon mortal ears. On
the other hand, those who, through
the mysteries of science have CROPPED
until they are certain they have prob
ed mortality to the bottom, and look
down with affected scorn or pity up
on those who nurse Christian Aith
even those turn to the code which He
OF Nazareth drafted; and-thinking
that 1t is the work of one unlettered
In the worlds law, that 1t was franz
ed in rude and violent age, when
the law of might was the law of
right on earth-stand hushed and
filled with awe In its presence. For
that code counsels peace and kind
ness; 1t commands good for evil;
1t holds out brothers hand to the
poor; 1t stoops down and touches
up women, who ever before had been
debased, to the side and on the same
plane with man, and exalts man by
the act: 1t bids man, IL he would be
happy in this world, and II he would
have support and strength at last,
when the light OF this earth grows
dim, he must be Just, must be merci-
ful, must have charity and good
will. It counsels respect for law
warns men that there is a better love
than the love of gold; bids men look
upon their fellow-men as brothers,
and all the time impresses the les
son that this walk on earth is but a
preparation for mortal eyes to gain
strength to look upon glories await
ing them too full of splendor for eyes
which we're never washed and
strengthened by tears to bear.
Among men, they who follow these
teachings are most beloved; among
nations, they who obey those coun-
sells best are the most powerful and
most revered. No wonder then that
the anniversary of the birth OF such
q Master causes a thrill throughout
the universe, that to the lips of the
learned and unlearned alike there
spring welcomes and all halls. Let it.
be so. To make hearts glad is both
q human and divine impulse, and to
bring smiles to the faces of childhood
or of the poor. is a mans highest
privilege. II is good to greet friends;
1t is good to waive any causeless
GOODNESS that has seized upon the
heart; 1t 10 a renewal OF affection
to make even trifling gifts with hear
tiness; It is a welcome thing to pre-
pare and enjoy as savory feast as
ones means Will permit; and to
cause feast to come mysteriously
10 the tables of the poor is a little
blessing to the recipients, an inter-
est bearing blessing to the giver
So Christmas is good every way, and
is the most humanizIng day of the
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