The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-12-25
MERRY CHRISTMAS:

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.
This paper is issued on the 18th day
of December,-the blessed Christmas
time. We send kindly greetings and
good wishes to all our readers. May
all happiness wait upon them and the
whole world.
Men will differ as to theological
questions, and even as to the rela-
tiOns of Jesus to the Maker of the
Universe, but the fact remains that
the life and work Of the Savior are
tr emendous facts, in the history of
the human race, which no scepticsm
can dispute and no prejudice ignore.
And to-day, while the CLOSES of the
ages fall away, like frail and perishing
garments, the figure Of Christ shines
forth, more clearly than ever before
in the world las the image and pattern
of justice and goodness; while over
his head is written. in letters Of ever
lasting light, the divine sentence:
THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD AND
THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN"
An incredulous generation may
deny the miracles of Christs life, but
the biggest miracle of all has succeed
ed his death. 1t is against all the
doctrines of proba bilities, and in con-
travention Of ordinary human expert
ence, that a bare-footed. bare-headed,
untaught mechanic, living in an OBJ
scure village, Of an unimportant
province Of the Roman empire,
should, on the basis of poverty and a
cruel and Infamous death, have
founded dispensation which has
survived the Caesars, and a hundred
lesser dynasties; and has come down
into this strange age, and this new
world, palpitating with a vigorous
life which sezes upon the hearts of all
men.
And now, when a great movement
is inaugurated, to advance the human
race, and save it from brutalism and
barbarism, it finds itself compelled to
plant it's feet, squarely, upon that
grand doctrine:
THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD AND
THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN"
Is it not true that
still throughout the ages an increasing
purpose runs.
And tile thoughts of men are broadened
with the circling of the suns
For if there is no Fatherhood of
God there can be no brotherhood of
Man. If this universe is but "a for
tuitOus cOnca tenation Of atoms, y
the mere child of chance-thrown to-
gether by high wind-the sport of
accident;-an If there is no soul and
no love and no life in nature. save
mere physical existe nee, then the
wise man is the one who, wolf-like,
devours his fellows; and the condition
Of universal vice and greed into which
this "Busi ness Age" is leading us, is
the natural and necessary climax of
the human race on the planet. For
if there is no God, and no spiritual
world around us, why should not
every man arm himself and go forth
to rob and Stay his fellow?
Therefore all governmental reform,
to-day, must be based on the teach
ings of the carpenter of Nazareth,
as enuciated nineteen hundred years
ago. We cannot overcome selfshneSs
with selfishness, but with sacrifice
The world can take no int rest in the
battlings of hogs in pen;-it is a
matter of no consequence into which
stomach the food goes:-for greed and
baseness triumph in the end in any
case. The this generation must
place it's efforts for Reform on the
broadcast and highest basis attain
able.
And so, ON this Christmas day,
friends, let us resolve to struggle for
the right, not through greed or
hatred, but for the love of Justice;
and because we would establish this
visible, material life in accord with
all that is best and purest and noblest
in the invisible and immaterial life.
Emerson spoke of ''hitching ones
cart to star" Let us hitch our
temporal Reform to the purposes of
the universal Divinity.