The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-12-26

and the swaddling clothes Upon that record
Christmas is founded. Then was in
augurated the Christian era. Then new
civilization began. A babe in a maDger.
"Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining,
Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore Him in slumbers reclining
Maker and Monarch, and Savior OF all"
We like the idea. There is no pomp no
parade, no salvos of cannon. Born in a
stable, Graded in a Manager, the hoarse notes
of lowing cattle blending with the lullaby
melody Of the young mother. No wonder
the Jews refused to acknowledge babe born
under such circumstances ana amidst such
surroundings as the heir to the throne of
King David. In the birth of Jesus of Naz-
areth pride and pomp went down and hui
manity stood erect, exalted and glorifed in
all of its Heaven ordained prerogatives.
The star of Bethlehem, by virtue OF
circumstances which took the form of DEGREES
immutable and irrevocable became the poor
mans star, and it is still leading the wise
men of the world to recognize the truth,
that God is no respector of persons, indie
pendent of all religious questions Christ
mas has a significance which reaches beyond
creeds and dogmas and all the paltry squab-
bles which occupy so much of the attention
of the Churches. In celebrating Christmas
the statesman, the philanthropist, the politi-
cal scientist, the student of events, and the
philosophers who make civilization special
death knell of despotism. They
recognize the truth that an in
visible hand laid hold upon men
with power to lift them to independence.
They know that the divine right to rule was
never conferred upon the few, and that, as
the centuries roll on, thrones and Kings and
dynasties will disappear, and that men shall
stand emancipated, disenthralled, dignified
and glOrifed by virtue Of the all pervading
precept that man Las no master but God.
Taking this view OF the subject all men can
join in singing
IAN hail the power of Jesus name"
Let angels PROSTATE fail;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord OF ALL
The civilization that levels up the poor and
levels down the rich, that overturns thrones
and establishes governments of the people,
for the people and by the people,
is the civilization which Christ
ordained. A civilization that supports
throne, that pays tribute to a dynasty, that
recognizes any title above citizenship is
civilization or derogation of that which
Christ came to establish. Christ Himself
declared that the Infinite God, His Father
was a worker, and that He also belonged to
the laboring class. Christ Himself in car
penter's shop set seal upon labor, such as
embellishes no order of nobility in any realm.
Taking this view of the subject, laboring
men become a royal priesthood, and the
jackplane and saw, the hammer and the
nail, things which Christ handled in the days
of his minority, became symbols of an or
der grander in the lessons they teach than Sui
tan or Ear ever created. 1t is not best to be
respondent Christ's civilization is to tri-
umph. All others are to disappear. Come,
then, with gifts and songs. Come with
Christmas reunions and rejoicings make
the home glorious with praise. In all lands
the wilderness is disappearing. Terra i11cOg-
nitGS no longer exists. Christianity has
taken charge OF commerce. Electricity has
brought about a neighbOrship of Nations.
Dynamite, by its mysterious annihilating
power, is forever making the judgment day
of despots tomorrow. The dark ages are
gone, TO come no more Eighteen hundred
years scarcely moves the hands on the dial
plate of eternitys clock. The wrong must
90, the right prevail.
Truth crushed to earth shall rise again.
All hail, Christmas, 1888 The Sentinel
sends its greetings to its readers. Hay it be
q merry day. But as the hours go by, each
bearing its burden Of testimony Of incidents
and scenes, to be inscribed upon tablets that
know no placement. let the record be, that
amidst che COMMUNICATING bilarity of the
day the poor have not been forgotten.