The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-25
CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTIANITY.

gone to the furthest point of his southern
course, and is already returning to bless the
northern world. These are the halcyon
wave.
Christmas has little in common with an
cient mythologies. From Christmas we
date new era. The stream that nearly
two thousand years ago found its source in
Judea is still flowing on through the ages.
pursuing it's way calmly and increasingly
amid all hostile elements, like the stars, I'M
hasting unresting. The star that rose in
Gallee has indeed become the light of the
world.
Never before has Christianity stood forth
SO manfestly before the world as a calm,
reasoning, intelligent power. Evil, the mega
tive principle in human nature, appears at
times and places to prevail and if we read
of all the wrong and outrage with which
earth is filled the soul is sick, and
we think the times are out of joint. But al
ways the dry land has appeared. The oceans
good on the shores are cast the putrid hor-
rors of the murky depths-infdelity bowls,
controversy and dissension among the
churches crests the beach with foam-but
the firm lines remain, the beacons shine out,
the world betters
ALI this, Gin His name.'' 1t is not civili-
cation, it is not merely the natural evolu-
ton Of moral character" it is not merely
the subjugation of the natural forces as heat
and electricity Man has "hitched his wagon
to the stars in many ways, and the gods do
his chores. The world was never so we'll fed,
clothed and sheltered; in fact was never so
rich. To this development of natural re-
sources and forces which is called wealth and
is so often used as synonym of civilization,
Christianity stands as both cause and result.
Christ stood not for the material-both Jews
and Romans had that and he taught them
dinate. Christ stood for the spiritual and
taught the world that it was one, and there
was common interest only.
With HIM came altruism, overcoming
selfish interest Sell all thou hast and give to
the poor was the extreme lesson the world
needed. Charity came with Christ Before
it existed as precept. His new command
ment, that We love one another, embodied
the Roman, the Greek and Mosaic, en-
bodied all law known before or since, and
proved its expounder greater than the law
and the prophets. Of
In spite of persecution and ignominious
death, in spite of the superstitions and miscon-
ceptions of Hisimmediate disciples, in spite
of the three great churches, Greek, Roman
END Protestant, with their thousand minor
sects the great thought and principle of
this simple Gallean-7-who said nothing of
sect, and who resented no new theological
system; who came TO fulfill rather than to
destroy--has permeated the best parts of the
world and the islands Of the sea. Peace on
earth and good will toward men, This
man, dying upon a cross watched by
brutal Roman soldiers, discarded by his own
nation amid the thick darkness that might
be felt was consistent to the last expiring
word. His prayer, "forgive them, for they
know not what they do" will never die, and
will be the eternal reason for tempering JUS
tice with mercy. In countless hamlets in
millions of human hearts throughout the
world, the knowledge of this life is the one
living, vivifying principle. They do not al
ways belong to the church, they do not al
ways profess the name; they do not claim
perfection; they are humble and modest;
simply meek and lowly followers" But
their neighbors know them as men and
people into whose lives something has come
And in every nominally Christian country
this name and life is sacred; whether Jew or
Christian, infidel or believer, over half the
people of the world regard the Sabbath
recognize Christians, and in their law, litera-
ture and social life are dominated, whether
they will or no, by the life and influence of
Jesus of Nazareth.
To the devout and trusting believer, what
images and memories to bring comfort in the
hours of sorrow The widows son called
back to life, the solemn figure with mild and
beautiful face, raising the dead girl by the
hand, the struggles with temptation and the
victory, the unjust accusation and sentence
and the painful but triumphant death.
What memories for little children. ever to
be associated with Christmas customs, and in
Christian homes with Christ's life! The
angel with the shepherds in the field, travel
ers with upward gaze following star, baby
in the manger, fight into Egypt, child teach
ing his elders in the temple teaching the g-