Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE LUTOKHAN VISITOR CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS. Cbriatuas packages are all in, the parcels are nndune and what onr Christmas presents shall be is no longer a problematical bnt tran spired certainty. We arrange the presents on the little table before ns and sit down to admire them and to reflect upon our good for tune. For awhile we are content to examine the cards of greeting the presents bear, and then we begin to enumerate the gifts. Here is one more costly than all the rest, that presents an imposing appear ance among so many smaller values. It bears the name of a very dear friend who has gmtily *Ld^ared himself to us by ruch a gilt. There are others not so cosily, yet very beautiful, aid which under the glowing light of friendship seem more beautiful still. There are some of very email money-value, yet their worth, *beu estimated by the giver’s taonflee, is greatly en hanced, and we appreciate them very much. Among others, there is one from mother, perhaps some product of her own hands, bnt an article of great value because so richly embroidered with a mother’s love. These with many similar gifts make up the catalogue of our Christmas prereuts. They are the gifts of our friends and we are pro foundly grateful for them. We push back onr chair to re count onr own remembrances to many friends We recall with what difficulty we made our selec tions and bow many restraints somewhat limited means placed upon love. We pause to think of the many trees, bending under loads of precious gifts, in the home the iSunday school and the neigh borhood We wonder what the community gave and recieved till we are lost in the shadows of won derland. Bnt we arouse from onr reverie to find that in the enumer ation of our Christmas presents we have omitted the most important of all that we have received—the one of greatest worth in itself, and from onr greatest benefactor, ‘‘For God so loved the world that be gave his only begotten Son”—John 3:16. That was the greatest gift the world ever saw and from which all others are derived—the gift that was hung on the ghastly tree of Calvary for you and me. I. Let us consider the motive which prompted that wonderful gift. Id onr giving some of ns gava simply beoanseit was enstom ary to give at that season. Oar friends expected a Christmas pres ent, and rather than violate a rule of friendly enstom we gave it. It was a mere social requirement so hoary with age that we submitted to its demands and gave tribute ont of respect to long established enstom. Some of ns gave because we expected Christmas presents ourselves and knew that common politeness would require an ex change of gifts. No matter what we received or what we gave, jast so we met the requirements of the season—etiquette. Perhaps some gave because they wanted Christ mas gifts. They were early in the Cbrirtmas market and hastened off tbeir gifts that the rrcipients might have time to returnTBe “compli ments of the season.” Gibers gave because of the esteem i' which they held tbeir friends and to evi dence that affection. Who could not give to his dear old mother the costliest gift that love could offer! Thus we trace our varying motives, bnt God gave because “be so loved the world.” And what manner of love it was I Love for a tlofnl, re hellions world. Not love for angels around tie throne, unfallen holy beings who bad never once trans gressed the divine command; not love that secured a gift to cheru bim aud seraphim, but love that, embraced n devil found and hell- allianeed world. II. Let us consider what that gift was. Gifts must accord with rank and station, and whatever we may expect to hail from the skies it can be no mean gift. If God bad pro mised some gift to be of man’s selection, it would take a congress of the nations a long time to decide what that celestial gift should be. In the outer court of specnlation we may venture tn suggest that tbe gitt will not be some glittering magnificence of no practical bnman benefit, bnt some grand racial advantage of far-reaebing conse quence. With whatever else it may bave to do, it must be con cerned with infinite intention and fraught with eternal interests. Bnt we are not left in tbe misty witbont of speculation, we are admitted to the inner court of divine revela tion where we learn that “God gave his only begotten Son” fora Christmas gift to the world some nineteen hundred years ago. Oh, wonderful gift of God I What sac rifice it involved. God, in infinite love