SPIRJT OF 
 CHRJSTAVAS 
 
 VAN 
 DYKE
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 CAUFOftNIA 
 
 SAN DIEGO

 
 THE 
 
 SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS 
 
 BY 
 HENRY VAN DYKE 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 
 1905
 
 Copyright, 1905, by Charles Scribners Sons 
 Published, October, 1905 
 
 The Trow Press, New York
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 A DREAM-STORY PAGE 
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 3 
 
 A LITTLE ESSAY 
 
 CHRISTMAS-GIVING AND CHRISTMAS-LIVING . 33 
 
 A SHORT CHRISTMAS SERMON 
 
 KEEPING CHRISTMAS 45 
 
 TWO CHRISTMAS PRAYERS 
 
 A CHRISTMAS PRAYER FOR THE HOME . . 51 
 A CHRISTMAS PRAYER FOR LONELY FOLKS . 56
 
 A DREAM-STORY
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 IT was the hour of rest in the Coun- 
 try Beyond the Stars. All the silver 
 bells that swing" with the turning of 
 the great ring of light which lies 
 around that land were softly chim- 
 ing; and the sound of their commo- 
 tion went down like dew upon the 
 golden ways of the city, and the 
 long alleys of blossoming trees, and 
 the meadows of asphodel, and the 
 curving shores of the River of Life. 
 At the hearing of that chime, all the 
 angels who had been working turned 
 to play, and all who had been playing 
 gave themselves joyfully to work. 
 Those who had been singing, and 
 [3]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 making melody on different instru- 
 ments, fell silent and began to listen. 
 Those who had beer walking alone 
 in meditation met together in com- 
 panies to talk. And those who had 
 been far away on errands to the 
 Earth and other planets came home- 
 ward like a flight of swallows to the 
 high cliff when the day is over. 
 
 It was not that they needed to be 
 restored from weariness, for the in- 
 habitants of that country never say, 
 "I am tired." But there, as here, the 
 law of change is the secret of happi- 
 ness, and the joy that never ends is 
 woven of mingled strands of labour 
 and repose, society and solitude, mu- 
 sic and silence. Sleep comes to them 
 not as it does to us, with a darkening 
 of the vision and a folding of the 
 wings of the spirit, but with an open- 
 [4]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 ing of the eyes to deeper and fuller 
 light, and with an effortless outgoing 
 of the soul upon broader currents of 
 life, as the sun-loving bird poises and 
 circles upward, without a wing-beat, 
 on the upholding air. 
 
 It was in one of the quiet corners 
 of the green valley called Peacefield, 
 where the little brook of Brighthopes 
 runs smoothly down to join the River 
 of Life, that I saw a company of 
 angels, returned from various labours 
 on Earth, sitting in friendly converse 
 on the hill-side, where cyclamens and 
 arbutus and violets and fringed or- 
 chids and pale lady's-tresses, and all 
 the sweet-smelling flowers which are 
 separated in the lower world by the 
 seasons, were thrown together in a 
 harmony of fragrance. There were 
 three of the company who seemed to
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 be leaders, distinguished not only by 
 more radiant and powerful looks, but 
 by a tone of authority in their speech 
 and by the willing attention with 
 which the others listened to them, as 
 they talked of their earthly tasks, of 
 the tangles and troubles, the wars and 
 miseries that they had seen among 
 men, and of the best way to get rid 
 of them and bring sorrow to an end. 
 "The Earth is full of oppression 
 and unrighteousness," said the tall- 
 est and most powerful of the angels. 
 His voice was deep and strong, and 
 by his shining armour and the long 
 two-handed sword hanging over his 
 shoulder I knew that he was the 
 archangel Michael, the mightiest one 
 among the warriors of the King, and 
 the executor of the divine judgments 
 upon the unjust. "The Earth is tor- 
 [61
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 mented with injustice," he cried, "and 
 the great misery that I have seen 
 among men is that the evil hand 
 is often stronger than the good hand 
 and can beat it down. 
 
 "The arm of the cruel is heavier 
 than the arm of the kind. The unjust 
 get the better of the just and tread on 
 them. I have seen tyrant kings crush 
 their helpless folk. I have seen the 
 fields of the innocent trampled into 
 bloody ruin by the feet of conquer- 
 ing armies. I have seen the wicked 
 nation overcome the peoples that 
 loved liberty, and take away their 
 treasure by force of arms. I have 
 seen poverty mocked by arrogant 
 wealth, and purity deflowered by 
 brute violence, and gentleness and 
 fair-dealing bruised in the wine- 
 press of iniquity and pride. 
 
