The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-12-23
THE GOSPEL OF PEACE,
Mankind Did Not Fully Understand II
Until Christ Was Born

what is tenderest and best in the
heart of man is evoked when the KEYS
OF memory are touched and the song.
or the Christ day is sounded 1t is the
music of the home and the loved. a
slac, II sub.Led, melody recalling the
earliest days of recollection--an eager
rush for Well-tilled pendant stocl,in1s
for the laden Christmas tree. win H.:
gifts for all of the household Ave
ana the eager rushing about the house
with merry shout and joyous greeting
Tor all. Then. the home coming 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 ba
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
die--love. There then, this Christmas
Jay: mat 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
porn OF the teachings Of Him whose
| blrth 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.
I charity and self-denial. What is high.
er and best in humanity is of His
Christian home the best development
OF unsel1ish 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 what 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, and not the
coarser sort sometimes called by this
name, was unheard of until from His
peace on the Mount of Beatitudes He
gave 1t forth. music sweeter than an
gels ever sang, that higher song that
man lives not unto himself alone, and
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 but little lowe"
than the angels.
The Christ theme will never die,
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 %
revenge and love of self. heard there for
the first time, it has been sounding
ever since, spreading wider and WIDER
until now it compasses the whole earth
In Christs 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 SHAH be one Of gladness in
the human heart; that the children
shall take part in it, since He loved
them and blessed them, and that gifts
shall be exchanged in token Of that
love for one another which He bore for
all humanity.
William Rosser Cobbe.