The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-17
THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS.

Nineteen centuries have passed since
the shepherds at Bethlehem first be-
held the yearly miracle of Christmas
How wonderful that miracle is we may
realize when we consider through what
changes this old world of ours has pass
ed since then, how civilizations have
risen, fiourished and died, how nations
have passed away, how human nature
itself has been transformed, and still
how Christmas remains the dearest
happiest, most cherished day of the
year, says the New York Journal.
When men first began to keep Christ
mas as festival the ancient civiliza-
ton was still alive. The dry light of
-reek philosophy still shone. Roman
law and Roman order enveloped the
world. A few centuries later Western
Europe was in the black darkness of
ignorance and superstition. The peo-
pies stumbled blindly, not knowing
their own names or where they were go
ing. Through the thick gloom nations
could be seen vaguely taking shape.
Here and there strong figure-a Char
lemagne or an Alfred--rose clearly in
the murk, but mostly there were only
shadows, like the dim forms in the
depths of Dore picture.
And yet in that chaotic age the Yule
log burned and feudal anarchy was
spoke of peace on earth and good will
to men.
And then there was an age of faith
and of romance, of cruel oppression,
tender sympathy and unselfish devo-
ton. knights rode abroad to rescue
fair maidens. loot their neighbors' cas-
ties or waylay the base merchants
whose caravans wound along the forest
roads. Pilgrims in haircloth and CRU
saders in shirts of mail swarmed toward
the holy places. Richard Occur de Lion
swung his mighty battleaxe and Saladin
divided silk handkerchiefs with the
razor edge of his Damascus scimitar.
The new Rome on the Bosphorus still
stood as the bulWark of Christendom
against the Moslem hordes in the East,
and the expanding vigor of Spanish
youth forced them back in the West.
Popes and emperors struggled for the
supremacy of the Christian world.
And through it all castle and howell
made festival on the day of Chrfst's ma
tivity, and all the contra dlctions of the
time We're melted into a single har-
mony.
Centuries later the face Of Europe had
changed again. A new civilization had
come, bridging the Dark Ages to draw
upon the pagan culture of the old. Ma
lions had formed with ordered societies
and luxurious courts. Another world
Ildu Deen ulSCONtTeu DeSOIlu the sea-
The old ideas Of the universe had been
turned inside out. 1t had been discov-
cred that this earth was not the center
of created things, but an insignificant
speck of dust whirling through space.
The human mind expanded and rioted
in it's new sense of freedom. Men felt
as if they were seeing the fulfillment
of the prediction of the serpent in Eden:
"Your eyes shall be opened. and ye
shall be as gods, knowing good and
evil"
But still the old Christmas prevailed
and every year the children gathered
about the tree and in their innocent
happiness taught wisdom to the worldly
wise
And now comes the wheel full cir
cle.' After nineteen centuries We are
back in the skeptical, sophisticated civ
ilization in which Christianity began.
Like the Romans of the age of Angus
tus, we believe nothing but what we
see. Science is our god. We measure
emotions in psychological laboratories,
count the blood corpuscles that feed a
heroic resolution and compute the num-
Der of brain waves in a mothers stars,
We stretch our yardsticks to the stars,
and boldly answer the question whether
| the universe has limits. Our higher
criticism puts the Bible under the MI