Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1880-12-25

In the thick gloom that preceded
the sdvsnt of the meek and lowIy
Jesus, there were moral innovators.
1T rare intervals, Of exceeding
merit, who succeeded In shedding
an svansscent and phosphoretic
light. The dark wave soon extin-
guished the transient CLEAN. They
would, occasionally, unfold q pure
principle and elaborate an elevated
sentiment; but they reeled and fell
amid their own perversity. Their
good impul ses, and moral yearn-
ings, and well.intentioned instrnc-
tions, we're cloudsd and warped by
their own vicious natures. How
jejnne and spiritless are the
"Ethics" Of Aristotle, the "Mor-
alsn OF old Seneca, the "Memora-
bilia," Of Xenophon, or the "Of-
ficss" Of Cicero, when contrasted
with the full and pungent and glo-
rious precepts embraced in the
New Testament? And yet these
men were the great and notable
moral lights Of their different eras.
The Gospel Of Christ ascenss to the
sublimity of moral truth; the
sweet doctrines of Evangelism in
dissolubly wed the creature to his
Creator BY the holy tie of uual-
Logged purity.
Ifthsre be those, then, who den y
the affinity Of the Saviour with
God and the Holy Ghost; II there
was NO spiritual intromission o.
hallowsd thought from the Empy.
real Father to his incarnate SON
still, % . man of wonde rful attain
ments, and extraordinary action
and sslf.saorifice, and cleanness OIL
life, il he worthy of all honor and
praisei Intellect and morals are
worthy of worship. The unbelievel
can celebrate with propriety the
natal day Of Jesus.
Come, now, and let US together
roll back the scroll Of time!
Dark and bloody days were those
whom the infant Rsdeemer waf
graded in the mangsr. In great
part the human species ate and
slept and procrsated their kind with
impulse no higher than the brute
creation. The mind WAS asleep,
while grosssr passions swayed them
to and fro Is drunken men. An
athletic man comes along and
binds them to his behests ~ &c
many dumb cattle. Their necka
are his carpet, and he bids them
kill each other. They are strang.
ers to emotions OF kindness OF
gratitude. The female is toy at
first, and then q drudge. They
have no provident care for the fu'
ture. May are their hopes for
life to come, aud they bow down ia
gods of wood aud stone. The world
was . huge cauldron full Of rotten
humanity; and the fires that heat.
ed 1t were lust, and rapine, ani
murder. Might was the control
ling principle of person and prop
erty. Sometimes q nation wOult
emerge from the Cimmerian gloom
and carve q statue, and erect al
architectural edifice, and wreath'
rhyme, and illuminate q nervouI
GRAFTON, and fabricate baldrio o
protecting law. But the fickeriDf
light would soon die out. Their
was no basis of correct fundament
81 principle. The systems of gov
erment and statutory edicts ant
rules Of social conduct we're bent t.
the darkened condition Of man
They were not reared upon the un
deviating principles Of right and
justice. 1t was sorry aud hope.
less time before Christ came upor
earth and dIffused broadcast tht
rich and glittering ore of truth.
No matter, we repeat, whether
the doctrines He enunciated from
the Moun mt were the forgings Of his
own mighty mental machinery, or
plucked from the Great White
Throne itself; they were emana.
tions, pure, virgin and eternal, and
Of saving and elevating efficacy to
a fallen race, in Its every phase aud
grade and condition. They were
the first outburst from the crystal
fountain of truth.
Ages have swept by since his
painful ascent of Calvary, burdened
to fainting with heavy cross.
Guided by his injunctions the
world is rapidly advancing to in
tellectual might and moral purity.
Glass and grade are merging into
general equality. Power nestlea
with machinery and intelligence.
Each individual, distinctive from
the macs, bathes and disports In an
ocean Of rights. Art and science,
locked In earnest embrace, are
speeding along in the same trium.
phal ear. Nations are fraternizine
in cumulative amity. Restless and
untiring energy, to individual
good and individual happiness, II
lifting each mortal to the skies
and to his future Of bliss, and te