New-York tribune., 1895-12-22
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GOODWILL AND PEACE.

Tho iconoclasts have not wiped out Christmas
Pcrhaps they have not seriously tried TO do so.
Az religious festival. enshrining great theo-
logical dogma, it more than holds It's own, IN
snlte Of the marked apparent drift of thought
from the purely theological conception or Chris
tionity Men and women calling themselves
Christians today, who earnestly repudate the
,niroculous dogma of the Incarnation. on which
Christmas rests and on which alone it can rest
oro nevertheless able somehow to find in the
dov suggestions of larger hope for the race
and incentives to a nobler service Of humanity
Why this Is so we cannot here undertake 10 say
lint IL is a fact that cannot be denied. So far as
the ethical import OF Christmas Is concerned
Christianity has never been more at one than
It Is to-day.
Not less marked during the last few years has
becn the social observance OF Christmas by all
classes of society. 1t has come to be one of the
Great festivals Of family life. The phrase, "A
merry Christmas well expresses the popular
conception Of the day. The good old custom or
Giving presents to friends and acquaintanccs has
hecome almost universal, and well-meanng II
ro+ ol,vovs welconceived efforts are at this
seoson made TO relieve suffering and assuage
sorrow. Much of this altruistc impulse that so
marks the modern observance OF Christmas ~
doubtless commonplace enough IN It's character.
II bears upon ii none Of the earmarks OF moral
grandeur II is prompted by a feeling OF vague
and sefsatisfed pity rather than by any lof'y
conception Of human obligation and brotherhood.
For many people, in fact, Christmas offers Il
convenient excuse for the Sinking OF their real
duty TO their fellow-men which they are not
sloxv In seize There are individuals in every
community who will gain cheap reputation
for philanthropy this week by doing ont ton
Of coal. perhaps or turkey, TO some poor fam
u,es while nj the same time they fail to rise to
the splendid opportunities Of constant service to
their fellow-men presented 10 them by their
wealth and social position This is the seamy
side OF Christmas as II Is to-day. Whatever the
world NAV ultimately come to think of the old
dogma Of the GodMan born In the manger OF
Bethlehem, the old ethical teachings Of the day
are in line with the best instincts Of humanity,
and the truest progress Of the race will be best
subserved by giving the fullest expression to
those teachings in the daily life OF the indlv!d-
ual Upon every child Of man there rests the
lifelong obligation Of service to his brothers.
II is through the recognition Of that truth that
the Church has won all its greatest trumphs
and made the world its perennial debtor And
it Is only as civilization to-day adopts that truth
as It's own peculiar life principle that 1t will find
the strength to advance from glory to glory in
its journey toward the goal OF perfect right
eousncss.
Goodwill and peace. These are the watch
words of the festival which Christian civilization
celebrates this week; but how far are they from
realization in the outward life Of that cvza.
ton. While Christian men and women are get
ting ready to honor the birthday Of the Prince
Of Peace. two Of the foremost nations Of the
Christian world are talking about the possibility
Of war. Possibility. we say, for we believe that
ii is no more than a possibility and perhaps