The Nevada County picayune., 1921-12-29

Text When they saw the Star they retoiccd with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house. they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treas urcs. they presented unto him gifts gold and franllincense, and myrrh. - Mat 2:1011.
 The observance of Christmas iS well night universal in all countries wher" Christ k known. II is safe to say that no other holiday is recognized by so many people or has so large a place in the life of the world. But while the day is almost universally observed by the people of all the countries where any form of the christian church has become established, yet we find almost endless variety in the manner C. its observance Even in our own country where Christmas is the one premier holiday of the year we find beWilder- ing confusion of customs and ideals concerning the proper observance of the day To many if is a day of rev elry and excessive hilarity. To others n season of reckless extravaganza. To others n season of debauchery and riot. and to others still carnival of hoisterous conduct It is really diff cult to understand how so many false and conflicting ideals ever came to be associated with any one day or institu- ton. The only explanation which can be found lies in the fact that every man is disposed to give to all external things the color of his own inward character. After all il is morally and spiritually impossible for Il profane and bcastly man to understand the real spirit of Christmas Where then. in the midst of all these iarring and con tlicting ideals and customs will We find the true ideal of Christmas? In my humble judgment we will not find d more perfect cpitomc of the elements which go to make up the true Christ mas spirit than is given Us in this text Let LIS study it with this thought in mind
 When they saw the star they re ioieed with exceeding great joy. Christmas first of all is a season of ioy. The Angels reioiced at the birth of their King. and for the first. and only time. in the history of the world their joy overflowed the hattlementS of heaven and was poured out upon the listening ears of men. IIhe Shepherds reioiccd when they heard the song, and when they found the new born babe in the Bethlehem cradle; the wise men rejoieed when they saw the star which gu ded them to the fee: of the infant Releemer The tidings which the Angels brought to the wondering Iudean Shepherds were "TidingS oi great joy,whieh shall te#unto Ill l47 pie" Ky every token then Christmas is, or should be- joyous day, and thc true Christmas spirit is a joyous spirit.
 The wise mon reio'eed when they saw the star hceause that star was to them the symbol or sign, of the fultill- ment of their long cherished hopes We shall never know who these men were, or from what country they came hut one thing about them is clear
 they were looking for the advent ot the promised Messiah, Doubtless, they had shared in the longing which de
 vout men had cherished through thu centuries of waiting for the coming of
 Him who was, and is, the Desire of all nations"
 But if the birth of Christ was an oc easion of joy to these faithful and he lieving souls should il not be evet
 moro an occasion of joy to Us ds NJ rejoice III me llght WHICH thdt stdI hds brought to our world through the in
 teryening centuries. and the countless blessings which have come to humanity
 through the advent of Jesus Christ into
 the world. In truth we shudder wher we try to imagine what the conse- ouences would have been if he had not come, and we shrink back with horror