Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-12-24


Regard il IN what aspect We mny--whtther
as the Incarnation Of God or ro.r!y tht birth
Of Jewish enthusiGst-tLe went which We
celebrate with JOY and plaGue,s on Christmas
Day is incomparably the grtat'st in the
worlds history. For, if tho d, 6cypr huds in
tho advent of the Son Of God tnn l'nniise
and the pledge OF an eternal reconciliation
between the human will aud tbc Divine, the
unbeliover must equally regard the coming of
Jesus Of Nazareth as an influence which has
moro profoundly affected the d,stinics OF
mankind than any other of which history
takes cognizance The eye Of faith secs in
the message Of Bethlehem the very kernel Of
the revelation by which life and Immortality
were brought to light by one of the latest
teachers Of the school of denial, ''the secret
Of Jesus" has been pronounced 10 be the
deepest principle in the law Of the Universe.
1t Is but shallow skepticism which sees in
the Virgins Child neither God in human
flesh nor the most God.like of all the Sons OF
men.
Were we to measure the success of Cbrists
work in this age of ours by the cXtCnt to
which the doguatic principles which have
been formulated in His name are accepted
and believed we might be compelled TO as
sumo that It's progress was arrested and its
vitality waning. But. if We test the contn-
uod potency of the influences which have
been transmitted across the centuries from
Bethlehem and from Calvary, by the extent
to which they have become incorporated in
the life and thought Of to-day, VIC shall,
whether believers or unbelievors, recognize
in the procepts and example Of Jesus of MAJ
aroth the reservoir Of moral aud intellectual
force from which mArkmd are drawing their
noblest forms of energy. and on which the
world is becoming more aud more conscious
ly dependent for its regeneration. In feed
ing the hungry, clothing the naked, and caa-
ing for the sick, this age Of doubt is incom-
parably more active than were any Of the
''ages of faith" There never was a time
when suffering at one end of the world was
so CERTAIN as now to touch its responsive
chord Of sympathy at the other; if the nine
teenth century has more boldly questioned
than any of its predecessors the Fatherhood
of God, at no time has there been so nearly
universal perception of the brotherhood Of
man. 1t is true that the ethics of nations are
still as far removed from the Christian ideal
As the practical morality of every day life
But it is also true that all the standards Of
international intercourse tend to approximate
to that ideal, and that men in public and pr-
vate life are censured in proportion as their
conduct departs from it. The supernatural
origin of Christs philosophy of life may be
affirmed or denied but in the more earnest
moods of doubt, as in the most impassioned
transports of faith, it is alike regarded rs the
one stable SET of principles amid the chaos Of
opinion and the wreck of systems.
To sustain the highest flights of human
thoughts and TO hallow the lowlest ect Of
doing TO lend key to the purposes of
the Infinite WILL and to unlock the generous
! impulses of the human heart-these are Ca
pabilities which have been possessed by no
of pf r1pralg n IL
at all equal to the Gospel of Christ. Around
the manger of Bethlehem what a world of
| quaint and sunny legend has gathered, rs if
the couch of the Heavenly Babe were the
| very home of kindly fancies, the birthplace
of all domestic joys And still the place and
/ the event diffuse a radiance of gentle intiu-
| ences wherever men have learned the import
I of the Angels song. The laughter of chill
! dren, and the jovial eXuberance of mirth that
| attend the Christmas festival are ia conso-
nance with all the traditions and all the sug-
| gcslions of the day. The gifts of gold aud
frankncense and myrrh that were laid at the
feet of the infant Saviour gave sanction to a
custom which can never grow stale while the
sentiment which prompts it remains vital.
| From the children at the freside to the poor
! at the gate, there is scope enough for all th'
tangible evidences of goodwill which the
season demands 1t is fitting that every one
should think less of his own enjoyment than
on that of others on the day which commen
crates the birth of Him who taught in the
most impressive of all ways that the bighes;
type of character is that from which all self
seeking has been eliminated. 1t is fitting
too, that as the perennial gladness of Christ
mas morn once more gilds with sunshine th'
closing year, the hearts and thoughts of 'uen
should turn with such fullness of recognition
as they may to the Divine Providence who's
goodness they share and who, to all creed
and all tongues, is known as the God ant
Father of all.-N y Times