Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-24
XMAS MESSAGE IS.
GIVEN BY PASTOR
Of PRESBY CHURCH
LOOP EDiFiCE is PACKED WITH
HOLIDAY WoRSHlPERS WHEN
DAY is COMMEMORATIVE WITH
FITTING SERVICES.

Christmas Sunday was one of the
best days OF the year at the Presby-
tcrian church A large attendance in
the morning ,hc "Ilallelujah chorus"
al 4 voluntary on the organ by Mrs.
! WIN. c. Paisley rendered in her very
| talented way; 20 Little Town OF Beth
lehem" and "To Victory" as choir Sc
loctions together with "Thc Christ
mas Message" made a most helpful
and interesting service.
"Thc Christmas Message spoke OF
the need of the world. The power ID
meet that need. aud the love Of God
/ that was manifested in providing for
the supply of that need The pastor,
Rev Vonckx said
"Thc worlds heart is being soften.
ed under the influence of the Chris
tianity and the recurring Christmas
seasons.
! "Do not think Of the world as a
lifeless, unyitalzed mass. but as an
aggregation of Gods children. Nc
babe ever received more thought and
care than this world OF ours, for as
,thc afflicted child is the object Of
greater care from the parents 80 this
afflicted world Of ours has been the
object of Gods constant care. The
afflletion Of the world is spiritual In
nature. spiritual cancer, sin. that
has polluted the very heart of society,
50 that Paul could writo his terrible
Indictment contained in the first chap.
ter Of Romans, This is corroborated
by contcmporancous history and the
revelations of the unearthcd Pompeii.
In view of this moral and spiritual de.
,pravity the magnitude of the work
becomes obvious,
Fear not was the message Of
he angels, and tho reason for the
confidence Is in the coming Of the
Saviour for while the coming OF the
Saviour acknowledges the need. It
llso gives assurance of power without
which there can be no Saviour Jesus
Chrst's coming into the world has
put the saving element into society
with the result that beginning with
he first century Of the Christian era
he upward march of the race began.
And since that time the good and the
bad have been In conflict, the en-
lobing work of the good has gone
forward and the degrading work of
he bad has continued its work and
1t stated periods this has brought
about an open conflict such as we are
| engaged in at the present time: but
he good has triumphcd after each
such conflict so that each new period
has found itself on higher ground
With The result that today we are al
he highest point of civilization and
refusing 10 allow great unprlnciplct
nation to carry us back to the mora
'cvcls of the medlaval times whci
might was right II Is the love %
iod that has provided this saving
element for society that viii ultimate
i'y carry us to that day when love an'
righteousness will prevail, for cacl
succeeding conflict carries us to high
az levels and after the last great con
1ic, when according to Scripture Coz
i, Himself shall intervene In behalf o
4! he good. then the Gold Age will b
/, attained"
Baptist Church.
a large eongregat ion was IN attent
n ancc last night nj the Baptist churc
+ At the white Gifts" Christmas pre-
d gram. given by the Sunday schoo
The pulpit platform was appropriated
decorated in white. The Whit
Christmas idea was presented by IN
y following east Of characters, splcndi,
y " fitted out for their parts.
lIerald-Wllliam Grover.
~ King--F. S. pritcbard.
III Attcndants-Andrew BOwcrmaste
ce Albert Griffith. Kenneth Snarr.
81 Interprctcr--J. l.. Hoif.
" Men Gvers-p. G.. McGillvra an
: Frank Cole.
= Woman Giver-Mrs. JOS. Baker