 [7]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 "There is no cure for this evil, but 
 by the giving of greater force to the 
 good hand. The righteous cause must 
 be strengthened with might to resist 
 the wicked, to defend the helpless, to 
 punish all cruelty and unfairness, to 
 uphold the right everywhere, and 
 to enforce justice with unconquer- 
 able arms. Oh, that the host of Heav- 
 en might be called, arrayed, and sent 
 to mingle in the wars of men, to 
 make the good victorious, to destroy 
 all evil, and to make the will of the 
 King prevail! 
 
 "We would shake down the thrones 
 of tyrants, and loose the bands of the 
 oppressed. We would hold the cruel 
 and violent with the bit of fear, and 
 drive the greedy and fierce-minded 
 men with the whip of terror. We 
 would stand guard, with weapons 
 [8]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 drawn, about the innocent, the gen- 
 tle, the kind, and keep the peace 
 of God with the sword of the 
 angels !" 
 
 As he spoke, his hands were lifted 
 to the hilt of his long blade, and he 
 raised it above him, straight and 
 shining, throwing sparkles of light 
 around it, like the spray from the 
 sharp prow of a moving ship. Bright 
 flames of heavenly ardour leaped in 
 the eyes of the listening angels; a 
 martial air passed over their faces as 
 if they longed for the call to war. 
 
 But no silver trumpet blared from 
 the battlements of the City of God; 
 no crimson flag was unfurled on 
 those high, secret walls; no thrilling 
 drum-beat echoed over the smooth 
 meadow. Only the sound of the brook 
 of Brighthopes was heard tinkling
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 and murmuring among the roots of 
 the grasses and flowers; and far off 
 a cadence of song drifted down from 
 the inner courts of the Palace of the 
 King. 
 
 Then another angel began to speak, 
 and made answer to Michael. He, too, 
 was tall and wore the look of power. 
 But it was power of the mind rather 
 than of the hand. His face was clear 
 and glistening, and his eyes were lit 
 with a steady flame which neither 
 leaped nor fell. Of flame also were 
 his garments, which clung about him 
 as the fire enwraps a torch burning 
 where there is no wind ; and his great 
 wings, spiring to a point far above 
 his head, were like a living lamp be- 
 fore the altar of the Most High. By 
 this sign I knew that it was the arch- 
 angel Uriel, the spirit of the Sun, 
 
 [10]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 clearest in vision, deepest in wisdom 
 of all the spirits that surround the 
 throne. 
 
 "I hold not the same thought," said 
 he, "as the great archangel Michael; 
 nor, though I desire the same end 
 which he desires, would I seek it by 
 the same way. For I know how often 
 power has been given to the good, 
 and how often it has been turned 
 aside and used for evil. I know that 
 the host of Heaven, and the very 
 stars in their courses, have fought on 
 the side of a favoured nation; yet 
 pride has followed triumph and op- 
 pression has been the first-born child 
 of victory. I know that the deliverers 
 of the people have become tyrants 
 over those whom they have set free, 
 and the fighters for liberty have been 
 changed into the soldiers of fortune. 
 [11]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 Power corrupts itself, and might 
 cannot save. 
 
 "Does not the Prince Michael re- 
 member how the angel of the Lord 
 led the armies of Israel, and gave 
 them the battle against every foe, 
 except the enemy within the camp? 
 And how they robbed and crushed 
 the peoples against whom they had 
 fought for freedom? And how the 
 wickedness of the tribes of Canaan 
 survived their conquest and over- 
 came their conquerors, so that the 
 children of Israel learned to worship 
 the idols of their enemies, Moloch, 
 and Baal, and Ashtoreth? 
 
 "Power corrupts itself, and might 
 cannot save. Was not Persia the de- 
 stroyer of Babylon, and did not the 
 tyranny of Persia cry aloud for de- 
 struction? Did not Rome break the 
 
 [12]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 yoke of the East, and does not the 
 yoke of Rome lie heavy on the shoul- 
 ders of the world? Listen!" 
 
