The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-25

| The generous chords in our natures are
now touched, and the sweetest music Of
the year comes forth, filling the air witt
the CHRIST refrain, "Peace, good will to.
ward men," If the good of one day could
save the world, the human family would bt
saved by the deeds of every Christmas
And this suggests a query, but not {
homily. 1t is no time for the latter. There
must be merriment; the rejoicing must &C
on; there must be no interference with the
flow of the spirit which prompts to sc
much goodness, so much generosity, so much
charity on this day. He would be worse
than a heather who would make
Christmas less the sweet and glorious oc
casion that it is or deprive it of the least
Of its admirable characteristics. There
can be neither danger nor harm in asking
why some of the spirit of Christmas cannot
be retained and carried through the year.
sermonize. 1t is not preaching to suggest
that if, while taking nothing from the day,
we all would carry something of the
Christmas influence in our lives through
the weeks, through the months, through
the years, it would be better for US as in
dividuals and far better for US as COM
munity. Is there not need for this! Is
there not occasion in our everyday life for
the exercise of that spirit of charity incul-
Gated by CHRIST and which inclines US to
each other on this great natal day!
If we were to talk and act ''peace"
in all the days of the year,
would not this, our little world of
Utah, be a brighter and more lovely
abiding place! If we were to show ''good
will toward men, in all the weeks of the
fftytwo as we do in the one, what a
charming home for man this would be
The asperities and acerbities are smoothed
and softened to-day, and we are the hap
pier forit; why not smooth and soften them
to morrow and next week and next month,
and continue the happier condition? Our
charity need not necessarily be confined
to Christmas. nor does charity consisd
solely in giving, as so many infer. The
word has another and better meaning
1t is charity to be considerable of others,
overlooking their faults, forgiving their
mistakes, and condoning their offenses; it
IS charity to show kindness, to manifest
to exercise benefcence, to
display good will; it is charity to
lelp others to be better. 1t is not
charity to drive others to conform to
your wishes, and by force make them
subject to your will. 1t is not like
CHRIST to demand that your neighbors
shall see eye to eye with you and walk
n the path marked for the guidance of
7our feet, and in the event of failure TO
comply with that demand, to make war
lpon them, bringing them to sorrow and
yrief. 1t is the reverse of charitable for
he strong to triumph over the weak; it is
lot CHRIsTLIKE to take advantage of cir
'umstances to Cypress the helpless. The
pirit of Christmas is that spirit which |
the brotherhood of man, each |
lealing fairly, even charitable, with all |
'thers, in all things, and every one recog-
lizing in everybody else brother or sister, |
untitled to all the rights and privileges |
md consideration which the Almighty in
ended should be held and enjoyed by his
,arthly family.
THE HERALD does not expect that the |
christmas spirit, in all its volume of good |
less and charity, will continue through the
ear; but TIVE do hope that the sweet essence
low distilled will be so strong that some
# its influence will be felt during the COM
ng months, bringing more of love, more of
'eace, more of prosperity, more of unity to
he community, and inspiring in the hearts
f all our Utah readers desire and deter
nination that next Christmas shall find
IS better people, shall find US working
ogether more tremendously for mutual
enefit, and shall find US more charitable
owards each, and enjoying more of the
wine spirit which came upon earth with
he birth that gave US this greatest of man
ind's anniversaries.