The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-12-24

the Jews who selHshlyr egarded the God
OF Abraham, Isaac and Jacob "A their
own peculiar possession and whose char.
acter was often outlined as little more than
that of a blood-thirsty leader OF lighting
nation-onward from the myriad deities
of reverential Asiatic and European
minds who sought by the very multitude
OF Gods to include all truth-onwerd
with greater clearness than all seekers
who had preced d him, he led the worlds
thought to assert the existence OF one
God of one universe. He did not argue
Hin to exist; he assumed Him as the
SIMPLEST explanation oi the powers, Wis
lille and invisible, of a mighty creation.
Furthermore, as omniscience, omnipo-
tence. omnipresence are beyond the
powers OF our finite mind to grasp. Jesus
makes God greater than the widest
theories of eager souls, and yet simpler
than the simplest Interpretation OF Him,
by announcing Him as Father" and as
Love-" The troubled soul can under
stand that, and rest. The "Father
chastens His little ones that they may
develop. He breaks down HIS truths
into small fragments to suit their grow
ing powers. He interprets thorny ways
into upward paths. His love makes all
things work together for good to those
VIII love Him. Every woman heart can
understand Him as Love-" for in her
love has been the ascent of man" and in
His love has been the ascent OF the soul.
More simple by infinite extent than
the complicated sacrifices and penances
of other and earlier interpreters, was his
answer to those who inquired the wav
to eternal life. The simple acts OF every
day kindness done to the least OF Gods
children, we're the passports thither. he
made 'the child" the thing for humanity
to reverence. While other systems cast
children to the beasts He made OF them
moral monarchs whose service called
forth meekness and gentleness. and
worship united men and women on equal
terms.
After nineteen centuries we are only
drifting back to bis simple standards OF
the first. Out OF the ferment OF thought
q nd the fury OF conflict that men have
waged, is surging M, like the dry land
out OF chaos. greater simplicity and
greater power. We see that to
have been a ruler OF nation is less than
to have lived to hate evil that to live
without purpose, though never 80 luxuri-
ously, is less in the Divine estimate than
he hesitating caress of the least OF US
who would soothe another's sorrow;
that it is better to die for the truth than
to live by a lie; that our Father watches
our feeble efforts with tender eye and
Judges actions by aspirations and not by
results. that "Love" is over all. guiding
where reason fails.
Not like Buddha, did be preach inactioD,
nor like Confucius did he preach yenera-
ton for traditions. Activity in the d.
rection OF others needs. and oDen-minded
idelity towards truth though it separ-
ated him forever from the sympathy OF
his own people-tbese were his character
sites. What is Bethlehem to us? A
place only What Is Jesus? A resi- per-
sonl Then at this Christmas time let us
who think, emulate what He did as
man rather than venerate the place of
His birth. Thus shall we be Chrsts to
those who dwell in the darkness OF doubt
and who sorrow in the pangs OF bereave-
ment.