The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-12-23
THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
Mankind Did Not Fully Understand IL
Until Christ Was Rorn


What is tenderest and best in the
heart of man is evoked when the keys
OF memory are touched and the song
OF the Christ-day is sounded. 1t is the
music of the home and the loved, a
glad. II subdued, melody recalling the
earnest days of recollection-an eager
rush for well-flled pendant stockings,
for the laden Christmas tree, with its
gifts for all of the household. Aye,
ana the rushing about the house
with merry shout INC joyous greeting
Tor all. Then, the homecoming of the
absent and the gathering OF all about
the family board.
Whether the corridors of our memory
mansions be long or short-our lives be
many or few, The ~harmonies ring along
them Just the same, telling of the pres
ence in the heart Of that which is old
as Immortality, and which shall never
d1e-love. There, then, this Christmas
christmas day, is present in the heart
this love for the home, with it's in
mates. for friends and for humanity.
The Chrlst-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
lessons OF love, gentleness, mercy, COM
passion, forgiveness, benevolence,
charity and self-denial. What is high
err 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
1t to bring forth that is best in it. The
herald song Of the angels to the shep-
herds on the plain is. fresher, stronger.
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, n not the
coarser sort sometimes called by his
name, was unheard of until from His
peace on the Mount OF Beatitudes He
gave it forth, music sweeter than an
gels ever sang. hat higher song that
that the greatest happiness Is that
which comes of doing good unto others.
Peace on earth! good will to men!
That higher song which lifts man above
himself and makes him out little lower
than the angels.
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 n love of self, heard there for
the first time, it has been sounding
ever since, spreading wider and wider,
until now It cofnPasses the whole earth.
In Christ's day Rome had waxed to it's
noon of majesty, yet Rome passed and
was not. On that kingdom rose other
kingdoms. which nerished 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. Els Kingdom is an everlast-
Ing kingdom, and Of Its duration there
shall be no end.
Meet and right is it, then, that Thu
Christ-day shall be one of gladness in
the human heart; that the children
shall AXE part in it, since He loved
them and blessed them, and that gifts
shall be exchanged in token Of thai,
love for n another, which He bore for
all human
William Rosser Ccbbe.