The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-12-24
THE CENTRAL FACT IN
HISTORY.

la an obscure country, in an OBJ
scure village, in the midst of the
most humble surroundings wa.
born more than nineteen hundred
years ago one whose coming was
destined to constitute the central
fact in the worlds history. He
grew to manhood, lived his brief
life and died an ignominious death
at the hauds Of his own people,
without attracting attention be-
yond his own country that was con-
sidered worthy of more than a
passing notice by contemporary
historians. Only once does one OF
the great writers Of lhe Augustan
age, which followed closely upon
his career, deign 70 notice him and
that is with a sneer Livy refers
contemptuously TO the "miserabl,
sect Of Galileans and one, Chiislus,
whom they followed -
And yet this man who was set at
naught by those whose king he
claimed to be and was uuheeded By
the great and wise ones of his time,
was to become a king indeed in
the world of thought and in the
social and moral fabric Of men and
nations.
The fact that he was born, lived
and died is not questioned by any
scholar Of note. Criticism may
sweep aside the so-called supernat-
ural incidents related by tho sacred
writer's concerning his birth, life
and death, and yet the great fact
of his existence and the perma-
nent effects Of his life and teachings
remain.
benjamin Kidd in his mastery
work on Social Evolution, in
analyzing the forces that have Ell
tered into the makeup Of modern
society, has shoyn that the great
dynamic was the moral force thas
emanated from the lite of Christ.
Out Of this source came the forces
that overthrew despotisms, unfet-
tered slaves, redressed the wrongs
of oppressed classes and ushered in
the day Of democracy and univer-
sal brotherhood. Liberty and ca
Cality" we're proclaimed to be the
bifthright Of mankind by the Naza-
rene long before they were EN-
bodied in theDeclaration byThomas
Jefferson.
Jesus Christ was no sectarian
bent on forming an organization to
perperuate his name. He was above
all man with a message and life
embodying that message, and be-
cause his message was one adapted
to the universal needs Of the race.
and his life one that furnished the
highest ideal Of manhood, he form
ed the central fact. the basis upon
which all future progress Of society
was to rest.
Men form organizations and they
speculate upon the mysteries Of
philosophy; they form creeds and
sy stems of theology; one says you
must believe this and do that and
another that you must believe and
do the other. A new generation
evolves new systems and new ex
planations, nearer the truth per
haps than that of the former age.
We grow alarmed and fear that
those things which we eherishad as
true forever are passing away, but
it is not so. The great controlling
Force abides. Eternal Truth and
Love remain forever and the world
near to the ikness Of
the great Ideal. Fanaticism, super
stition and sectarianism fade
away but goodness, justice and
truth remain.
In nobler lives, purer governments
and better institutions for promot-
.ng the progress and happiness Of /
10 the broadening sphere /
1f brotherhood, the Christmas-fact
as the world travels Pm
ward to the one far-oH divine
.ventt 10 which the whole creation !