 There was silence for a moment on 
 the slopes of Peacefield, and then 
 over the encircling hills a cool wind 
 brought the sound of chains clanking 
 in prisons and galleys, the sighing of 
 millions of slaves, the weeping of 
 wretched women and children, the 
 blows of hammers nailing men to 
 their crosses. Then the sound passed 
 by with the wind, and Uriel spoke 
 again : 
 
 "Power corrupts itself, and might 
 cannot save. The Earth is full of ig- 
 norant strife, and for this evil there 
 is no cure but by the giving of 
 greater knowledge. It is because men 
 do not understand evil that they yield 
 themselves to its power. Wickedness 
 
 [13]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 is folly in action, and injustice is the 
 error of the blind. It is because men 
 are ignorant that they destroy one 
 another, and at last themselves. 
 
 "If there were more light in the 
 world there would be no sorrow. If 
 the great King who knows all things 
 would enlighten the world with wis- 
 dom wisdom to understand his law 
 and his ways, to read the secrets of 
 the earth and the stars, to discern the 
 workings of the heart of man and 
 the things that make for joy and 
 peace if he would but send us, his 
 messengers, as a flame of fire to shine 
 upon those who sit in darkness, how 
 gladly would we go to bring in the 
 new day! 
 
 "We would speak the word of 
 warning and counsel to the erring, 
 and tell knowledge to the perplexed. 
 
 [14]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 We would guide the ignorant in the 
 paths of prudence, and the young 
 would sit at our feet and hear us 
 gladly in the school of life. Then 
 folly would fade away as the morn- 
 ing vapour, and the sun of wisdom 
 would shine on all men, and the peace 
 of God would come with the counsel 
 of the angels." 
 
 A murmur of pleasure followed the 
 words of Uriel, and eager looks 
 flashed around the circle of the mes- 
 sengers of light as they heard the 
 praise of wisdom fitly spoken. But 
 there was one among them on whose 
 face a shadow of doubt rested, and 
 though he smiled, it was as if he re- 
 membered something that the others 
 had forgotten. He turned to an angel 
 near him. 
 
 "Who was it," said he, "to whom 
 
 [15]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 you were sent with counsel long ago? 
 Was it not Balaam the son of Beor, 
 as he was riding to meet the King of 
 Moab? And did not even the dumb 
 beast profit more by your instruction 
 than the man who rode him? And 
 who was it," he continued, turning to 
 Uriel, "that was called the wisest of 
 all men, having searched out and un- 
 derstood the many inventions that 
 are found under the sun? Was not 
 Solomon, prince of fools and philoso- 
 phers, unable by much learning to 
 escape weariness of the flesh and de- 
 spair of the spirit? Knowledge also 
 is vanity and vexation. This I know 
 well, because I have dwelt among 
 men and held converse with them 
 since the day when I was sent to in- 
 struct the first man in Eden." 
 Then I looked more closely at him 
 
 [16]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 who was speaking and recognised the 
 beauty of the archangel Raphael, as 
 it was pictured long ago: 
 
 " A seraph winged ; six wings he wore to 
 
 shade 
 
 His lineaments divine ; the pair that clad 
 Each shoulder broad came mantling' o'er his 
 
 breast, 
 
 With regal ornament , the middle pair 
 Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round 
 Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold 
 And colours dipped in Heav'n ; the third 
 
 his feet 
 Shadowed from either heel with feathered 
 
 mail, 
 Sky -tinctured grain. Like Maia's son he 
 
 stood 
 
 And shook his plumes, that Heavenly fra- 
 grance Jilled 
 The circuit wide." 
 
 "Too well I know," he spoke on, 
 while the smile on his face deepened 
 into a look of pity and tenderness 
 
 [17]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 and desire, "too well I know that 
 power corrupts itself and that knowl- 
 edge cannot save. There is no cure 
 for the evil that is in the world but 
 by the giving of more love to men. 
 The laws that are ordained for earth 
 are strange and unequal, and the 
 ways where men must walk are full 
 of pitfalls and dangers. Pestilence 
 creeps along the ground and flows in 
 the rivers; whirlwind and tempest 
 shake the habitations of men and 
 drive their ships to destruction; fire 
 breaks forth from the mountains and 
 the foundations of the world tremble. 
 Frail is the flesh of man, and many 
 are his pains and troubles. His chil- 
 dren can never find peace until they 
 learn to love one another and to help 
 one another. 
 "Wickedness is begotten by disease 
 
 [18]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 and misery. Violence comes from 
 poverty and hunger. The cruelty of 
 oppression is when the strong tread 
 the weak under their feet; the bitter- 
 ness of pride is when the wise and 
 learned despise the simple ; the crown 
 of folly is when the rich think they 
 are gods, and the poor think that 
 God is not. 
 
