Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24

We'll may 50 be asked whether any
Christmas has ever meant so much 10
Clr.stendom as this Of 1893.
Tho latter halt OF tho current century
ias been characterized hy changes more
sonderfui than any like period in his
'ory has seen. These changes. havo
caused universal unrest and upheaval
within the last quarter century. "transl-
son period has been used 10 describe
our age until the phrase Is trite. Grill
csm has run not with everything fp
Heaven and earth. until almost every oh.
Jet OF knowledge Is regarded as omen
90 question and revision. For more than
twenty years men in every department
Of tho worlds activity have felt the nro-
monlton Of some great world revolution
and have openly prophcsied that il N.as
bearing down upon us.
Aut an this shock OF change has been
but the chemical upon the worlds plafe
mat hiss brought the figure Of the Christ
INTO clearer and clearer light. 10 is 10 The
iaH6ion or the incarnation, which we
celebrate on Christmas day that men
are turning moro eagerly every day..
That Tho Son OF Man was born 10 incar-
nate Himself in other lives; that we must
so back OF an that men have said about
Him 10 Himself. that truly 90 worship
Him IS not 10 call Him Lord. Lord.
but % do what FLO says, that 90 live after
Ills rule IS not 90 make men chimorc.al
I'D impractical. but the most practical
actors ga tho worlds life. that His prin-
lpIes ere 10 DO applied not only TO por-
t3nl' family. or church life. but as well
90 business life. social life. political life
national life. avo, 90 international life.
llat the immediate object OF His birth
and lifo In this world was not 20 establish
kingdom In a future world. but hero
and now, among flesh and blood men.
and thar He viii not DO satisfied of the
travail OF His soul I'm the mu1form
activities Of this world are brought under
ils benign fway-these arc the realities
with which Chrlstend0m is wrestling too
DAY.
And thus this Chrisimay day is big with
prophecy as TO tho century on which VIC
are entering. The changes we have seen
ere 10 those we shall see as tho little
cloud on "a sultry day 20 the cracking
thunder and the sheets Of rain Peerug
into the coming years 1 behold the fiery
furnace OF the worlds turmoil heated
seven times hotter than before, but lot
in the midst OF the flame there SIS one
Walking. and His form Is Ike the Son of
God. As 1 look ont over the sea OF con-
fcf. through the mists that hang above
the boiling waters. / descry the outline
ol the figure once tossed on Galilee's
wave. and I henT, falling from those
scored lips with new meaning and power.
re all-gontle, ah-couquorins words
"Iflce be STILL"
yrrrTTAnr hTTrN~ A ~rrrp 1ohrp
Our New and Grand Conception.
Iae last Christmas OF the nineteenth
century should be TO the Christian q
waica-tower from which hc may survey
aol.eVaments in science. government, and
.sou surpaesing those OF amy pIcced-
.e era, and from which Doe may read
Ns -us of the times ard anticipate the
E.r..r achievements OF tho century
uI.u W-ich we arc soon 90 enter.
III s sisull cant fact that the nations
which l re made tho greatest progress,
ia tho century which is rounding 20 it's
close are fl15s into whose civilization
Christianity Us most thoroughly woven. /
III is another significant fact that the IA
rQls which have degeneratod during Inc
century and are now being dismembered
AID divided among the greater nations, /
ar. those which have been dominated by
religions opposed TO Christianity. Blind
D. tho man who cannot see that Chris /
DAINTY is the great motive power behind
ssyliug that constitutes real progress
lI that makes for Tho higher welfare
Of mapkind.
Near the beginning OF the present CEN
,lry the great enterprise of cVaneehzing
t.. Pagan nations was born. Since then
Millions have turned from the worship /
idols 20 the service o. the true and
living God. Christians viii enter th-
twentieth century with resources for /
prosecuting this work, that VIII enable /
tlem 10 do more in tho next decade than /
they have accomplished iu the last Gene I
tlry The present prospect warrants the /
prediction that the last sun of The next /
century wiz not shine upon single foot /
OF Pagan soil.
Never was there as much of the Christ /
spirit in tho world as there is to-day. /
Never was 10 SO potent in tho councils |
and cabinets of nations. Never was there /
eeh a turning from The ethics Of the |
s. dsh Cain 10 the morality OF the un- /
fsh Christ.
$50 what the spirit of Him who brought /
s..I viii to men has wrought in our own /
country iu Graduating sect0nalsm and |
l I noting unity and brotherhood.
$50 .an never forget the day when that
almost peerless child Of genius that
Orl / prodigy. that illustrious jour
that patriot. philanthropist. and
tan. Henry ~. Grady, stood be-
t.a representative men ~ New England.
a pleaded for the restoration OF
llerly confidence and affection with
..lvor and eloqueuce tlat seemed TO
.rou new trumpet-st0p on the grand
0n of human passion. Grady made
tlat speech under the excitement of q
f.f.. ever lie stood ON the very border