Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1919-12-12

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ments of mental and spiritual achieve.
rnent, the eternal reminders Of the
only true pr0gress-the progress that
enatles us TO perceive and admire the
moral sublime.
Consplcu0usly radiant among these
gala days is the Christmas. standing
as II does for the nativity of One who,
all theological quibbling aside, was tie
living embodiment Of the most bean.
tiful and, at the same time, the most
helpful manhood that this world has
ever seen.
The one who Is foremost in our
thoughts nj this time was prp.emlnent.
~ hopeful From the harp over
which he swept his hand there came
no pessimstic strain. no note of de-.
spar.
lie gave US the gospel the "Gla,l
Tidlngs." To all his word was BE
not afraid" The Supreme in whose
embrace he ever rested. like the babe
In mothers arms, was supreme loyc.
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.
II has crazed many mind. broken
many heart, driven countless thou.
sands Into the throes of despair. but
let II be remembered that the BeautI
full One who Is COMMUNICATED 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 1t makes no differ.
ence where he first saw the Hight of /
earth. grew UP to be the most uncom. +
promising optimist that ever walked I
the ways of earth. Wherever he went.
along with him went gladneSs, and
from his radiant presence despair flea
as the darkness fees before the rising
sun.
He was like the wonderful river I'm
the sea, warming and encouraging all
that he touched. The Gulf Stream of
humanity. he put new life and conr.
age and JOY Into the cheerless, sor.
rowing world TO which he came.
And he was able to do this because
he was so glorionsly hopeful, so
stanchly committed to the belief In
the best
Looking up, he saw, instead of the
black bottomless eyesocket," the liy.
ng, loving glance of the Father"
whose eternal goodness" would never
10 him harm.
Looking ahead this man saw no
ipooks or bogies. no devils or hends
n the way. The path was clear. ana
'yer It hung no dark clouds of impenJ
NJ disaster.
II Jesus had written poem we
my be sure that II would have been
cry similar to Whitter's
know not where his Islands LIT
Their fronded palms In air.
only know canno. drift
Beyond his love and care.
And so beside the silen. sea
walt the ,uffied oar
No harm can come from him to me
On ocean or On shore.
Now It is just this sort of shirt
nat every one should feel within the
1ul at this Christmas time-the spirit
a brave trustfulness, of rock.
bbed confidence and hope.
BE not afraid of anything. To be
fraid is to be a sham. n cringinc
enial. nobody; while to be mil. IN
aieve IN the best and to trust tb.,
D matter what our evil genius nav
lggest to the contrary. the llpb,
waits us on ahead, is to be hero 7
nd conqueror. friend and helner Ii
all mankind. b
II Is well, then, that In obedience T
old custom we should throw about =
e Christmas season the parti-colorcJ
antle or JOY and wreuthe II with the
carts most nxurberant gadness.
II would be shame not to be olnd
I'd not to try to make everybody
se glad, on Christmas dayl
On Christmas day to be . rynic and