Show Christmas GLORY to God in the highest and andon on earth peace good will toward men Nineteen hundred years ago as the shepherds of J Judea udea tended their flocks on the hills near Bethlehem a bright light rent the darkness of the heavens and among many glorious forms there revealed one more majestic than the rest stood forth and proclaimed to the world this message of God which has since echoed unceasingly down the succeeding succeeding succeeding suc suc- centuries centuri s in commemoration of the holy eve when our Lord Jesus Christ was born The birth of a child in a lowly manger manger manger man man- ger was little heeded by the world that night but the rejoicing was great in heaven and the angels appeared on earth to do reverence to the Son of God three Thirty-three years afterwards the years King of the Jews and Lord of the world was crucified by his death atoning for the sins of man His divine teachings have been given gi to the world for all nations and all ages while the example of his life is engraved on the hearts of all his disciples The day of the Nativity was made a time of feasting and rejoicing to us even as it was to the angels for each year that day brings the message of salvation and deliverance to the world anew There are few hearts however hardened at other times that can resist the Christmas message message of peace and good goodwill goodwill goodwill will while for those who have done well there are no more glorious words in our tongue than th those se of the first Christmas carol The birthday of the Savior is celebrated celebrated cele cele- rated in many different lands and many legends lend their charm to the wonderful wonder wonder- ful story of that holy day An old Norwegian myth relates that when the birth of Christ took place a astar astar astar star fell from the heavens hea leaving a abright abright abright bright trail of light in its wake The star touched the earth in the great pine forests far away among the mountains and in th that t spot a plant sprung up and blossomed in the snow The blossom was white and glittered like a star while its fragrance was like that of no earthly flower and people called it the Star of Bethlehem In the morning the plant had vanished but every Christmas eve it blooms at midnight and glitters in the snow until the dawn And he who will follow the Star of Bethlehem that shines in the sky may if he be pure of heart find that flower of Bethlehem and pluck from the Now the flower it snow possesses possesses possesses pos pos- a soul so if if it be given to the dying to inhale its fragrance the soul of the flower will be transmitted and u with it new life with which to worship our Lord Jesus Christ Redeemer Redeemer of mankind The meaning of the legend is clear for in the soul of the flower is seen the true spirit of the star of Bethlehem r breathing spiritual welfare and health 4 to man even as the fragrance of the t flower gave to him new bodily health ff and strength The message of Christmas is a happy one one in which all mankind should rejoice What day could be more fittingly fittingly fittingly fit fit- z tingly devoted to joyful celebration and andy y friendliness than that of the birth of off f Him who gave His life for our redemption tion and in whose praise the voices of all nations are lifted Ch Christianity i has fk overspread the whole world its influence influencer r is felt in every nation heathen or Chris Chris- tian The story of the life of Christ is isee ee j s1 familiar to everyone while the divine u t example of that life illuminates the thet t darkness darkness before us and like the star of off f old guides our steps along the rocky rf path un unto to our Bethlehem Let us then 2 f join in a solemn festival in praise of our Savior and celebration of the sacred night of his nativity U that happy night That to the cottage as the crown Brought tidings of salvation down |