for a lost and mined world, “spared not his own Son, bnt de livered him up for ns all.” Not only must God deprive himself of tbe companionship of tbe Son of bis dear love, bnt be must deliver up that Son to a sinful world to be abused and insulted and put to most shameful death. The child goes ont to spend a Christmas holi day with yonth'ul friends, and tbe fond parent cantions an early re turn and thinks it an age till tbe child reaches borne again. But think of Bending that child into a vile and loathsome den of thieves and ent-throats to reform tbeir coarseness and brutality ! Yes, this awful sacrifice was made “for us men and onr salvation,” and only such sacrifice isoommensnrate with tbe sin of the world. Only infinite love can span the abyss of man’s lost and ruined estate, “for God so loved the world that he gave bis only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, bat have everlasting life.” III. How the gift was appreciated. How gratetul we are lor the many gifts of the season, and not only are we grateful, bnt love makes many substantial returns. But, alas, bow poorly appreciated was the wonder- gift of Go.i’s love! How many reject that gift from Christmas to Christmas! How many will not bave the man Christ Jesus to reign over them ! From Lord’s day to Lord’s day the King’s servants plead for ecceptauce. Consecrated life and living epistle admonish, bnt ail in vain. But how sad that many bare never heard of the gift of tbe Christ child and consrquent life. When before tbe judgment throne heathenism is asked why it has not appropriated the benefit of the Cbrist-gift, it must falter, “We never knew.” “What!” the judge will exclaim, turning to the chil dren of light, “have they never told yon of the gift I left with them so long ago!” Aud the multitude of those who have never heard of Christ is greater by far than tbe number of those who rsjoice in the possession of God’s wonderful gift. E A. R Mi. Tabor, Va., January 4, 1902. PALESTINE LOOKING UP. Jsnvary 16, 1902 tbe greater part of the once flour ishing country is a barren desert, ^ tbe lines of communication are] miserable, and traffic is on the one road from Jaffa to Jerusalem. Mr. Harris says tbe newly discovered j mineral deposits lie on both sides! of tbe Jordan and the Dead sea.; The salt deposits of the Dead sea could also be developed into an indnstry. Tbe consul considers phosphate tbe most important of all deposits,. and be says the immense fields of that mineral to the tast and west of the Jordan need only better 1 means of traffic and communica tion in order to insnre their devel opment. This, it wonld seem, is not far distant, as the Turkish government is planning a continu-j ation of the Jaffa Jernsalem rail road, and steamboats are already' plying the Dead sea MILLIONARES OF CHEERFULNESS. Many people in ordinary oircum- stances are millionaires of cheer fulness. They make their neigh borhood brighter, happier, and i] better place to live in by theii presence; they raise the value of every lot for blocks around them.] Tbe world is beginning to se that people who can radiate son^ shine and carry gladness and goo cheer wherever they go, altbougk they may ba poor, are of infinitely! greater value to society than th millionaire of money, who pao-j perizes everything he tonches, and everybody who comes in contaQ with him, by his close, contempt!^ ble methods. Largeness of heart and generosita of soul make millionaires qfl character who are worth more tbe world than mere moneys milliouares. The time will come in the pr gress of the world when we sba not have to depend on rich famish] ings, costly tapestries and gol plate. Character will become so el riched in the upward growth of ti world that the surroundings, ho*-J ever costly, will be considered butt cheap setting of a precions lil stone. Cheerfulness is a pote factor of snccesa.—Selected. Ernest L. Harris, United States consular agent at Eibenstock, has informed tbe state that valuable mineral treasures have recently been discovered in Palestine, and that it is safe to say the industrial awakening of the Holy Land is uo longer a dream. He says it is true •The Southern railway announces ezcuh> rates for the winter season to the variooif sorts of the south. Tickets are now on sale with final 111 May 31st. 1902. For detailed Information as to rates, »ft tiles, etc., call on any atrent of the Soot' railway or connections. W. H. Tayloe. A. G. P. A., Atlanta. 0 J. C Beam, Jr. , D. P. A.. Atlanta, 0* i R. W. Hunt, jg D. P. A., Charleston, 8. &