The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-24
The Christmas Idea.


The question debated with as much
interest as ever. whether there is more
religion in the world today than there
ever was before, finds an answer in the
growth OF the Christmas idea. All over
the civilized world the past few weeks
have been mostly time Of preparation
for the festival Of tomorrow. Today
It will be the theme Of all pulpits. In
the aim hours OF Mondays early morn
ing millions Of twinkling lights from
the windows Of palace and howell will
shine on childish faces aglow with de-
light. The heart Of all the world will
BE- softened, its tension relaxed, Its eff
fort suspended. And all because Of
the birth Of child nineteen centuries
ago, and what that means to the
thought and the spiritual life of our
world. e. ~
1t IL the Christmas idea that answers
best the question whether religious
faith and feeling are waning or in
creasine, because It defines and in
cludes the content of the word "reli-
eion." About forms and definitions
and nonessentials the battle still
RACES fiercely. Creeds and no creeds,
literal interpretations and the pitiless
laws Of the higher criticism. forms of
worship and nice distinctions Of dogma
still jostle each other In the spiritual
temple and proclaim exclusive rights to
enter where the holy OF holies abides.
But the Christmas idea penetrates and
assimilates them all: and for this COM
ing day the heart Of the world becomes
rs the heart Of little child.
What are the central and universal
thoughts that cluster about the worlds
high holiday? Are they not within the
compass Of the old definition Of reli-
gion pure and undefled; the human
summation Of the two great command
ments within whose circle life and duty
! stand immaculate? The first is love;
the softening human affection, the rec
ognition Of the bond of universal faith
erhood. 1t is the children's day. Just
to be glad is enough; and joyousness is
the sufficient recompense for all the
thought and all the sacrifices of the
weeks Of preparation. There is service.
No man accounts 1t weakness to help
another. The generous heart and the
open purse are accomplishments Of the
Christmas feast as truly as the rolling
anthem and the murmured prayer.
There is duty. The world comes more
and more within the sway of its COM
mand. OF two great wars, one just
ended, one now raging, the events are
almost forgotten in the world wide in
Quiry, is this thing just? At the basis
of all religion and religions lies ethics.
Whether the churches are full or empty,
there is always a growing congrega-
ton in the great cathedral dedicated to
humanity.
It Is to Christianity, to the influence
of that life the anniversary of whose
dawn we celebrate tomorrow that we
owe the best ideas, the noblest charac-
tiers. the moving impulses Of the age.
It IL by them that Its place in the world
must be judged. Making no definition
OF religion other than that of Rev. Ly-
man Abbott. that it is 'the life of God
in the soul Of man." placing on the term
"Chrlstianity" no special Specification,
we have but to look at the world as a
whole, on the ideas that ruled 1t, on
the conception that it's peoples held Of
progress and enlightenment, on the
ideals they formed OF the future for
which they must strive and the work
that they ought to do. before the first
Christmas festival and compare these
with the best thought ana feeling Of
today. Then we see that humanity
moves onward" and trouble ourselves
not al all with academic debates about
the advance or retrosression of religion
q our world. The heights Of human