The herald., 1894-12-25
THE BELLS ARE Ginning.

The bells Of San Gabriel are ringing
ohesrily to greet the dawn of another
merry Christmas.
Merry enough for those who have that
which makes sweet content "A full
stomach and q clear conscience.
An hour ago the bells were ringing in
the cities OF the plain. and their ohm
ing echoed in the caflons and gulchea of
the mountains that life their peaks,
snow'cappsd sternslly, to the silent
sky; and while the good priests of San
Gabriel were at their earliest vigil by
this sunset ses the bells were merrily
pealing from tower and stssple of church
and chapel of the great cities beyond
the mighty river.
There was brief interval when only
the hollow murmur of the vast waters
sang greeting to the dawn-the ocean g
monotone that came with the silence of
England's cathedral bells.
Thus from the Kremln to Can ter bury.
from Lands End to Sandy Hook; from
Cape God to Pixies Peak; from Mani
tou to San GABRIEL the bells have rung
in the merry Christmas morn, and old
OCEAN has lifted his melancholy voice to
greet the coming Of the day that men
have set apart for peace and good will
toward their kind-ons day, alas in all
the year in which human hearts en-
deavor to feel unto others as they would
have others feel toward thsm-the
Christian reversal of the pagan philoso-
ply that sdmoniehes the uncouth bar
barian to do nothing to another that he
would not have done unto him.
One day in the year when we try to
put aside all uncharitRblsness One
day when we try TO be at peace with
the world A few short hours OF gener-
ous thought for our neiehborl
Our neighbor How much we find to
pailiate in the life and character and
disposition OF cur neighhorl How much
to condone, to forget, to forgive!
What o tribe OF Pharisees we are,
when all is said What vain aggrsga-
ton of egotiem and self.sufficient antic
pigmiss aspiring to godliks proportions
But our neigh bor-how weak and inei
fectual is he! Not vicious; not actually
sin sodden or beyond redemption; bat
aurely not ss worthy of respect sDd con-
sideration ss ourselves. Our neighbor
is not utterly depraved, but how much
better he would be If be would only sd-
here to our precept and be guided by
our example.
Then there is our Christmas charity
our good will to mentor this occasion
only. Yesterday the beggar on the
corner pleaded for alma and we passed
him by with cold Indifference to the
suffering that showed so plainly on his
sorrow-seamed countenence Today
this same beggar may have the leavings
OF our bounteous table-Lazarus may
today sit at our portal, where our dogs
may lick his sores. For is it not Christ
aa-gladaome, joyous Christmas, when
all the world remembsrs the story of
the Child that was thiB day born in q
manger and grew to manhood, preach
ing this same gospel of peace on earth
and good will to men-to bs fieally
hung upon O croas by those he came to
eave-to plead even there that these
ungrRteful creatures might be forgiven,
not knowing what they did?
This is the day when we remember
these things snd try to think that we
are better than those who olamored for
Barabbas-more just, more generous,
, more fit to people world where sym
psthy, charity, good will. are so necea-
ssry. But why not yesterday, tomor
row; always? Why should only one
day be set apart from others of the year
for this universal ebulltion of human
tenderness?
Still, lat us be thankful that the
hearts of men are not go hard, 80 sordid,
SO sel6sh, that they can utterly forget
the true meaning of the word Charity.
Let US be grateful that on one day OF
the year the bslls OF San Gabriel chime
with tender significance and that the
dawning of Christmas is greeted with
joyous, generous, brotherly good will
throughout the civilized, Christian
world, from the lonely monssteries of
the Caucasus to the sun.lit slopes OF the
Sierra Madre.