Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-12-16
THE GOSPEL. OF PEACE.
Mankind Did Not Fully Understand 4
Until Christ Was Born.

Wha is tenderest and best in thu
heart of mar is evoked when the key:
of memory are touched and the SOM
Of the Christ-day is sounded. 1t is tn,
music of the home and the loved, {
glad. IL subdued, melody recalling the
earliest days of recollection-an eager
rush for well-filled pendant stockings
FOR the laden Christmas tree, with its
gifts for all OF the household. Aye
n the eager rushing about the house
with merry shout and joyous greeting
for all. Then, the homecoming of the
absent and the gathering of all about
the family board.
Whether the corridors of our memor
mansions be long or short-our lives h.
many or few, the harmonies ring along
them just the same, telling of the pres
ence in the heart OF that which is ole
as immortality, and which shall neVe
die-love. There, then, this Christmas
day, that Christmas day, and every
Christmas day, is present in the heart
this love for the home, with It's in
mates, for friends and for humanity.
The Christ-day practice of opening
the heart to unselfish influences is
born of the teachings of Him whose
birth the day commentaries. His the
life beautiful, the life rounded, the only
completely perfect life. He taught the
ASoSOAAo VI v 6CAlAlIIl0ESy ~ G9y 0Oll1-
passion, forgiveness, b~enevolence,
charity and self-denial. What is high
er and best in humanity is of His
Christian home, the best development
of unSelfish affection and contentment
TO be found among men.
The Christ-day is attuned to melody
that ever shall thrill the soul and cause
il TO bring forth what is best in it. The
herald song OF the angels to the shep-
q Inr1C. An flAn Let r. 1911 -
closer, more harmonious than ever, in
the light of the newer blessings which
have come from the Gospel of His
peace. The lesson of real humanity,
refined, Divine altruism, and not the
coarser sort sometimes called by this
name, was unheard OF until from His
peace on the Mount of B~eatitudes He
gave 1t forth, music sweeter than an
gels ever sang, thai higher song that
man lives not into himself alone, and
that the greatest happiness is that
which ONE of doing good into others.
Peace or earth! good will to men!
That higher song which lifts man above
himself and makes him but little lower
than the angels.
The Christ theme will never Gle.
First heard on the plains of Bethlehem,
with the frowning Herod-temple but
three miles away, within whose walls
were heard the teachings of the law of
revenge and owe of self, heard there for
/ the iirst time, ii mas been sounding
ever since, spreading wider and wider,
until nov it compasses the whole earth.
In Christ's day Rome had waxed to its
noon of majesty, yet Rome passed and
was not. On that kingdom rose other
kingdoms. which persisted in their turn.
Since he lived one system after another
system of philosophy has been built up,
only to be torn down again. But the
words of the Christ be and abide, and
they shall stand forever, influencing
men to nobler lives and higher results
IN living. His Kingdom is an everlast-
ing kingdom, and OF its duration there
shall be no end.
Meet and right is it, then. that the
Christ-day shall be one Of gladness in
the human heart; hat the children
shall take part in II. since He loved
them and blessed them. and that gifts
shall be exchanged in token OF thai
love for one another, which He bore fol
all humanity.
william Rosser Cobbe.