 "Hatred and envy and contempt 
 are the curse of life. And for these 
 there is no remedy save love the 
 will to give and to bless the will of 
 the King himself, who gives to all 
 and is loving unto every man. But 
 how shall the hearts of men be won 
 to this will? How shall it enter into 
 them and possess them? Even the 
 gods that men fashion for themselves 
 are cruel and proud and false and 
 unjust. How shall the miracle be 
 
 [19]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 wrought in human nature to reveal 
 the meaning of humanity? How shall 
 men be made like God?" 
 
 At this question a deep hush fell 
 around the circle, and every listener 
 was still, even as the rustling leaves 
 hang motionless when the light breeze 
 falls away in the hour of sunset. 
 Then through the silence, like the 
 song of a far-away thrush from its 
 hermitage in the forest, a voice came 
 ringing: "I know it, I know it, I 
 know it." 
 
 Clear and sweet clear as a ray of 
 light, sweeter than the smallest silver 
 bell that rang the hour of rest was 
 that slender voice floating on the 
 odorous and translucent air. Nearer 
 and nearer it came, echoing down the 
 valley, "I know it, I know it, I know 
 it!" * 
 
 [20]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 Then from between the rounded 
 hills, among which the brook of 
 Brighthopes is born, appeared a 
 young angel, a little child, with fly- 
 ing hair of gold, and green wreaths 
 twined about his shoulders, and flut- 
 tering hands that played upon the 
 air and seemed to lift him so lightly 
 that he had no need of wings. As 
 thistle-down, blown by the wind, 
 dances across the water, so he came 
 along the little stream, singing clear 
 above the murmur of the brook. 
 
 All the angels rose and turned to 
 look at him with wondering eyes. 
 Multitudes of others came flying 
 swiftly to the place from which the 
 strange, new song was sounding. 
 Rank within rank, like a garden of 
 living flowers, they stood along the 
 sloping banks of the brook while the 
 
 [21]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 child-angel floated into the midst of 
 them, singing: 
 
 "I know it, I know it, I know it! 
 Man shall be made like God because 
 the Son of God shall become a man." 
 
 At this all the angels looked at one 
 another with amazement, and gath- 
 ered more closely about the child- 
 angel, as those who hear wonderful 
 news. 
 
 "How can this be?" they asked. 
 "How is it possible that the Son of 
 God should be a man?" 
 
 "I do not know," said the young 
 angel. "I only know that it is to be." 
 
 "But if he becomes a man," said 
 Raphael, "he will be at the mercy of 
 men; the cruel and the wicked will 
 have power upon him; he will suffer." 
 
 "I know it," answered the young 
 angel, "and by suffering he will un- 
 
 [22]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 derstand the meaning of all sorrow 
 and pain ; and he will be able to com- 
 fort every one who cries ; and his own 
 tears will be for the healing of sad 
 hearts; and those who are healed by 
 him will learn for his sake to be kind 
 to each other." 
 
 "But if the Son of God is a true 
 man," said Uriel, "he must first be a 
 child, simple, and lowly, and helpless. 
 It may be that he will never gain the 
 learning of the schools. The masters 
 of earthly wisdom will despise him 
 and speak scorn of him." 
 
 "I know it," said the young angel, 
 "but in meekness will he answer 
 them; and to those who become as 
 little children he will give the heav- 
 enly wisdom that comes, without seek- 
 ing, to the pure and gentle of heart." 
 
 "But if he becomes a man," said 
 
 [23]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 Michael, "evil men will hate and 
 persecute him: they may even take 
 his life, if they are stronger than he." 
 
 "I know it," answered the young 
 angel, "they will nail him to a cross. 
 But when he is lifted up, he will 
 draw all men unto him, for he will 
 still be the Son of God, and no heart 
 that is open to love can help loving 
 him, since his love for men is so great 
 that he is willing to die for them." 
 
 "But how do you know these 
 things?" cried the other angels. 
 "Who are you?" 
 
 "I am the Christmas angel," he said. 
 "At first I was sent as the dream of 
 a little child, a holy child, blessed and 
 wonderful, to dwell in the heart of 
 a pure virgin, Mary of Nazareth. 
 There I was hidden till the word 
 came to call me back to the throne 
 
 [24]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 of the King, and tell me my name, 
 and give me my new message. 
 For this is Christmas day on Earth, 
 and to-day the Son of God is born 
 of a woman. So I must fly quickly, 
 before the sun rises, to bring the 
 good news to those happy men who 
 have been chosen to receive them." 
 
