The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-25
The Only Momentous Event.

The Only MOmentous Event.
A discussion il going on among our
correspondents as TO the cause or causes
Of a decline in Christian belief at this
period Of which they and many if not
most other contemporary observers and
philosophers think there are unmistak-
able signs discernible throughout Chris
tendon.
Computations of the Sunday church
attendance made last month at New
York. London and Liverpool show that
the great ma jority of the population of
these towns neglects that form OF re-
igio,is Observance but we have no like
statistics Of former periods with which
10 compare them. 80 as to determine II
there has been any recent diminution in
church attendance and how much it IL,
relatively. Our Catholic correspondents
assume "A great falling off, and they in
terpret it as an indication and proof OF
the inability of Protesta ntism TO satisfy
the religious cravings of mankind Be-
fore they are justified in drawing any
aich conclusion from church attendance
merely they must be able to present
comparative statistics TO show that SINH
lar neglect of religious observance does
not xist in Catholic countries and great
towns, or. at least, is proportionately
less to a significant degree. Accordingto
the statistics obtained in New York by
Protestant enterprise it is as large rela-
lively among nominal Catholics as among
nominal Professionals in the population;
but so loosely was the enumeration made
that on neither side can any safe infer
ence be drawn from it.
or ono fact, however, there is COM
plete demonstration. and it is that never
at any period in the hstoryof this coun-
try, at least, was the celebration Of the
day commemorative Of the birth of
JESUS CHRIST so general, so jubilant SO
impressive as it il now. The Incarna-
ton a. an historical fact is the CEN
trail doctrine Of Christianity. Without it
Christianity would not be a supernatural
religion at all. but merely a system of
human morals and philosophy. By the
side OF the event celebrated to-day by
Christendom az q positive fact all other
events in the history Of the world are Of
utter insignifcance. What else can be
Of any essential importance in human
annals If nineteen hundred and two
years ago the only begotten Son Of
COP Himself, for US men and for our
salvation, came down from Heaven and
was incarnate by the Holy Ghost Of the
Virgin MARY?
1t Is true that large part OF Protestant
Christianity refused to accept this par
ticular day a. the anniversary Of the In
carnation, but Of the Incarnation a. an
historical event there never was any
Protestant dispute, except among the
relatively small number Of whom the
Unitarians are representative. That GOD
actually came down to earth and was
made man is the belief on which the
religion Of Christianity rests, whether
Catholic or Protestant. Moreover, the
old-time Protestant aversion TO the cele-
bration Of Christmas which found ex-
preston in New England within the
memory OF people still living in osten-
tatious treatment Of the day as purely
secular by the performance Of usual
labor has passed away.
Everywhere Christmas has become the
great holiday OF the year by tho common
consent Of Christendom, and its cele-
bration Ii now as distinguished in the
Churches which once rejected it as a
veritable anniversary Of the Incarnation
as in tho Churches which have always
made it the prime feast OF the Christian
year. Last Sunday We gave the elabo-
rate programmes Of Christmas music in
Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian
churches Of New York. Practically, too,
an tho people render homage to the day
~ the foremost Of festivals, even where
they are without religious faith, Christian
or other.
At least, formally, therefore, Chris
tian Observance Is still maintained with
out diminution by the celebration Of the
Incarnation. The supreme importance
Of the Incarnation is recognized by all
Christendom, so far, at least, as concerns
the making OF Christmas the supreme
holiday Of the year. And the manner in
which the day IL celebrated. in the maxi
ing Of free-will gifts, is still symbolic of
the transcendent Gift on which Christian
faith looks as an historical fact.
Christmas, writes a theologian in the
Church Eclectic, is the celebration Of .the
most momentous event in the history OF
cur race II GoD came down to earth and
became man II was the only really mo.
mentous event in human history.
Good Night, "Iadies"!
There are no more lady teachers
in Chicago. Tho School Management