The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1890, Page 46

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46

The Lutheran Pioneer.

The Christmas Tree—Its Scriptural
Signification.

(John 1, 9), and that hath shined into our|
hearts (2 Cor. 4, 6). Its design is to exhibit
| to the sense of sight how our Heavenly Father

In this country, where the Christmas tree | has delivered us from the power of darkness,
has been but recently introduced, its Scriptural | and made us meet to be partakers of the in-

signification is not so well known as in Protes-
tant Germany, where the custom is very an-
cient. Here Christmas, at least with the great

majority of our people, is as yet not observed
as a religious festival,
but rather as a day of
feasting and merry-mak-
ing, or an occasion of
giving and receiving
presents. In Germany,
on the contrary, it is
strictly observed as a
church festival, and in
Christian families all the
customs connected with
it have a Scriptural sig-
nification, and are de-
signed not only to afford
innocent pleasure, more
especially to the young
members of the family,
but also to instruct and
edify both young and
old. And the writer of
these lines, who though
past the meridian of life,
still goes back, year after
year, in memory to the
Christmas scenes of his
childhood, assures the
reader that there can
scarcely be anything
more instructive or more
edifying, or productive
of purer, holier pleasure,
than the celebration of
Christmas in a truly Ger-
man Christian family.
The good impressions
then and there made,
many will carry with
them to their grave;
and the recollections
that cluster around that
tree, long since with-
ered and mingled with
the dust, are among
the sweetest and most
precious relics of the
past.

The Christmas tree in Germany is, or was-in
our boyhood, exclusively a family institution,
and makes its appearance in the family circle
most generally on Christmas eve. ‘The tree
used isa’fir; its branches are illuminated with
miniature wax tapers, trimmed with gilded
nuts, apples, candy, toys, etc. The brilliant
glare emitted from these many lighted tapers,
at the darkest and gloomiest season in mid-
winter, symbolize the joy that is felt in conse-
quence of Christ being the true light, that
lighteth every one that cometh into the world

heritance of the saints in lignt (Col. 1, 12. 18).
| In some localities the tree is lit up on Christ-
mas morning after public divine service. This
is done in order to remind us that Christ, as |

“Unto Us A Child Is Born.”

the day-spring from on high, hath visited us
(Luke 1, 59), and that He is the day-star that
is to rise in our hearts (2 Peter 1, 19).

The fir tree, being an evergreen, preserving
its color and freshness in winter as well as in
summer, typifies the unchanging love of Christ,
the incorruptible inheritance of the saints
(1 Peter 1, 3. 4), the imperishable crown of
glory with which shall be crowned those who
run well the race that is set before them (1 Cor.
9, 25), and the abiding graces, faith, hope and
charity,

The gilded nuts, apples, candy, toys, etc.,
with which the tree is trimmed, are emblemati-
eal of the rich treasures of spiritual gifts which
are conferred upon us by Christ, who for our
sakes became puor (2 Cor. 8, 9), and blessed us
with all spiritual blessings (I2ph. 1, 3). They
are especially to remind us of the exceeding
great and precious promises (2 Peter 1, 4) that
have come to us, through Christ. Nay, the
Christmas tree, with its
lights and varied fruits
represents the tree of
life in Paradise, lost by
man’s first disobedience,
but restored to us and
all mankind by Christ’s
obedience.

The presents distrib-
uted on this occasion are
more especially intended
for our children. The
surprise which the sud-
den sight of the brilliant
lights and the beautiful
appearance of the tree
creates, together with
the delight the unwonted
spectacle calls forth, are
designed to foreshadow
to them the unspeak-
ably greater joy which,
through the birth of
Christ, has come to all
people (Luke 2, 10), and
which, under the blessed
influence of Christian in-
struction, they, in riper
years, will learn to appre-
ciate more fully. And

the emotions of love and
gratitude called forth by
these presents in their

hearts, toward their par-

ents, are to lead them to
exercise love and grati-
- tude to their Father in

Heaven, from whom, as

the source of every bless-

ing, every good and per-
fect gift cometh (James

1,17). Their minds are

to be directed from the

gift to the Giver, that

thus they may become

eager to know more of
the child born to us (Isa. 9, 6), and be taught
how through Him alone we are made the
children of God.

Such, in our boyhood, was the interpretation
given by Christian fathers in Germany to the
Christmas tree and its adjuncts. And we are
of the opinion that a similar course pursued by
Christian fathers in this country might be pro-
ductive of gond, not only to their children, but
equally so to themselves. \Ve have the Christ-
mas tree; Jet us also have the solemn service
and the hymns of praise always as:ociated with
it among those from whom the custom has been
derived.—Ezchange.