Show CHRISTMAS pleasant memories of the past increase our joy and make more than welcome the return of another christmas it is a time of joy to every christian Chri silan home where peace and love inspire the refrain where they have learned to sing the song which a angels sang the song of love they learned in heaven peace on earth goodwill to men another link is added to the chain that binds us to the greatest and the best another period marks the termination of the most beautiful sentence ever written in the history of our lives alff bids us stop and think how grand the event which ushers in the most glorious epoch of the worlds history when was revealed the rich provision made in the heavens for the consummation of human redemption the worlds redeemer the mystery attending his advent to this sphere in the manner and similitude of man seemed to check the royal reception due to him who had been ordained and anointed to be the king of kings and lord of lords that mystery still clings to the mind of man though centuries have passed and many hundreds of times the world has celebrated the event much indeed like those of old who worshiped god but did it ignorantly mystery has been perpetuated it has been an attractive feature of the commemoration of that event to the present and the great wonder is how santa claus can come down the chimney with his bundles of sweets and toys and make good his escape after leaving his complement of generous gifts to all the little folks who are sleeping at the time this mysterious personage is almost as world wide in his visitations and in the distribution of gifts as was the redeemers mission to universal man childhood and youth are made joy ful by the one while manhood and old age more fully appreciate the other the birth of christ will be commemorated mem orated to the end of time christmas is usually and ap abely devoted to merriment though by some perhaps carried to excess this should not be no theme can possibly be contemplated that should awaken such feelings of gratitude and thanksgiving and kindle such spiritual fire in the soul of man as the one we are now permitted to contemplate what deep solicitude what yearnings of the soul must have pervaded those blissful realms when christ left the presence and glory of the father on that perilous mission which was to rescue another world and its living souls from the powers of misery and death and add another mansion to the realms of the redeemed ones what plantings ings and preparations were engaged in by the councils of that august presence when angels were made his attendants worlds made their obeisance and the stars 0 heaven were appointed as lamps to light his way to this dark earth when to him was committed the keys of both life and death with power to call to his aid at any time his friends from the asirit cirit world when a cohort of angels was placed at his service and subject to his command with the assurance of the father that he should not be forsaken that he should accomplish his mission and return to receive receive again the glory that he had with the father before the world was and added to that glory be kingdom and dominion to be shared with all those who should be saved through his divine intervention and should desire to dwell with him as he with the father who of today can appreciate the greatness and grandeur of the plan of salvation devised for man who can fathom the depth and power of that love which placed heavens best gifts within his r reach each with the kind and loving invitation to drink freely of the waters of life and live forever all the love we can bestow all the gifts we can impart will inadequately evidence our appreciation of the spirit with which we should celebrate christmas and so teach the rising generation that the spirit of love even the love of god may flow down with the ages tilt tift time shall be no more and glory majesty and power be the everlasting heritage of the redeemed S W RICHARDS |