The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-22

on the subject of the Christmastide
seasonal season so replete with reli-
gious meaning-men and women of all
beliefs and no beliefs at all agree in the
main and applaud the day which show
ers so much happiness upon the uni-
verse.
This fact is aptly illustrated by the
following views on the Christmas sea-
son made by four leaders of religious
and anti-religious thought. Two of the
views represent orthodox religion, one
represents the Chris tmas idea of the
most formidable foe Of relig ious belief
of the day, and the other represents
the idea of what is generally described
as mistaken religion. Iasse views
speak for themselves.
Here is the Christmas idea of DR..
Lyman Abbott, pastor Of Plym onth
church in Brooklyn, a man regarded as
a fitting successor to Henry Ward
Beecher:
"We might have thought it hardly
worth while to ask and answer this
question did we not find it asked by
others, and variously answered. l. is
true that Christmas has been in times
past accom- panied by eXcsss. and is 80
sometimes now. 1t is true that it has
been degraded by superstitions, per-
i haps may sometimes be so degraded
now. Shall we abandon every good
| thing that the world has ever be-
smirched and pulluted with evil?
sit is true that we do not know on
what day Christ was born, nor in what
month, nor, with certainty, even in
what year. What then? May we not
celebrate His coming, though we do
not know just when he came?
cit is true that Santa Claus and ST.
Nicholas are only imaginary. What
then? What miserable world this
w.uld be if God had not given us i'm
agitation to delight ourselves withal
"Who shall celebrate Christmas if
not all those to whom Christ was born?
IT He has brought in knowledge OF
God and of the Father, so that God is
dearer and heaven is nearer for His
coming; if He has brought US the mes
sage, Go in peace, thy sins be forgiven
thee 30 that remorse is less bitter aud
sin less a burden, because borne for US
by another; if He has brought US the
message, Let not your heart be
troubled and we have dried our eyes
and lifted them from Off the ground
and walked in great peace and JOY
because of Him; If He has given US
work TO do of love for others, and
Herewith the joy Of service and self
denial, may we not we'll take one day
in the year for special rejoicing be.
cause He has come and because BE has
given such gifts to men?
LET all the church bells, then, ring
out whether in Puritan or Cavalier
communities Let all the churches be
green with the emblem of an immor-
tally which winter cannot kill!
"Let all the churches repeat the
Christmas message OF :Peace on earth
good will toward menn
LET every heart forget its woes and
its wrongs, every home be brighter and
more radiant with hope and faith and
love and the joy which these three
Rraces bring, and let every soul pray
Tiny Tins Christmas prayer: Cod
bless US, every onen"
Just now Colonel Robert G.. Iuger
soil is Of more than ordinary interest
because Of the recent united efforts OF
the Christian Endeavorers of Cleve
land o., to bring about his conversion
by prayer. Undoubtedly he is in need
of conversion, but it would be difficult
to find any one who could express
finer Christmas sentiments than the
| f0llowinp.