Smyrna times., 1888-12-26

O AOtulh VI thlS anniversary IS M
longer a matter Of indifference in any
department Of thought or life. Ii
Tusser's day it was chiefly an occasion
for mirth under The sanction ofreligior
and far of be the time when such an
observance Of Christmas shall cease
For what this age needs-and coming
ages promise to need it quite as much
is mirthfulness.
The intensity of modern life and the
deepening Of consciousness through in.
telligence breed sadness. We think
too much and work too hard to have
time for enjoyment, and if we suddenly
discover that we have need of it. we
take it in inOrdinate quantities, rather
than in simple and natural ways: we
90 out and buy pleasure at so much
the hour instead ofsomehOw contriving
to live mirthful life. Close observers
Of modern society, like Walter Bea-
SAINT, have discovered that main lack
IN the lives Of the poor is that of cheer,
and he urges that philanthropic plans
should embrace measures for daily
Frightening the lives of the people by
some simple experience of a pleasure
bic sort. 1t would be sombre fact if
the number Of those who live through
day without laugh or even a smile
could be ascertained,-a strange mis-
carriage of Nature, since man is the
only being within her dominion who is
capable of that action.
Christmas has rendered the world this
good service, that now for many CEN
turies it has called men to sympathetic
cheerfulness. 1t comes, indeed, but
once year, but for some davs the
cloud on the brow of humanity lifts
little and the wall dies out of its voice.
At times it has been too obstreporous
in its mirth and called for puritanic
check, but for the most it has been
true to its origin and stirred the hu-
man heart to sympathetic gladness and
hope. We shall soon hear the growls
of the pessimistic critic over the waste
fulness Of Christmas gifts and the IRA
tionality of Christmas mirth. Heed
him not: he does not know that the
keynote Of the universe is joy, and
that Christmas laughter is only a stray
echo of an eternal hymn, and nearly
the only one that has reached us. and
that it is well worthy of being caught
if we would ever hear the whole.
Therefore, fathers, give gifts to your
children, even if you have to lessen the
daily portion, remembering the wis
dom Of MahOmet, who said, that if " he
had two lOaves of bread he would sell
one and buy hyacinths, for they would
feed his SOUL" And, We children. stir
up your fathers to mirth Christmas
comes but once year, and the wears
left to them may not be many.
The field of Christmas widens. so to
speak, from sge to age. 1t is more
than matter of religion and mirth.
As the time draws near the birth of
Christ" we are reminded again how
widely and profoundly he has taken
possession of human society. If an
other chapter of Christian evidences
were needed, one could be written on
the fact that Christianity has in real |
Ity taken possession of the modern
world IN all its leading forms of
thought and action, leaving the reader
to make the inference as to its origin.
The author of Robert Elsmere" sees
a glorious temple of Christianity built
on the fond fancies and superstitions of
those who were not sufficiently devel-
oped to use their faculties in giving
testimony, but it seems like an indict-
ment of the intelligence of the civil
Iized world to require it to believe
that a fact and force so thoroughly ac-
eepted and inwrOught by it, making it
what 1t is, has not the basis of full re-
ality. Christianity has not come into
the world by some other door" but
through the accredited person and his
tory Of Jesus Christ. The impression
made by the Christ on the world is the
chief apologize for the faith. It is no
longer a matter Of church, but of soci-
ETY. at large. 1t early took the lead of
all other forces in determining history
civilization again and again has turned
lpon It governments and institutions
nave been shaped by it; society has
irawn from it its temper and tone it
las made humanity a fact; it has ere.
tied democracy and made it a univer
al certainty in the near future. The
orce with which DC has penetrated the
lgher Orders Ol thought is equally I
triking. Philosophy more and more i
.nds itself agreeing with Christian DOS
1lates and issuing in Christian ethics
ot 50 much because the philosopher
eeepts Christianity as because Chris
anlty has taken possession ofthe phil s
sopher and taught him on what levels /
think. Since last Christmas. Mar i
neau, in his STUDY of Religion" j." has
nited the highest philosophical v
nought Of the last half of the century '
nth the Christian faith in an insepa-
able unity. :
But the Christmas idea nowbera I
nds 50 full expression as in literature !,
chypenhauer says that music contains
itself all the concepts Of the world n
literature may be said TO contain in a
self the concepts Of whatever is best o
10 truest in human experience; and y
ist as there is nothing false or evil in =
usic, 50 literature takes into itself q
by what is true and good. The final c.
dgment Of reality and worth in this u
orld's history is the consensus Of lit "
ary genius. The absoluteness with
hich literature has endorsed Christ y
as is 50 much proof Of its reality. A "
ne poet might well suspect himself "
ID the aivineness Of his inspiration if a.
7 found himself out Of sympathy a !,
itn Him whose 4" blessed feeti walked !.