The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1919-12-18
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De
MEANING&
CHRISTMAS
BY REV. t. B. aREeoR

I %kS& the Ideal, humanity YOU'D
have no more history than
a flock of sheep.
~ Such days are the non
ments of mental and spiritual achieve
ment, the eternal reminders Of the
only true progress-the progress that
enables us to perceive and admire the
moral sublime.
Conspicuously radiant among these
gala days is the Christmas, standing
as 1t does for the nativity Of One who,
all theological quibbllng aside, vas the
living embodiment of the most beau
tiful and, at the same time, the most
helpful manhood that this world has
ever seen.
The one who is foremost In our
thoughts at this time was pre-eminent-
ly hopeful. From the harp over
which he swept his hand there came
no pessimistic strain, no note Of de-
spair.
He gave us the gospel, the "Glad
Tidings." To all his word was BE
not afraid" The Supreme in whose
embrace he ever rested, like the babe
In mothers arms, was supreme love.
Hence that other word of his. which
he was so fond Of repeating to the
multitude, Let not your hearts be
troubled"
Religion, so-called, is responsible
for a vast amount Of mental misery.
1t has crazed many a mind, broken
many a heart, driven countless thou
sands into the throes Of despair. but
let it be remembered that the Beauti-
full One who is commemorated In the
Christmas season authorized no man,
or combination Of men, to speak In
his name the word Of gloom.
He who was born in Bethlehem, or
In Nazareth, for it makes no differ
ence where he first saw the light OF
earth, grew up to be the most uncom-
promising optimist that ever walked
the ways of earth. Wherever he went,
along with him went gladness, and
from his radiant presence despair fed
as the darkness fees before the rising
sun.
He was like the wonderful river in
the sea, warming and encouraging all
that he touched. The Gulf Stream of
humanity, he put new life and cour-
age and joy into the cherries, sor-
rowing world to which he came.
And he was able to do this because
he was so gloriously hopeful, 80
stanchly committed to the belief in
the best.
Looking up. he saw, instead of the
"black, bottomless eyesocket," the liv-
ing, loving glance Of the Father"
whose eternal goodness" would never
do him harm.
Looking ahead, this mar saw no
spooks or bogies, no devils or fiends
in the way. The path was clear, and
over it hung no dark clouds Of impend-
ing disaster.
II Jesus had written a poem we
may be sure that 1t would have been
very similar to Whittier's:
I know not where his islands lift :
Their fronded palms in air;
only know / canno drift
Beyond his love and care.
And so beside the silent sea
l wait the muffed oar;
No harm can come from him to me.
On ocean or on shore.
Now 1t is just this sort Of spirit
that every one should feel within the
soul at this Christmas time-the spirit
of a brave trustfulness, Of a rock
ribbed confidence and hope.
BE not afraid of ANYTHING. To he
afraid is TO be a sham, a cringlng
mental, a nobody; while to be able to
believe in the best and to trust that,
no matter what our evil genius may
suggest to the contrary, the light
awaits us on ahead, is to be a hero
and a conqueror, a friend and helper
to all mankind.
1t is well, then, that in obedience
to old custom we should throw about
the Christmas season the ~parti-colored
mantle or joy and wreathe 1t with the
hearts most exurberant gladness.
1t would be a shame not to be glad,
and not to try to make everybody
else glad, on Christmas day!
On Christmas day to be a cynic and
to curl the lip Of scorn at sight Of
the rosy festivities about us, would
be an objectionable crime, the very
abyss of the mean and contemplate.
1t is a part Of the unwritten law Of
every healthful heart that when
Christmas comes we are to put our
best foot forward" cast all al to
the winds and be as full of gladness
and good will as an egg is of meat.
And right here In this unconquer-
able optimism we find the only true
and genuine Christianity. The one
whose birth the Christmas signalizes
came to replace tears by smiles, sor-
row by happiness, worry by conf
dence and despair by the hope that
maketh not ashamed" and in his
name | wish you all a merry Christ
mas l"-not merely an abundance of
turkey and plum pudding, but an ex-
ira abundance of good will to men,"
with no lack Of the disposition and
resolve to make everything else as
happy as yourselves.
@ @gA6ssgW @
%ssagas MsssW
Joy in Conquest.
Life's master-key does for Its pos
SCISSOR what is impossible to those who
do not have it. No future is too for
bidding for men Of the right menta
fiber to fear. Weddings FILTER ant