The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-26


found In Luke 2:ll. GLORY to God In the
highest. and upon earth peace. good
will toward men," Mr.. Custer. the pas
ion prevalent during the middle ages
among the schoolmen In relation to this
text to the effect that these angels be-
Ing heavenly intelligences knew per-
fectly all the past, could see the present
condition of things at a glance n had
the future laid out before them by d.
vine Illumination. even to the end of
the world. This heavenly choir. ring
ing out the most glorious anthem ever
sent upon the midnight air. was GER
tainly inspired by a divine knowledge,
not OF the present alone. for the darkest
pail of blackness. moral and religious.
had settled down upon the Roman
world: universal doubt and the most
fearful pessimism prevailed over all.
The only optimists OF that time were
these angels. The leading writer's held
that only added corruption and evil
would come in the years to be and end
in universal ruin.
From that night shone the light.
opening the way for eastern magi and
wise men with gifts of gold. franxin-
cense and myrrh. from hat period
e OF influence and Of power nave
come down the ages ever deepening,
widening n coursing more rapidly as
the years have gone. until they now
flow to every shore and fructisy every
land. and IL these angels knew this.
hen 1t Is no wonder that they sang
Glory to God in the highest and on
earth peace. good will toward men, for
only the unthinking will ever claim that
the present Is not In every way at least
so per cent. better than IL was then.
The name Of Christ has been placed
above every name: In UGH great rever-
ence IL Is held to-day that man will not
place II upon sons born into the world.
The greatest minds OF earth, the skep-
teal. and h religious. have all placed
His name above all others. II Is univer-
sal n not national or sectional. The
need of praise and OF homage is CIV
en- Him. The stream OF benevolence
has increased steadily since the day the
angels sang so sweetly. Then the rich
despised the poor and the Door hated
the rich. Since last Christmas time $685.
900. 900 has been given for the ones In
poverty by the one class. without
enumerating all that has been given for
asylums, schools, churches and places
for physical and moral good. II IL II
true that only the golden rule can
bring the golden age, then II behooves
us to stand close TO that eternal prln-
ciple running throughout the constitu-
llbI VI lldtuIt u uilutIlNlUE All tnt
works OF God. that love Is the chief
thing. and only after all hatred en-
gendered between classes has been
swept away will the millenial age come.
Whatever tends to bring about this
love is from God. Whatever tends to
bring about hatred is from the devil.
las Christ gave Himself for us and
for the world. promising that His blood
avail to wipe out the evil in the
ranprd Of M lfxo1 hafara tho thrana
and His grace sufficient to save all. so
should we give ourselves for the good
of others. for this Is the will of God and
the spirit OF the cross. This spirit Is
Notwithstanding the agita-
ions seen at times. Christ Is coming
into His kingdom the world over stead
lily and surely. After the passing of
every generation the sway of the golden
rule has been stronger and wider. Like
the great onnowing stream hurrying
eternity, so are the streams Of
that have come down from the
The angels may ave ~rejoiceu
of seeing the larger number of
companions to be secured
for heaven, for the millions who have
gone n the millions more to go, saved
by the blood. are enough to bring Joy
To angels hearts IL they can see into
future and foretell that which shall
be. As the angels sang Glory to God In
highest: and on earth. peace and
good will oward men, let us. with our
lives, u actions. our building up OF the
kingdom, others to sing in the
same manner and then. when earth's
last days are seen, which will not be
far distant. We may find our hearts at
to sing the song OF Moses and the
upon the other shore, where all
may find in Christ an eternal rest and a
OF rejoicing. such as earth never
knew. Let us join this glad angel choir
here and then go home to rejoice with
hem forever hereafter"
At The Presbyterian Church.
Rev. Mr.. Cleland at the Presbyterian
last evening delivered the
m The text was: And
she brought forth her first born son
and wrapped him in %swaddling clothes.
md laid him in a manager, because
was no room for them in the inn."
Mr.. Cleland's sermon was an eloquent
exhaustive discussion OF the ma
.ivity, and was listened TO with the
'losest attention. The church was
and the sermon clearly made |
deep impression upon the audience.