 As he said this, the young angel 
 rose, with arms outspread, from the 
 green meadow of Peacefield and, 
 passing over the bounds of Heaven, 
 dropped swiftly as a shooting-star 
 toward the night shadow of the 
 Earth. The other angels followed 
 him a throng of dazzling forms, 
 beautiful as a rain of jewels falling 
 from the dark-blue sky. But the 
 child-angel went more swiftly than 
 the others, because of the certainty 
 of gladness in his heart. 
 
 [25]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 And as the others followed him they 
 wondered who had been favoured and 
 chosen to receive the glad tidings. 
 
 "It must be the Emperor of the 
 World and his counsellors," they 
 thought. But the flight passed over 
 Rome. 
 
 "It may be the philosophers and the 
 masters of learning," they thought. 
 But the flight passed over Athens. 
 
 "Can it be the High Priest of the 
 Jews, and the elders and the scribes?" 
 they thought. But the flight passed 
 over Jerusalem. 
 
 It floated out over the hill country 
 of Bethlehem; the throng of silent 
 angels holding close together, as if 
 perplexed and doubtful; the child- 
 angel darting on far in advance, as 
 one who knew the way through the 
 darkness. 
 
 [26]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 The villages were all still: the very 
 houses seemed asleep; but in one 
 place there was a low sound of talk- 
 ing in a stable, near to an inn a 
 sound as of a mother soothing her 
 baby to rest. 
 
 All over the pastures on the hillsides 
 a light film of snow had fallen, deli- 
 cate as the veil of a bride adorned for 
 the marriage; and as the child-angel 
 passed over them, alone in the swift- 
 ness of his flight, the pure fields 
 sparkled round him, giving back his 
 radiance. 
 
 And there were in that country 
 shepherds abiding in the fields, keep- 
 ing watch over their flocks by night. 
 And lo! the angel of the Lord came 
 upon them, and the glory of the 
 Lord shone round about them, and 
 they were sore afraid. And the angel 
 
 [27]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 said unto them: "Fear not; for be- 
 hold I bring you glad tidings of 
 great joy which shall be to all na- 
 tions. For unto you is born this day, 
 in the city of David, a Saviour, which 
 is Christ the Lord. And this shall be 
 a sign unto you ; ye shall find the babe 
 wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying 
 in a manger." 
 
 And suddenly there was with the 
 angel a multitude of the heavenly 
 host, praising God and saying: 
 "Glory to God in the highest, and 
 on earth peace, good-will toward 
 men." And the shepherds said one 
 to another: "Let us now go, even to 
 Bethlehem, and see this thing which 
 is come to pass." 
 
 So I said within myself that I also 
 would go with the shepherds, even to 
 Bethlehem. And I heard a great and 
 
 [28]
 
 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 
 
 sweet voice, as of a bell, which said, 
 "Come!" And when the bell had 
 sounded twelve times, I awoke; and 
 it was Christmas morn; and I knew 
 that I had been in a dream. 
 
 Yet it seemed to me that the things 
 which I had heard were true. 
 
 [29]
 
 A LITTLE ESSAY
 
 CHRISTMAS-GIVING AND 
 CHRISTMAS-LIVING 
 
 i 
 
 THE custom of exchanging presents 
 on a certain day in the year is very 
 much older than Christmas, and 
 means very much less. It has ob- 
 tained in almost all ages of the world, 
 and among many different nations. 
 It is a fine thing or a foolish thing, 
 as the case may be; an encourage- 
 ment to friendliness, or a tribute to 
 fashion; an expression of good na- 
 ture, or a bid for favour; an outgo- 
 ing of generosity, or a disguise of 
 greed; a cheerful old custom, or a 
 futile old farce, according to the 
 
 [33]
 
 CHRISTMAS-GIVING 
 
 spirit which animates it and the form 
 which it takes. 
 
 But when this ancient and variously 
 interpreted tradition of a day of 
 gifts was transferred to the Christ- 
 mas season, it was brought into vital 
 contact with an idea which must 
 transform it, and with an example 
 which must lift it up to a higher 
 plane. The example is the life of 
 Jesus. The idea is unselfish interest 
 in the happiness of others. 
 
 The great gift of Jesus to the world 
 was himself. He lived with and for 
 men. He kept back nothing. In every 
 particular and personal gift that he 
 made to certain people there was 
 something of himself that made it 
 precious. 
 
