The San Francisco call., 1903-12-25
A MERRY CHRISTMAS.

shortest day of the year had passed. and the world
getting each day sunshine and less shadow, and
spring coming and the world was glad and wanted
make merry.
Let it not be supposed that they of what call the
Pagan world were unaware of the value of utilizing for
purposes of religion the natural impulses and
purposes of the human heart The students OF
the of who in the world before history
had used pen, adapted the great physical facts that
commanded the attention of ALL for in the civil and
religious control of the people So they used solsce
equinox and in all of the old mythologies Oriental
and Northern, there the equivalent OF our Christ
mas and fixed at about the date.
Centuries after Christ and after all possibility
proving either the place the date of his nativity
had passed away this philosophical study of the
inherent sentiments of humanity took the of the
winter sostce from the Pagan world, allied it to the
nativity and preserved its and purpose By this
transition surely the gadness of the day added
rather than detracted from, for Christ omtng all dog
matte discussion of his divinity brought into the world
the means of merriment and of gadness unspeakabe by
opening the door of hope to the
He lived in a bad time for gladness and among peo-
pie who had little for merrment, had the
world anywhere much 1t took long time after
he had gone for the nations feel the effect of the up
lift of which he the impulse We often told of,
what he would do if he earth One has
told us how he would newspaper, another how he
would run a store, mandatory, railroad, and
what he would do if he Mayor of city
Der of its Council These pecuatons all for the pur
pose of condemning the age in which live, and inn
peachng it of wide departure from his precept and
ample.
One thing is sure. if he here he would probably
find it impossible be a church member. because he
would be surprised that they all depend upon creeds
forms or rituals that would be greater wonder him
than electricity railroads and photography. But he
would find springng from all the churches, and firmly
fixed those who are of no church. certain great
ethical principles which he would be stranger, for
he taught them In his time the lack of for the sick
poor described accurately Only dog found
lick the sores of Lazarus. Now throughout Chrsten-
dom he would find splendid hospitals equipped with all
the of science which the poorest sickest
and forlorn have help and medicine that not
within the reach of Caesar himself All this instead of
the dog licking the sores of Lazarus
He emphasized the spirit of religious excusveness in
the priest and the Leve that passed by the other
side. Now he would find in every great city hospital
lief that pours wine and oil into the wounds of human
ity and binds them up regardless of their faith In
London he would find hospital endowed with millions,
given by Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Parsee millionaire
of Bombay, fire worshper follower of Zoroaster,
and everywhere creches and hospitals endowed by
Jews for the of Gentes and of all people Lazarus
longer has seek the dogs lick his Sores and the
naughty spirit of the priest and the eclusveness of the
Levite are gone out of the human heart utterly.
So, Jesus looking upon these things would marvel
world has much improved in its humanity quality
of mercy since those hard Judean and Roman days 1t
probable too, that he would have be told that this
upward into a clearer understanding of the
fellowship of is due entirely words that he ut
tered and simple duties that he taught to age that
hardened its against him. His aversion our
churches would be mitgated when he learned that with
all their tresome disputes about doctrines that he never
thought of. and rituals and ceremonies which he re-
buked in the Jews, still they all have taught peace on
earth and good will toward and love thy neighbor
thyself, and of that has grown hospital kinder
garten school, charity and all the splendid expressions
of humanity which emphasize the brotherhood of man.
True, there slums in great cities and sub
merged Million drowning in moral and physical dark
But in his day the world all slum and the race
padded and waded its mire unconscious of anything
better and lost that it did recognize the voice of
the deiverer. These results in this life and in this
world make it merry Christmas and the profes-
siona prophetic promise of sumptuons scenery and
music and splendid ideness in world to come about
which no knows anything. 1t is splendid mirage
inspiring and helpful. but a mirage
This world the life of to-day the improved graces
of the human heart, the brotherhood of man. are the
great miracles wrought by Jesus that far outhne the
Inscriptions of supersttuon and zeal as to disuse en-
trey the miracles of the synoptics So the Christmas
season. that was before history, has gained glory by
association with the nativity and has gained in gladness
because may celebrate the progress of man under
the ethics of Jesus
SAVING JURY FEES.