The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-12-03
IDYLLs AND IDEALS OF CHsISTMAS.

Continued from r"p one.
Nc and human, while the Semitic concept is mystical and deiAic. ASIA has
contributed theology to mankind; Europe has contributed the correlation OF
forcss. The Semitic has furnished faith; the Aryan has invented science.
To the philosophical mind that aspect of the civilized life which shows the
supsrpoGion of Asiatc faith over European science, of Semitic theology over
Aryan knowledge, of final cause over natural Interpretation, Is the most wonder
ful phss Of the intellectual history Of mankind, This is the precise phase which
new prevails in the world. 1t is Europe against Asia. It's the old wresle of
Aryan with Semitic Its the conflict of knowledge with belief, 1t Is the scp'
Il n with Oriental mysticism and faith, 1t is the struggle of the knowledge
weking intellect with that other intellect which places single cause once fr
~ o. California with Canaan. It's the audaciy of that mind which yields it
sMf to he dominion Of universe resting on nothing but itself contrnsted with
The passive despair of that mind which is satisfied to support tn universe with
somNhng that holds to it for support
al 49,, hsl;etu and sentiments md traditions Ahura. Mazdao shines out once
mose behind the sun. Brahma is contAing the throne with Jahveh. Almost
the gds Of the vedas began to prevail again, Almost olympus WIN us hr
srchy u st mp once more on earth, Almost, the poetic fanciesa n rnapsoaies OF
tie Arsn singers and mythmakers of the dawn re felt again in the human
b,sast. And * o the other hand, the Semitic dominion is shaken nt a little;
knowledge begins to prevail over traditional belief ash needs m"s' sooner Ut
later pryNl-throughout the world.
How hardly do the old myth and tradition Of shem any longer in the absence
s,roro strong ;s Ne adventurous Jaobeth. He rus the
~ brother and he Is the conqueror! The Aryan mind. long under the donin-
ion Of ths Oriental spell, freeing itself by Titles begins quite rapidly TO SUB
sAnSte science for the unsupported dogma and dream Of the East In doing so
ia aided and insigated by ethnic influences almost as old as the human ace
Every myth and tradition, every mystical institution and ceremony handed
down out Of the vision of the Orient is now attacked by the Aryani it is put III
. erucible and assaned with intokrabe fire.
IN this way the Christmas festival deeply planted in the uspges of all the
nurposs by the prevailing peoples II the mythical anniversary Of the birth OF
~ Christ be still regarded with ferver and celebrated with more than medieval
.ca, It Is because of a certain ethnic fact and principle underlying the chrs.
- tide and giving thereto its Significance and vitality. The fact Is that Christ
- itsn Is ultimately IN Aryan and by no means a Semitic festival 1t was IN
ne ant phce . fact and feast of paganisni, and only Yin the secondary extent a
s.ct and feast relating o the birth and work of the Poor Man Of Capernaum,
Christmas was adopted out Of pagansm because as a already existing in'n'u'
Non II, like Easter seemed to the early church a necessary. OF a least a most use
III nsyt f her own observance and ceremonial The tnnspanted institution OF
Cnr{stmss wss regarded for long by the ignorant folk Of the middle ages as a
neculiady Goi.giyen part of Christian observance, having its significance wholly
with respect to the christ and his salvation. -,
with the dawn of modem inquiry, with the attack Of knowledge On credni
itv and with the rising prevalence ola larger view o1history and II human life
Is mystical and supentitious part of Christmas began to die away, bnt the poe.
iI ad human mart has remained and still remains in the most hourshing ana
Ioppy anniversary Of the year The Aryan concept Of nature and man survives
4 ~ winter SHOWS. Wooden hurting his hail makes 0 holiday, and the reindeer
"a N1ssIowy north come canterng with candles The old brahmanieal ana
Taufonc notions and fAnces come back ont OF the oblivion OF ages NvVne ~
q hulan mind, rising like bubbles from the Questionable springs q. a o a
pace Ne and breaking on the surface what time the yWe 10y - DrcDuSnttn H. ana
- holly Il hung. and the feast Is spread, and happiness is rekindied on the com
90 hesrthst0ne and our humanity. , -u
~ new Christmas isa surviving aspect Of ancient A ,yMaI n spaIted Will .i
IN dlshaiy reminicent Of the unknown date and mystical circumstances sur
NSndiSs tie birth Of the poor outcast Of Nazareth who has tor % many cen
rensi~c contributed the moral pecepts without being able TO control the conduct
q mankind.