 For example, at the wedding in 
 Cana of Galilee, it was his thought 
 
 [34]
 
 AND CHRISTMAS-LIVING 
 
 for the feelings of the giver of the 
 feast, and his wish that every guest 
 should find due entertainment, that 
 lent the flavour of a heavenly hospi- 
 tality to the wine which he provided. 
 
 When he gave bread and fish to 
 the hungry multitude who had fol- 
 lowed him out among the hills by the 
 Lake of Gennesaret, the people were 
 refreshed and strengthened by the 
 sense of the personal care of Jesus 
 for their welfare, as much as by the 
 food which he bestowed upon them. 
 It was another illustration of the 
 sweetness of "a dinner of herbs, 
 where love is." 
 
 The gifts of healing which he con- 
 ferred upon many different kinds of 
 sufferers were, in every case, evi- 
 dences that Jesus was willing to 
 give something of himself, his 
 
 [35]
 
 CHRISTMAS-GIVING 
 
 thought, his sympathy, his vital 
 power, to the men and women among 
 whom he lived. Once, when a par- 
 alytic was brought to Jesus on a bed, 
 he surprised everybody, and offended 
 many, by giving the poor wretch the 
 pardon of his sins, before he gave 
 new life to his body. That was just 
 because Jesus thought before he 
 gave; because he desired to satisfy 
 the deepest need; because in fact 
 he gave something of himself in 
 every gift. All true Christmas-giv- 
 ing ought to be after this pattern. 
 
 Not that it must all be solemn and 
 serious. For the most part it deals 
 with little wants, little joys, little 
 tokens of friendly feeling. But the 
 feeling must be more than the token ; 
 else the gift does not really belong 
 to Christmas. 
 
 [36]
 
 AND CHRISTMAS-LIVING 
 
 It takes time and effort and unsel- 
 fish expenditure of strength to make 
 gifts in this way. But it is the only 
 way that fits the season. 
 
 The finest Christmas gift is not the 
 one that costs the most money, but 
 the one that carries the most love. 
 
 ii 
 
 But how seldom Christmas comes 
 only once a year; and how soon it is 
 over a night and a day! If that is 
 the whole of it, it seems not much 
 more durable than the little toys that 
 one buys of a fakir on the street- 
 corner. They run for an hour, and 
 then the spring breaks, and the legs 
 come off, and nothing remains but a 
 contribution to the dust heap. 
 
 But surely that need not and ought 
 not to be the whole of Christmas 
 
 [37]
 
 CHRISTMAS-GIVING 
 
 only a single day of generosity, 
 ransomed from the dull servitude of 
 a selfish year, only a single night 
 of merry-making, celebrated in the 
 slave-quarters of a selfish race! If 
 every gift is the token of a per- 
 sonal thought, a friendly feeling, an 
 unselfish interest in the joy of others, 
 then the thought, the feeling, the in- 
 terest, may remain after the gift is 
 made. 
 
 The little present, or the rare and 
 long-wished-for gift (it matters not 
 whether the vessel be of gold, or 
 silver, or iron, or wood, or clay, or 
 just a small bit of birch bark folded 
 into a cup), may carry a message 
 something like this : 
 
 "I am thinking of you to-day, be- 
 cause it is Christmas, and I wish you 
 happiness. And to-morrow, because it 
 
 [38]
 
 AND CHRISTMAS-LIVING 
 
 will be the day after Christmas, I 
 shall still wish you happiness; and so 
 on, clear through the year. I may not 
 be able to tell you about it every day, 
 because I may be far away; or be- 
 cause both of us may be very busy; or 
 perhaps because I cannot even afford 
 to pay the postage on so many let- 
 ters, or find the time to write them. 
 But that makes no difference. The 
 thought and the wish will be here 
 just the same. In my work and in 
 the business of life, I mean to try 
 not to be unfair to you or injure you 
 in any way. In my pleasure, if we 
 can be together, I would like to share 
 the fun with you. Whatever joy or 
 success comes to you will make me 
 glad. Without pretense, and in plain 
 words, good-will to you is what I 
 mean, in the Spirit of Christmas.' 
 
 [39]
 
 CHRISTMAS-GIVING 
 
 It is not necessary to put a message 
 like this into high-flown language, 
 to swear absolute devotion and death- 
 less consecration. In love and friend- 
 ship, small, steady payments on a 
 gold basis are better than immense 
 promissory notes. Nor, indeed, is it 
 always necessary to put the message 
 into words at all, nor even to convey 
 it by a tangible token. To feel it and 
 to act it out that is the main thing. 
 
