The Republican journal., 1898-12-29

| and character of its Founder and Intiator
Jesus is to the world of men no legendary
hero, no phantom OF superstition, no tabled
being existing by reason of the ingenious
credulity of men, he is more real and DOW
erful to-day than when, centuries ago, He
walked in flesh and blood the Gallileean
hills aad the Judean plains. Strange and
marvellous is it, that while other great men
and women who have gained reverence and
admiration have lessened in their greatness
with the flood of years, that this one great
figure stands out more really, more nobly
to-day than in all the years that have been
since His death. Time, instead of lessenng
His greatness, as it has undeniably done
with other great personalities, has only
tended to increase it, to enhance His sweet
ness and humanness, to make him dearer to
the hearts OF each succeeding generation.
Year follows year and the number of His
followers Is increased, and that His charac-
ter is better understood is seen to he more
truly alive to-day than centuries ago. Mar
shal the names of the other great teachers,
the other mighty prophets and leaders of
men, and the pure, powerful, far-reaching
voice OF this Peasant of Nazareth is mightier
than any. Moses with all his wisdom and
moral insight embodied in his great utter.
es.-Buddha, called the light of Asia,
with his truths and inspired words,-the
ethical wisdom of Confucius, the sage coun-
sci and admonition of the noble Socrates,
the Stole Epictetus with his strong appeals
to the self reliance and unconquerableness
of men, Seneca, Marcus AureIius Shake
speare, with his great knowledge of human
nature, and his great inspired dramas, all of
these seem faint, seem but echoes to those
simple truths in the sermon on the Mount,
or those undying words spoken in parable or
prophecy to his disciples and followers. 1t
is even of so deep and true a seer as Thomas
Carayle said =" He walked in Judea egh.
teen hundred years ago, his sphere melody
fanIy
the ravished souls of men, and being of
truth sphere melody, still flows and sounds,
though now with thousand fold accompani-
ments and rich symphonies, through all
hearts, and modulates and divinely leads
them"
Another noble SOUL called by his time and
age skeptic and inidel has paid as deep
and tender tribute to this great man. this
divine saint of sacrifice. With sympathetic
and prophetic insight Ernest Renan has
beautifully and truthfully said, speaking of
the death of Jusus; the death which was the
truest birth =" Rest now in thy glory noble
founder. Thy work is completed. Thy
divinity is established. Fear no more to see
the edifce of thy efforts crumble through
flaw. Henceforth, beyond the reach of
fraIlty, thou shalt be present, from the
height OF thy divine grace in the infinite
consequences of thy acts. At the price of
few hours of suffering, which have not
touched thy great soul, thou hast purchased
the most complete immortality. For thous-
ands of years the world will extol thee. A
thousand times more living, thousand
times more loved since thy death than
during the days of thy pilgrimage here
below, thou wilt become to such degree
the cornerstone of humanity that to tear
thy name from this world would be to shake
it to its foundation. Complete conqueror of
death, take possession OF thy kingdom.
whittier, by the royal road thou hast traced,
ages of adorers will follow thee"
And so we can only say to know this great
soul, to know that he is in very truth the
Way Truth and the Life is to realize the
great Christmas happiness. And to live his
life richly and bountifully, in service to our
fellow men, that is to receive aud to give the
great, true, Christmas blessing.