Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-12-29
CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS.


The oft-told story of the nativity
of savior of humanity recurs
again. The nineteen hundredth
year of attempted salvation, the phi
losophy of Christianity that during
all this time directed the thoughts
and aspirations of untold genera
tons in the so-called civilized world,
with peace love and justice as the os-
tensibe aim, has brought forth con-
tention, hate and generalization,
with poverty as the lot of the faith
full users of their talents, the work.
ers. In the historical retrospect
gloomy picture presents itself when
we behold the many millions in saw
age contention for bare existence.
And sadder still is the knowledge
that these conditions prevail even in
our days, although we are far better
fitted out with all arrangements to
tighten the burden of life. Yet we
behold the EXTREMIST anxiety caused
by the exhausting care for mere ex
istence. Humanity's savior has not
come yet, The people are anxiously
awaiting salvation from the misery
of life. We understand that to allie
viate LIES cares our attention must
be directed to the conditions Of this
life, and not to the monstrous idea
that we are the vjCtims of d supernat-
mal pOWer, the eternal order, from
which there is no relief save through
death. This in truth is the effect of
the Christian philosophy, that re-
quires meek submission and offers
consolation only in hereafter, when
the conditions Of life, as we know
them, have passed away. We I'M
derstand the cause of our short-com-
ings; we also understand that the
salvation is within our reach; that
it depends upon the self conscious
ness of our dignity as men, and that
this is attainable and in accord with
the development of nature-the con-
ditlon for it pre-exists from the time
of the incipiency Of existence; we
understand, therefore, that we have
not to wait for the savior to come
from supernatural power - the
savior for whom we are longing must
arise within ourselves. Thus the
means for salvation are inherent
within us, and we will cause condi-
tons to prevail that will bring US in
accord with "Mother Nature" when
through the instrumentallty of our
intelleotuel and moral qualities we
adjust conditions for our we'll being.
This salvation is real, it is tangible,
and possesses the virtue, when at
tanned, of endurance. 1t will bring
peace and good will among men, for
all will have the means necessary to
maintain existence without antagon-
izing each other. The selfishness
that is forever conspiring to possess
what is rightfully owned by another
will die out as soon as the means of
life are attainable and assured to all.
when the struggle for existence is
assuaged by the intellectual develop
ment that affords what is necessary
to crafty our wants; when enough
is within reach of all, there will be
peace and good will among men; for
no one will desire what is not needed
for well being. We have learned
not to look beyond the skies for the
savior. Our aim and purpose in life
is to make it gratifying in the intel
lectual and moral sense. We under
stand that to live correctly is for the
prosperity of our existence. We
understand that the violation of this.
is to injure our well being, F S.