Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-12-23
THE MINING JOURNAL.
FROSTBCRG, MD, DEC. %. 1875.
Christmas.

commentaries upon "the day we cele-
brate." The great minds Of the world
in ill departments Of thought will de-
bate the significance Of the life and
work memorialized, while the meek
and lowly, content with the facts OF
personal experience and fellowship
take little thought outside of the won
derful goodness Of the miracle of re-
demption. How the conclusions OF
each differ, or how far short of the
true import of such biography they
may fall, it is not our purpose to as
sumo. But certain it is, too much
cannot be said, if it be said Alright ar d
with the purpose to so say it that con-
viction will 80 with the uttsrance-
that the truth will be clear and incis-
i've. Too many religious teachers
soar in the higher mathematics OF
faith when the pupils have not under
stood the theorems on which they are
established the arithmetic of spiritu
ality, clad in algebraic verbiage and
bristling with technical assumptions,
is far above the insight of learners yet
seeking the foundation of first princi
rles. These are types of nultitudes
thrown by Providence each year upon
the broad stage Of responsibility to
look for the square, the level and
plumb, by which to measure liability
to law and adjust moral character.
The instinct of Immortality is univer-
sal and provokes eager searchings for
the true use Of mortal probation
"a solemn murmur in the soul
Tells of the world to be,
As travellers hear the pillows roll,
Before they reach the sea-"
The inquirer is cosmopolitan in all
countries he asks, like PLATE, what is
truth ?'-Me truth? In Egypt it is
revealed by the Magician ; in India by
Buddha; in Persia by the Magi; in
China by Confucius; in Arabia by
Mahomet, and in christendom by
Jesus. The critical or skeptical ques-
toner desires to know, then, if there
is one God and many religions or one
God and one religion? 1t need only
be an wered-look to the recorded re-
sults-to the histories of institutions
and countries reared and cultured
under the auspices of their accepted,
acknowledged, worshipped deities.
Which of them has fostered civiliza-
ton, inculcated universal brotherhood
and exalted humanity? Under whose
ogis have the arts, sciences, learn
ing and literature, hourished, until
their agencies are exerted and felt in
the uttermost parts Of the earth ? Is
there a gospel lifting up the race
to-day? If so, who is its author :?
From every intelligent, honest mind
the answer must coms-Jesus. Who
then is Jesus, whose birth cur incom-
ing festival memorializes F.?
The answer to this inquiry more
than all others meets the longings Of
unsatisfied Immortality. He brought
Immortality to light no voice but
His ever thrilled from the grave; no
form but His ever bri,lged the dark
profound from the tomb backw ward to
earth. Since He passed through, the
valley and shadow of dealt" have
shone like monday. and world and
life beyond have been attested in the
new revelations Of His resurrection.
Standing midway in the worlds
history his character is the onl y perfect
one in its annaa He was the first
who taught humility ; no one announc-
ed its Importance before The Jews,
Grecians and Romans, had ideas of
justice, but mercy was unknown and
untaught before Jesus He inculcated
the Golden Rule as the embodiment of
the claw and the prophets" and on
the inductive system, commended his
followers to love their enemies
Born in poverty and surrounded
with selishness, bigotry and intoler-
ance, yet He thus snjoined and exem-
plifed the widest philanthropy. I'm
educated, He uttered the wisest say
ings of all the ages. While He never
wrote buta single sentence in the sand,
His words are embalmed in the books
and on the monuments and tombs of
all civilized people. He changed
times and laws; the world stopped
counting from creation and began at
His birth, and now We write "Anno
Donaini
He lives in the finest prose Of the