New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-25
PE1CE OK 4 SUORDP

PE1CE OK 4 SUORDP
Christmas means many different things TO
many different people; but on one point al
least. all would agree il is day Of peace ana
orod viii. That is the golden thread which
,uns tlrpugh the warp and wool of tho the
olary and tho traditions. and he f0ll, lore. that
have grown into shape around the Christmas
festival. However faint may BE- the idea Of
brotherhood At other timoS, il stands out IN
bold relief at Christmas. and we are all glad
to r,u,c ourselves among these who believe III
and pi1ct'c It, 49,.
Ard vet how far from realization is this
noble Ideal of peace to-day. That Lnrolo Is
IN armed camp j, ha.bncycd truNm. ing
iaud hold, millions Of Oriental peoples under
her .vay. not by the bond Of brotherhood but
Lax tho iron hand Of force. France Is rent
into factions BY great national scandal IN
/ which many of her honorcd sons figure ~ de-
spoiler, of The widow and the orphan. lhs
tr1pcdy # the great anti semitic persecution
+. u.,- W., paved ont in Russia. and in some
,thc- European countries the echoes OF It's cry
~ hate ar, ominou,ly distinct. Nor has tho
shadow If gaunt famine yet ceased to IAN
othnlrt the land If the Muscoyii" NJ the
Same time a social unrest unparalleled IN his
tory ha> taken possession OF the nations Oh
p,ropc and has found a lodgmcnt even in our
own llnd It's dominant note IS profound
dissatisfaction with things as they are. not al
WAY, rational or intelligent. but based on GER
,oi, fac's which no candid investigator VIII
DENY. This unrest is constantly leading TO the
social uurrccton known Is anarchy, ana to
/ the industrial wars known aS lockouts ana
strikes. f. NAV not be that the present social
system !, di>intcgrtng but 1t Is certainly true
/ that it, contains within itself movements ana
elements, which are symptomatlc OF change
fl, is Character And whether that change shall
como b, evolution or revolution depends large
Is ON the wisdom and discretion II those who
now hold thn pllcc, Of influence and power III
tbo world These are the facts tina, confront
~, thi, morning aS we repeat the angels song
Of pca.c and good will. Does not the Situa-
ton >uggc.t to Us rather these words OF the
Master recorded in Holy Writ, came not To
send peace, but a sword?
nor is the prophetic dream Of brotherhood,
for which Christmas stands, realized III the
| Churches The great Roman Catholic Com
munion in thi, country IS stirred to its depths
!
and character. Every Protestant denomination
| il touched with the same unrest that Is AFFECT
inc social life. Old traditions and dosma' are
! in process Of reconstruction and new views arc
lor.ing themselves t. the front. As result
! If oil thi, there is strife to-day between those
who lin in singing the praises OF the Babe
in Ecthlchcm. and multitudcs of good men arc
a,rl,cd against each other in deadly conflict
f opinion. Only the other day "A rcvered teach
or Of religion in the Presbyterian Church was
condemned by jury of his brethren for diner
! inc with them on "A question of Interpretation.
! And in this city Il famous Professor III the
same Church has been for weeks defend
inc himself from the accusations of his broth
rcn while all the world has been preparing
itself to listen to the angels song of peace.
What mean these notes of discom III tho
Church. these clashings OF opinion these overt
ao., Of war. when wcllnigh nineteen hundred
years have told to the followers Of Christ the
story If divine brothcrhOOdP Is Christmas
after all only pretty bit OF gushing sentiment
with no answering fact in human life behind
it? And are the words OF the Master already
quoted. 81 came not 10 send peace but
sword" the final message Of Christianity
Which thought holds the truth?
We answer. both. The destiny of man is
worked out. not by sleepy quicscence, but by
agitation. even though it involves clash Of
opinions. The social unrest and industrial war
which 50 mark modern civilization are not signs
Of death but Of life. And the controversies
over doctrines and policies in the Churches
which so many timid souls dcplOre, will result
in a clearer recognition than ever before of
what is true and enduring in the Christian re-
ligion. We live i'll an age when we must take
n wide and comprehensive view OF events, II
we would truly understand their Significance
We must not be mislcd by the temporary effects
Of great movements that may require several
generations for their complete evolution. The
industrial war or the hcresy trial Of to-day viii
doubtless Immediately promote separation ana
strife: but ultimately they will lead to
rcacc founded on more perfect comprehension
If human brotherhood and a trucr knowledge
of the facts Of human life. And that is the
only peace which is stable in this world In
some way or other knotty problems will have
to unite themselves, old misconceptions will
have 10 be clca1 d up, and old misunderstood
ing, will have 60 be explained. before the
prophctic ideal of the Christmas teaching can
he completely realized. After the conflict will
como rest. and after the battle will come peace.
Happy those who, in this enigmatic age, in
spite OF 30 much that Is calculated to puzzle