Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1921-12-24
CHRISTMAS the FESTIVAL of LOVE

/ CHRISTMAS the FESTIVAL of LOVE
Love-at once the source, the spirit the sustain
10 influence of the Christmas Time.
The love of children, in their unconscious min,
tU of lfes more serious concerns, their little lows
hat cluster about the dear old myth of Santa Clans
k sleigh and reindeer, his simultaneous appearance
millions OF homes, his inexhaustible pack from
mich millions OF stockings are filled; the love that
makes glad with gifts the tender heart of youth that
hds the full reward of its willing service in the
hghter that leaps from baby lips, the JOY that shines
the baby eyes-the Parent Love, not to be COM
mred with any other form of love in its delcacv of
nception, its unfailing devotion, its supreme infu
nce, its all-sufficient scope.
4 With the elders, too Christmas must ever be the
. Festival of Love-the sweet season of remembrance,
when we take into closer cognizance our relations
With kh and kin, to those associated with us in the
circle of family and friendship. We feel warmer,
more genial glow in our appreciations and admira-
tons and in our antipathies and dslikes touch of
Drance that heals the wounds of conflict aleviates
e he stings of envy and hate.
The Love Divine-that is the love that is not of
ath What season more suggestive of this love than
Birthday of the Christ the first and greatest of all
Christmas Gifts-a gift from the Creator to the world
4He made, the world that He would save-"For God
\ loved the world" says the Holy Writ.
| knoq0 not 70here His islands lift
Their fronded palms in air,
only kno7O cannot drift
Beyond His lOOing care.
This love that irradiates the Christmas season has
bme down through all the ages. twas born of God,
pressed by Him in the Creation first found in HUI
han Form by the First Parent, who looked on earth
rmans dull creed defed its face or nsatiate greed
Nd attened on its wealth. nursed in his single breast
Id bursting forth betmes in widest wish, when she,
e Mother of us ALL first told the tale which ages
e not dulled, and, pressing in his lips ifes first
hid purest kiss made fast the bond of Woman's won
Nous witchery. Thus Love was born; and seeing
bow the beauty of the Thinking Pair accorded with
He beauty of the Silent Mass, the Master smiled and
7hBpered, "It is we'll"
Throug gh the dawns and duskS of the Eden-days,
md beyond, until the birth of Natures earliest heir
rcted in that land of DID, the first of family affairs.
|And from this child there sprung, as if from Hell,
loves bitter rival, Hate; which still stalks on Its
&lbod-bestained way, wearing upon its braZen brow
Crimes branded mark of shame
The years were swept adoWn the grooves OF
&dange and as they passed, Loves empire Wldened
Nth the years. Men multiplied and women won its
VSdom in the walks of wifehood. Coincident with
nman history it sped from Ararats historic height,
ng the pillared cloud and fire that led the steps
tMoSes, flashing forth at fated Ninevah and Tyre,
sprnkling Racheps cheeks with tears and touch
ng Davids lips with song, until it hovered, angel
aped about stable door, within which lay an IN
Ilnts haloed head
Then along the humble way where walked the
'lracle-Worker, on His masters business
reaching the gospel and doing the deeds OF love
N Gethsemane and Calvary and the Arlmathean !
mb, bursting the bonds which valnly tried to hold
deahless spirit of the Christ; needing the apoSt0l-
Echarge and blessing those appointed to Ills WORK
pring the writers of the Word and rising IN SPiel-
mystery amid the miSts of Reyelauo9n-yet tinu- II
time to chime the wedding bells, to kiss the first
m of the free to rule the happy hearts around the
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