Sunday at Home.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 39, 23 December 1893, Page 15

Sunday at Home.

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS

[By Richard Hain, Ballarat.]

What a number of thoughts crowd on us at the mention of the word “ Christmas !” What multitudes of old associations, old friends, old hopes, old desires, old fears, old failures, and old successes, present themselves to the mind in connection with that one word! Strange no other day, no other time, no other word has such power over us. “ Christmas ! ” the word causes our memory to go back over a period of sixty years, and reminiscences in crowds come before ns. “ Christmas is coming !” in that faroff olden time filled our youthful mind with delight. It proclaimed a holiday of some weeks’ duration. Other days secured a brief holiday, but Christmas gave the largest one for the year, and brought with it privileges never enjoyed at other times. This holiday was noted for the re-union of families. Sixty years ago families were not so scattered as the}' are now. Men and women were content with what could be afforded them within the boundaries of their native land, and Christmas was the time appointed for united family gatherings. And oh with what anxious expectation the arrival of sons and daughters, brothers and sisters was awaited. And when they came, and loving greetings exchanged, trunks were opened and treasures distributed; presents for father, for mother, for sister who had remained at home, for brother still at school, and for the little ones, always interesting but never forgotten. A re-united family circle • father, mother, sons, daughters, big and little —all once more assembled round the festive board, discussing the good things provided, while the tears of thankfulness and joy could be scarcely restrained. And afterwards when all were seated around the Christinas fire and the “Yule log” was sending forth its light and heat, and the events of the year were discussed, reviewed, and commented on, with what joy the Christmas carols would be sung and games indulged in, until after partaking of Christmas cheer, indulging in Christmas communion, singing- Christmas carols, and playing Christmas games, all would retire to rest tired but happy, And then the father and mother, so thankful that their children, big and little, were all once more sheltered under the family roof, once more reposing under their protecting care, would offer their thanksgivings and their praises to the great Heavenly Father for all his His sparing, His directing, His protecting. and His restraining mercies, find so earnestly pray that God, their God, their father’s God, might continue to be the God of their children, and so guide them that they might loecome blessings to the world, the Church, and all with whom they might be brought into contact. Such scenes rise up before us while thinking of the past. And while we are not of those who believe and constantly assert that “ the former times were better than the present,” yet we could wish that a little more of the simplicity, the home love, the veneration fox- parents and the devout piety of our ancestox-s had been retained. Christmas is celebrated as the anniversary of a birth, consequently the day cannot be separated from this person. Christmas reminds of Christ, find most naturally so. Our era dates from this birth. We do not know whether our common date, 1893, is chronologically correct or not. We cannot be certain if December 25 is the month and the exact day on which Jesus the Christ was born ; nor are we very anxious that tire exact day of His coming should be satisfactorily decided. Nearly' nineteen hundred years ago He came into our world. His birth was humble. His early life obscure. When he reached bis thirtieth year lie assumed the role of a, public teacher. His mission at once

attracted attention. He was altogether unlike any and every other public teacher. He was poor and bumble. He had never graduated in a school of theology, science, or philosophy. He was no brawler, no time-server. He pandered to no vices, either amongst the high or the low. He chose a few intimate followers or disciples, and these He took from the lowest grades, chiefly from the poor fishermen of Galilee, and then opened his mission. And what an opening it was ! It would appear that His great benevolent heart had been gathering up stores of goodness and love, and these He poured forth on the astonished multitudes, to their joy and delight. “ Blessed are the poor in spirit.” “ Blessed are they that mourn.” . . “ Blessed are the meek and so on. and the effect was that “ the common people heai’d him gladly .” “ The poor had the gospel preached unto them.” “ Fie received sinners.” Men said, “ Never man spoke like this man.” “Wh know that, thou art a teacher come from God.” Fie also denounced deceit, oppression, wrong, hypocrisy and formalism. He unmasked mere pretenders, even among the highest, humanly considered ; and while he propounded the purest truths, in the most simple manner, accompanied with the most perfect example, yet He was despised, ridiculed, persecuted, and at the end of three years condemned to a public execution, and put to a most cruel and shameful death. But, strange ! Neither did Flis name nor His influence die, nor were His followers destroyed, but from that time His name has been held in increasing reverence, His power Las been continually extending until His follwers are numbered by millions. And now in every British community, amongst every English-speaking race “Christmas is coming !” is causing the hearts of millions on millions to throb with pleasurable anticipations. Will the readers of the Southern Cross be pleased to remember one ]ihase of the teachings of Jesus —their perfect unselfishness. Fie sought not His own good, but always the good of others. “He came not to be ministered to, but to minister.” One who knew Him v eil summed up His character thus —“ Who went about doing good.” There was nothing selfish either in Jesus or in his teaching. If His professed folio vers exhibit traits of selfishness, they are only very imperfect followers, or only professed ones. As Jesns was so must His followers be. “ Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself,” was His command. “A new command give I you, that ye love one another.” The more closely we follow the teachings of Jesus, the better it will be for us. The more closely we imitate Jesus the more good we shall accomplish. When Jesus is accepted (theoretically and practically) as the world’s pattern, then will come the grand millenium. In the meantime a stranger wishes the readers of the Southern Cross, in the highest, the most exalted sense of the words —A Merrle Christmas and a Happy New Tear. “All hail the power of Jesus’ name, Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem. To crown him Lord of all!”