The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-25

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.
1t is in the air-it is in the blood: you can
not get away from it, and it is far easier
and wiser to submit to il. If you want TO
be optimist minsle with the shoppers.
or course, that advice comes too late, for
the shopping is all done and the stockings
are all emptied, and everybody has said
Merry Christmas a dozen times. But
there are more optimists in indianapolis
this morning than ever before, because
we've all been shopping together.
The funny papers may talk of the mad
crush. the rumpled clothes and rufied tenn
pers: people may say they dread to enter a
store, that shopping is awful bore. and
that they draw great sigh of relief when
it is all over. But that is all nonsense and
not true at all. Yesterday everybody had
armful of packages, and everybody
looked happy: and the man who plunged
through those crowds could not help i'm
billing some of that spirit to save his life.
Everybody was buying something to give
to some one else. That spirit of giving was
an infectious thing, and the man who didn't
catch it was only rendered immune because
his system was full of dyspepsia and liver
complaint and jaundice and his mind was
diseased, his heart petrified and his soul
shriveled like the kernel of an over-roasted
peanut
If it were not for Christmas the race
would degenerate into pack of money
grubbing, selfish animals. The influence Of
this one day in the year is greater for love,
charity and humanity than all the societies
and Sunday schools and peace conferences.
AS long as we set aside one day out Of 365
for giving gifts we can never lose the true
spirit of Christianity. The mental scientist
tells us that if a dozen people concentrate
their minds on one subject, certain wonder
full results will follow. Modern psychology
recognizes mind as a thing, a power:
centrated thought of many as a worker of
wonders. Now, take seventy millions of
people and let them all concentrate their
minds on one thing at the same time
must there not follow a powerful effect?
And if it is good thought a noble, uplift-
incalculable
Well, that is what has been happening for
the last few days. and that is what makes
this Christmas spirit" Every man, woman
and child gives his or her whole attention
to making somebody happy: the whole heart
and intellect of a mighty nation concen-
trated on one noble thought and desire. Is
it any wonder that the spirit of Peace and
soul cannot help catching it? If the world
were on the downward track of sordidness
and selfish greed of gain, this day
would save it!
do this service for the world. 1t was to a
Child that the first Christmas gifts of gold
and frankincense and myrrh were given: 1t
was to Child that this day dedicated:
and 1t is to the children that We give our
choicest gifts and service on Christmas
day. That Child came to earth for the SAL
walton of men, and year by year these chill
dren repeat the miracle and degenerate a
selfish world. The Christmas spirit is the
child-spirit: for the rest of the year you
may be cold, calculating men and women,
but on this one day you are children again;
and if it were not so there would be no
bright outlook for civilization and no mill
lennium in view, for Except We become as
little children, We shall in no wise enter the
kingdom of Heaven