The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-12-24
THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE.

angels song Of "Peace on earth"
perfectly described the condition OF
the world at the time Of His coming.
Then over all the earth was peace.
The gates Of the temple Of Janus, at
Rome. were closed, there being as the
Empire supposed 10 need Of the pres
ence Of their god to lead their con-
quering armies in victorious battle.
"No roar Of battle sound
Was heard the world around,
The idle spear and shield were high
upnung,
The hooked chariot stood
Unstained with hostile blood,
The trumpet spake not to the armed
thro1g,
And kings sat still, with awful eye,
AS if they surely knew
Their sovran Lord was by;
And peaceful was the night
Wherein the Prince Of Light
His reign of peace upon the earth be-
gan.
As then, so at this Christmastide,
there is peace among the nations. No
where in all the earth are nations as
nations engaged in warfare. In the
year 1900, Minister WI, Of China,
made an address in New Lork, on
Confucianism, in which he declared
that the principles Of peace enunciat-
ed by the Founder of the Christian
relieicn are visionary AID impossible
Of attainment. Those, to whom tnat
old. cid Christmas story is not myth,
but The grandest event in the worl1's
history. do not believe that these
PRINCIPLES are "impoSsible Of attain
ment." Once war and conquest was
tne highest ambition II the nations.
Now. wherever ncn have heard the
Christmas message, war is no longer
the ruling passion. Where men have
felt the power Of the Prince Of
Peace. there is no longer war fo-
wars sake. Today, state of war is
the exception and not the rule. Men
think Of armies and the horrors of
war with dread. Loud:r and louder
grows the demand for peaceful arbi-
t-atio:, Of all disputes. Even taa Gen.
trail American Republics will cele-
brate this Christmas the agreement
for the establishment Of a tribunal
for the settlement Of differences, that
heretofore could be determined only
by the arbitrament of war.
Another sign of the age is seen IN
this fact, that once the whole record
of all nations in days Of old was made
up Ct pages cf deeds of jluc6. Then
the victor had no mercy for the van
quished. It was always war to the
death. Now, on the field Of battle,
every wounded enemy becomes a
bro: her, whose wnnnds, IL ade BY tto
han1 Il war, are 10 be healed with
tee and Of lave, while over every
hattie camp floats the flag of the
Red Cross, the banner cf mercy. and
on .:ery firing line, gentle women
ard sl.illed surgeons, angels Of mercy,
minister alike to friend and foeman.
No: alone The promise but the ever
Increasing fulfillment brings the as
suranca that:
1tLo the days are Fastening on
By prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever circling years
Cnn1es back the age Of gold,
When peace shall over all the earth
Its blessed banner fling,
And the whole world send back the
song,
Which now the angels sirg.'
The above is from the Westminster,
Nd, Sentinel and is written by the
Rev. W. L. Seabrook, we'll known IN
Newberry where he mas many frle1 IS.
The Herald and News has thought
it would be fitting to appropriate this
Christmas message with the proper
acknowledgment, Of course, to the
author and thus give its readers a
Christmas greeting from one who is
remembered and loved by many of
our readers.
"Peace on earth" is the pean
which should resound throughout the
world at this happy season. Not only
peace among the nations but peace
among individuals.
The Herald ani News extends the
compliments of the season to all OF
its readers and wishes that there may
be peace and happiness around all