The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-12-11
Ozls@sE 5
INFLUENCES OF CHRISTMAS.

No holiday In the Cnrlstlan caiehu"'
is anticipated with keener interest than
Christmas. While the festival Is in
delibly associated with the origin and
sscendancy Of religious epoch. pro-
foundly affecting the moral, intcllectu
al, and political life of many nations OF
people, yet snch is its influence, that 1t
melts the human heart into ineffable
tenderness, inspiring the mind of Chris
tan humanity with broad charity and
reyiving in all an impulse for better
things The historic significance OF
Christmas is sacrifice Behold bring
You tidings Of great joy" Such was
the canticle ushering in this season OF
exquisite emotions. The tidings OF
great Joy was a gift to humanity; the
giving of self, an entity, AN idea an
ideal for stupendous purpose and,
however recalcitrant our thought may
be as to the divinity of the epoch, lts
majesty and genius AZ affecting the
works and policy Of men viewed
from this eminence Of modern civiliza-
ton cannot be controverted.
Modern civilization Is but the visible
development of the foundation laid in
gospel ethicI We can create laws and
tangle them in web of subterfuge and
mystery, giving work for master minds
for their proper exposition and elucida'
ton, but every righteous law stripped
of it's verbiage and tautology, enphasi-
yes the simple axiom given nineteen
hundred years ago DO unto others M
you would have others do unto you.
Mans inherent selfishness, however,
seeks 10 place improper construction on
the principle above quoted and it is this
elring tendency Of his mind which has
made legislatures necessary, whose
duties have been the elaboration into
separate laws, an order Of government
to insure mans just relation with his
fellow man. In the innumerable tran
sactions interchanging between men over
the vast stretches Of the earth area law
holds the balance it insists and pro-
vides that man shall do unto his fellow
man that which he would have done
unto himself Dishonest men some
times endeavor to shirk this duty and
when this happens the law il evoked NJ
a restraining and balancing force.
Whatever our attitude DE toward the
religious phase Of Christmas we must
admit its supremacy, and though we
may brush from the mind ten thousand
supersiitions Of parasitic kind. which
have grown around its formulate, yet
the spiritual, the mystic and the in.
soluble are the elements In 1t which
have conduced 10 Its power and to its
far-reaching influence over men. And
there is an anomoly presenting itself TO
the mind that this religion found
ed essentially upon the theory Of
sacrifice should at various stages Of
the worlds career, when clothed with
austere, yea over mastering authority,
have crushed with tyrant's hand those
who doubted its method Of adequately
expressing the original teachings M
contained in the documents of early
days Conflict Of religious opinion has
produced greater horrors and the san.
culinary episodes as result have been
more devastating tina the arbitrameni
Of the sword when the latter has been
drawn for the settlement Of political
disputes But still measure the good
with the bad M n result Of n religion OF
religions amongst us and rational judg
ment must decide that the former fai
outweighs the latter.
But Christmas in these days has 4
broader meaning than formerly 1t ha
secular features IN well IA religious anC
while the latter viii never be displace,
by the former yet have they done muci
to bring kindliness and sunshine int,
individual lives in season Of harsl
weather and overcast skies. Christina
Day IN the pivot. but lis influence il an
tecedent and successive. In other word
men and women are planning In thes
days TO do acts Of kindliness toward on
another 10 promote happiness. Th
anticipation Of doing good IL in th
mind perscns for weeks or month
prior 10 the day itself and the mer
possession Of the knowledge that som
kindly ministration shall touch the If
of another. is and must be, a source G
delight immeasurably outweighing th
cost Of effort or Of sacrifice. And. ~