Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-06-14
"Again loved Christmas
is here"
6 A GAIN loved Christmas

" A GAIN loved CnrlstmfS
~ here, full of divine benedic-
4 Ations and crowned with the
dearest memories In human history
the earthly advent and nativity OF
our Lord and Master. AT this happy
season the veil of time springs aside
1t the touch of Love. We count our
blessings and see whence they came
and whittier they tend" So writes
Mary Baker Eddy. the Discoverer
and Founder of Christian Science. on
page 256 of "The First Church of
Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany"
This impressive season will never
lose its attraction for humanity.
whose innate desire is to express
love. Human hearts are softened In
commemoration of the blessed Beth
lehem babe, whose birth dated the
Christian era because his life set o
new standard for human thought
and action. Jesus advent in the
flesh marked the appearing Of the
Messiah, or Saviour of mankind, for
which prophets and godly men and
women had longed with tender ex-
pectation, and which they greeted
with praise and gratitude.
The devout New England preach
er-poet, Phillips Brooks, caught the
beautiful sentiment of Christmas,
and indited a hymn which has since
become beloved. The tenderly I'M
pressive first verse reads:
30 little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie:
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight"
Yes, the hopes which had been en-
tertained by consecrated Biblical
characters. during the preceding Co =
turtles, met their fulfillment that
night, when "the everlasting Light"
shone over Bethlehem, and the prec-
ious promise of mankind's salvation
began to be realized. And today It 10
beyond human ability to measure
the beneficent results of the advent
Of Jesus nineteen centuries ago.
At Christmas time spiritual quail
ties are more clearly recognized and
valued, and are expressed to a great
er extent. It Is not material gifts in
themselves that count, but the
thoughtfulness, the loving-kindness
expressed in little tokens of love, the
desire to surprise loved one and
to impart Joy. Everyone values these
signs Of love, and seeks to recipro-
cate by rendering. In exchange. APP
probation and gratitude. Thus IL the
spirit Of tn, Christ expressed In low
ing deeds. even as the Apostle Paul
urged upon the Romans: "Let love
be without discrimination. Be
kindly affectioned one to another
with brotherly love" (Romans 12:9.
10Y. The true worth Of Christmas
lies not in material gift giving. but
In the deepening and extending of
the true sense Of love between
brethren, and in a broader answer
to the question, "Who is my neigh
bour?" =,
Human life is enriched beyond cal
culation, because centuries ago there
was born, in Bethlehem, the babe
Jesus. who, in his later ministry,
faithful to his trust. revealed and
demonstrated the Christ, founded
Christianity. and gave to all men
the gospel of love. This, then, shows
whence come our blessings, land
whittier they tend"
It is the Christ-spirit, the tender
influence of the Christ-power, that
is making the world better place
In which to live. Gratefully may we
acknowledge this sacred influence
upon the lives of men. and seek to
reflect divine Love. in spreading
kindness. love. and cheer around us.
Our true desire finds expression in
Mrs. Eddy; Christmas message for
1900 (ibid.. p. 257): ITO this aus
picious Christmastide, which hal
lows the close of the nineteenth CEN
tury, our hearts are kneeling hum
bly,. We own his grace. reviving and
healing. At this immortal hour, all
human hate, pride. greed. lust should
bow and declare Christ's power, and
the reign o. Truth and Life divine
should make mans being pure and
blest. The ChriStid Science Mont
tor.