 There are a great many people in 
 the world whom we know more or 
 less, but to whom for various reasons 
 we cannot very well send a Christ- 
 mas gift. But there is hardly one, in 
 all the circles of our acquaintance, 
 with whom we may not exchange the 
 touch of Christmas life. 
 
 In the outer circles, cheerful greet- 
 ings, courtesy, consideration; in the 
 
 [40]
 
 AND CHRISTMAS-LIVING 
 
 inner circles, sympathetic interest, 
 hearty congratulations, honest en- 
 couragement; in the inmost circle, 
 comradeship, helpfulness, tender- 
 ness, 
 
 " Beautiful friendship tried by sun and wind 
 Durable from the daily dust of life." 
 
 After all, Christmas-living is the 
 best kind of Christmas-giving. 
 
 [41]
 
 A SHORT 
 CHRISTMAS SERMON
 
 KEEPING CHRISTMAS 
 
 ROMANS, xiv, 6: He that regardeth the day, regardeth 
 it unto the Lord, 
 
 IT is a good thing to observe Christ- 
 mas day. The mere marking of times 
 and seasons, when men agree to stop 
 work and make merry together, is a 
 wise and wholesome custom. It helps 
 one to feel the supremacy of the 
 common life over the individual life. 
 It reminds a man to set his own little 
 watch, now and then, by the great 
 clock of humanity which runs on sun 
 time. 
 
 But there is a better thing than the 
 observance of Christmas day, and 
 that is, keeping Christmas. 
 
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 KEEPING CHRISTMAS 
 
 Are you willing to forget what you 
 have done for other people, and to 
 remember what other people have 
 done for you; to ignore what the 
 world owes you, and to think what 
 you owe the world ; to put your rights 
 in the background, and your duties 
 in the middle distance, and your 
 chances to do a little more than your 
 duty in the foreground; to see that 
 your fellow-men are just as real as 
 you are, and try to look behind their 
 faces to their hearts, hungry for joy; 
 to own that probably the only good 
 reason for your existence is not what 
 you are going to get out of life, but 
 what you are going to give to life; 
 to close your book of complaints 
 against the management of the uni- 
 verse, and look around you for a 
 place where you can sow a few seeds 
 
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 KEEPING CHRISTMAS 
 
 of happiness are you willing to do 
 these things even for a day? Then 
 you can keep Christmas. 
 
 Are you willing to stoop down and 
 consider the needs and the desires 
 of little children; to remember the 
 weakness and loneliness of people 
 who are growing old; to stop asking 
 how much your friends love you, and 
 ask yourself whether you love them 
 enough; to bear in mind the things 
 that other people have to bear on 
 their hearts; to try to understand 
 what those who live in the same house 
 with you really want, without wait- 
 ing for them to tell you ; to trim your 
 lamp so that it will give more light 
 and less smoke, and to carry it in 
 front so that your shadow will fall 
 behind you ; to make a grave for your 
 ugly thoughts, and a garden for 
 
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 KEEPING CHRISTMAS 
 
 your kindly feelings, with the gate 
 open are you willing to do these 
 things even for a day? Then you can 
 keep Christmas. 
 
 Are you willing to believe that love 
 is the strongest thing in the world- 
 stronger than hate, stronger than 
 evil, stronger than death and that 
 the blessed life which began in Beth- 
 lehem nineteen hundred years ago 
 is the image and brightness of the 
 Eternal Love? Then you can keep 
 Christmas. 
 
 And if you keep it for a day, why 
 not always? 
 
 But you can never keep it alone. 
 
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 TWO CHRISTMAS 
 PRAYERS
 
 A CHRISTMAS PRAYER 
 FOR THE HOME 
 
 FATHER OF ALL MEN, look upon our 
 
 family, 
 
 Kneeling together before Thee, 
 And grant us a true Christmas. 
 
 \ViTH loving heart we bless Thee: 
 For the gift of Thy dear Son 
 
 Jesus Christ, 
 For the peace He brings to human 
 
 homes, 
 For the good-will He teaches to 
 
 sinful men, 
 For the glory of Thy goodness 
 
 shining in His face. 
 
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 CHRISTMAS PRAYERS 
 
 With joyful voice we praise Thee: 
 
 For His lowly birth and His rest 
 in the manger, 
 
 For the pure tenderness of His 
 mother Mary, 
 
 For the fatherly care that pro- 
 tected Him, 
 
 For the Providence that saved the 
 
 Holy Child 
 To be the Saviour of the world. 
 
