The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-25
BATTLE, TUESDAY. DECEMBER rs.



Today the heart OF the Christian world
II full Of tenderness. The legend Of the
Christ child Is potent, linked as II Is
with the sacred and well-beloved assoc
Citations OF every household. Millions OF
little ones appeal to US not only through
the strong human tie not only because
OF the innocence, dependence and trtst
that evoke its best from disillusioned
manhood and womanhocd but also be-
cause of the babe by whom centuries ago
new hope and promise came to worn
world and q species cropping YEARLY after
best, the gifts that mark affection and
remembrance; the greater offering Of
hearts softened by the touch Of joy and
hope and the heavenly influence OF hap
pIness conferred
In memory OF the Christ that was and
IL we do these things. For He is in the
world more nightly now than In the
years when His life touched with flame
moribund civilization, and faretold the
ever-sought harmony Of human and d.
vine. That life Is still the greatest source
OF inspiration that ever smote the rock
Of human harshncss and selfishness. The
ideals that He set on high immutably.
dimused ana smirched as they often are
by the smoke Of iife's strenuous conflicts,
still find their holy OF HOLES In the hui
man heart For two thousand years
their white light has flooded the sordid.
struggling world. And though It has not
yet conquered In the long and mighty
travail. there Is no symbol of such power
and majesty, none that sways so ire
sistibly with the conquering weakness OF
suffering for loves sake as the sign OF
the cross.
visihiy is the kingdom Of Christ coming
on the earth. but II IL the tfiumphing
reign OF a dlspensation better understood
For too many OF these centuries, and
tn too many OF the churches where an
thems sound today, the central thought OF
Christianity has been holiness. with It's
racial bent toward indlviduaiIsm. the Teu-
tonic stock has centered It's deepest me-
citations and les most powerful Efforts on
the idea OF personal publication. personal
salvation What shall ~ do to be saved
was the keynote OF too many faith. The
remuneration OF the world for stagnat-
ing life of pious solitude the choice Of
tho world II thereby he who elects II
might win his sure way to paradise, were
and are accepted modes Of satisfying the
reltsioua nature and following the ex-
ample OF the purest life the world has
known, And all the time there pressed
upon lie and upon the same selfshly
seeking soul the old query. II man love
not his brother whom ne has seen. how
can he love God whom he has not seenf
The central thought Of the Christianity
OF the future vii, be. heinfuIness Religion
involves the greatest and purest OF all
democracies. II Is not enough that here
and thcrc a great one should see the holy
vision, or that congregations OF the faith.
full should ma the Keys OF heavenly gates.
A faith Is worthless that feels itself alien
90 the smallest or commonest Of llte's
affairs faith that fails man anywhere
that denies the entire supremacy in the
daily life OF universal love and universal
helntumesS Is not the heritage Of the
Christ that IL and u 10 be The feeling
that draws the household together to-
day. The ycaFnins tenderness, the GER
tsdnty that this anniversary win lack
completeness unless We have helgea some
enc else 20 happiness. must De the sa-
premc and universal law. must constitute
me essence OF cur daily lite, must take
rrserdenee % ritual and 81 dogma, before
the Kingdom Of the lord can come or HIS
VIII be done On Garth.
This is tho lesson 81 history as well as
OF scripture Science cries It In her halls,
and commerce ends Il in,snlnea upon the
pNses % her ledger. n resoands from
the echoing voices Of the centuries and
Rugs from the esifry Of the human soul.
lherS Is one high moral law 70 watch
the nastsriatworld as wen as the spiritual
must one dsy make its last ohelssnee.
Recanse Ne h0ld these things apart,
crcam ~ one ne Of the flesh and another
Of The spiris seek with foreordainei fsn-
ore some reconciliation OF selashneSs
wish the Same unon that altar OF the
soul in which self must be consumed be.
fore any eye can catch neeting giimpses