The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-13

their hocks through
the long night. when to the ever re-
current miracle of new day is added
another manifestation of Power Di-
vine. As the dawn lightenS the east,
the men become aware of a marvel
Gus vision. An angelic host floats
with light and song, and through them
IS vouchsafed not the least of those
revelations which assure us that
Gods in His heaven. Ais right with
the worldp'
Glory to God in the highest" they
sing, "and on earth peace, goodwill
toward men"
The old earth has been spinning
down the ringing grooves of change"
for God knows how many centuries,
and IL their dim, dumb way men had
worshipped some power above them
since the first man stood God con-
quer'd with His face to heaven up
turned" without realizing the truth
revealed in that message, that the
service of man for man is the worship
of man for God, and that there is more
merit in the Divine sight in one kindly
act, one moment of self-sacrifce, than
in thousand meaningless songs of
praise.
Nearly two milleniums have sped
since that message, and the world has
even yet but half learned the lesson.
Yet there has been progress, and in
that progress lies our hope. The
world to-day does not permit Christ
mas to pass unnoticed Putting aside
questions of doctrine, of theology, we
may recall one fact; to-day, as yester-
day, the kings and the peasants, the
gentle and the simple, the wise and
the ignorant, center their eyes upon a
Babe in a Manager. To-day the world
waits in silence TO hear those angels
sing. To-day, if on no other day, men
listen, pause and heed. Whatever may
be thought of Hi claims, of His teach
ings, at least Jesus is the dominant
figure in the world on Christmas Day.
To-day the rudest and the -oughest,
the most irreverent and the most
Indifferent, look with awe on that sub
lime spectacle, a mother and her new
born child; look with a touch of rev.
erence which none is so low that he
may not feel. The clamor of the
world is still Its strife is hushed.
lis Christmas morning once again,
and we are as little children by
cradle, which, though Swallowed by
future cross, g ,,tcome shrine-a
throne.
There was an ancient custom in .h~
days when. the right of private war
was zealously maintained, that all
quarrels should be held in allegiance
during the Christmas season. A
Truce of God" was proclaimed by the
Holy Church, and he who broke it, for
whatsoever cause, was deemed a rec
reant to his manhood and to his re-
ligion. The custom fell into disuse,
but it has come back again. For one
day at least there is peace and good
will among men. That there should
be even one day when such principles
obtain is a reason for great congratu-
lation. That there should be but one
day is cause for profound sadness.
Our religion is too often assumed
at the church door and put off at the
benediction on one day of the week.
Just so the spiri' of peace and good
will of the Chrlstmastide comes, like
Christmas itself, but once a year. 1t
is slipped on like a new and uncom-
Portable garment, worn for a day, and
before we have become accustomed
to it, it is cast aside and forgotten.
The day after, we awake as ,YssHere
before. The interlude of corAie md
kindness has made no chang -
I'VE ring the bells and we F7lse the
strain, M9 -
We hang up garlands eva 4vI5er>s
And bid the tapers twinkle 4ak/
And feast and frolic-and th6n we .
Back to the same old lives agdh p
On certain days in Latin-Amerie4I
countries the people have religious
representations and professions in
which the parts of the saints are as
sumed by the men of the present.
There is an alleged humorous story
that one of these for the moment fill
ed the place of an ancient worthy in
whose honor the demonstration was