 With deep desire we beseech Thee: 
 Help us to keep His birthday 
 
 truly, 
 
 Help us to offer, in His name, our 
 Christmas prayer. 
 
 FROM the sickness of sin and the 
 
 darkness of doubt, 
 From selfish pleasures and sullen 
 
 pains, 
 
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 CHRISTMAS PRAYERS 
 
 From the frost of pride and the fever 
 
 of envy, 
 
 God save us every one, through the 
 blessing of Jesus. 
 
 In the health of purity and the calm 
 
 of mutual trust, 
 In the sharing of joy and the bearing 
 
 of trouble, 
 In the steady glow of love and the 
 
 clear light of hope, 
 God keep us every one, by the 
 
 blessing of Jesus. 
 
 In praying and praising, in giving 
 
 and receiving, 
 In eating and drinking, in singing 
 
 and making merry, 
 In parents' gladness and in children's 
 
 mirth, 
 In dear memories of those who have 
 
 departed, 
 
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 CHRISTMAS PRAYERS 
 
 In good comradeship with those who 
 are here, 
 
 In kind wishes for those who are far 
 away, 
 
 In patient waiting, sweet content- 
 ment, generous cheer, 
 God bless us every one, with the 
 blessing of Jesus. 
 
 By remembering our kinship with all 
 men, 
 
 By well-wishing, friendly speaking 
 and kindly doing, 
 
 By cheering the downcast and adding 
 sunshine to daylight, 
 
 By welcoming strangers (poor shep- 
 herds or wise men) , 
 
 By keeping the music of the angels' 
 
 song in this home, 
 God help us every one to share the 
 blessing of Jesus : 
 
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 CHRISTMAS PRAYERS 
 
 In whose name we keep Christ- 
 mas: 
 
 And in whose words we pray 
 together : 
 
 Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be 
 Thy name. 
 
 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 
 earth, as it is in heaven. 
 
 Give us this day our daily bread. 4 nd for- 
 give us our debts, as we forgive our 
 debtors. 
 
 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver 
 us from evil: 
 
 For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and 
 the glory, forever. Amen. 
 
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 LORD GOD of the solitary, 
 Look upon me in my loneliness. 
 Since I may not keep this Christmas 
 
 in the home, 
 Send it into my heart. 
 
 LET not my sins cloud me in, 
 
 But shine through them with for- 
 giveness in the face of the 
 child Jesus. 
 
 Put me in loving remembrance of 
 the lowly lodging in the stable 
 of Bethlehem, 
 
 The sorrows of the blessed Mary, the 
 poverty and exile of the 
 Prince of Peace. 
 
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 CHRISTMAS PRAYERS 
 
 For His sake, give me a cheerful 
 courage to endure my lot, 
 
 And an inward comfort to sweet- 
 en it. 
 
 PURGE my heart from hard and 
 
 bitter thoughts. 
 Let no shadow of forgetting come 
 
 between me and friends far 
 
 away: 
 
 Bless them in their Christmas mirth: 
 Hedge me in with faithfulness, 
 That I may not grow unworthy to 
 
 meet them again. 
 
 GIVE me good work to do, 
 
 That I may forget myself and 
 
 find peace in doing it for 
 
 Thee. 
 Though I am poor, send me to carry 
 
 some gift to those who are 
 
 poorer, 
 
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 CHRISTMAS PRAYERS 
 
 Some cheer to those who are more 
 
 lonely. 
 Grant me the joy to do a kindness 
 
 to one of Thy little ones: 
 Light my Christmas candle at the 
 
 gladness of an innocent and 
 
 grateful heart. 
 
 STRANGE is the path where Thou 
 
 leadest me: 
 Let me not doubt Thy wisdom, nor 
 
 lose Thy hand. 
 Make me sure that Eternal Love is 
 
 revealed in Jesus, Thy dear 
 
 Son, 
 To save us from sin and solitude and 
 
 death. 
 
 Teach me that I am not alone, 
 But that many hearts, all round the 
 
 world, 
 Join with me through the silence, 
 
 while I pray in His name: 
 
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 CHRISTMAS PRAYERS 
 
 Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be 
 Thy name. 
 
 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 
 earth, as it is in heaven. 
 
 Give us this day our daily bread. And for- 
 give us our debts, as we forgive our 
 debtors. 
 
 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver 
 us from evil: 
 
 For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and 
 the glory, forever. Amen. 
 
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