The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-19
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
This is the greatest Christmas for
Bethlehem, and for the world, since
that wondrous night when a celestial
choir poured its new, mysterious
strains into the ears of the startled
Judean shepherds. For Bethlehem,
especially the place of the birth, has
long been the scene of bloodshed, bit
ter strife, religious bigotry, suspicion
spirit seems TO have been born afreSh
in the stored little town, and because
of the recent proclamation of liberty,
equality and fraternity for all who
dwell in the Sultan's realm, we find
MosIem, Greek, Armenian, Catholic
and Protestant keeping one joyous
feast of fellowship. Peace on earth!"
has again come even unto Bethlehem.
On the worlds political horizon there
is no event of greater interest to
civilization than the new day-a sort
of permanent Christmas day-that
seems to have dawned upon the land
iour's earthly life. Happy above all
others are those travellers who can
spend this Christmas at Bethlehem.
The Newspaper and the Day.
The newspaper is this year the best
commentary upon the Christmas les
SON.. Its pages are eehoing the angelic
strain of Peace on earth" Within
recent months there have been ire
mendous triumphs for the principle of
peace in the realm of international
politics. To the wonder of veteran
diplomatists. the Balkans are not
ablaZe with war today; and it is all
because the Christmas truth has
found such strong Judgment in the
United States were nearer to war than
the public ever knew; but as the
Christmas season draws on apace we
find them exchanging documents re-
n 5Vacr fhn al Of
moreover, assuring peace for i'm
periled China The war lord of Ger
many has been tremendously rebuked
by his own people for his polemic
upon the air today echo and re-echo
the Christmas musie-"Peace! Peace!
Peaee!"
The Western Wise Mems Gifts.
OF old the wise men of the east
brought gifts to the Christ-child; to-
day we find the wise men of the west
doing likewise. What mean these Red
Cross stamps that brighten so many
millions of pieces of mail these days,
except that the war against prevent
able disease is an expression of the
spirit which came to earth with
Jesus? So also are the recent pure
food laws, and the chiId-labor laws,
and the abolition of the convict-lease
measures, merely outworkings of the
message of the Christmas angels The
old-age pensions. adopted by states
abroad and by private employers here,
and the legal requirement of safety
devices on railroads and in work
shops the "shop early movement ,
among holiday purchasers. the wide
spread practice of special Christmas
charity-au these and a hundred
kindred movements are in the spirit of
the Christ.
The whole trend of the times is to-
ward the help of the humble folk, |
he
the first to hear the news from the
opened heavens of a new era for the
race Even the dumb beasts, who
shared the first earthly home of the
newborn king. have reason to bless
the mercy mild" which came to
earth with the Christ-child.
The Real Emmanuel Movement"
All unconscious of it's significance the |
magazines and public press generally |
are having a great deal to say just now
about the Emmanuel Movement" in |
Boston, meaning the entrance of the |
church into the realm of healing. This |
interest in psychotherapy is widespread |
and intense. Really, though, when it
is called the Emmanuel Movement |
more is meant than the name of a Bos- |
ton church; this radical departure
from conventional religious methods |
hardly signifies what Is wrapped up in |
the name given to the Christ-chiId, !
"Immanuel-God with us" 1t means |
that in these Dortentous latter days |
people are Understanding afreSh the |
nearness OF God, and the larger life and |
health that are in him. Only one who |
Is blind to the deeper meanings of his |
owr times can fail to perceive that |
vital religion is taking hold of the |
hearts of mankind as never before. |
The message of Christmas is more |
meaningful now than II was twenty |
centuries ago.
A Time for Telling.
That first Christmas season was a |
time Of feelings: the angels, the shep- |
herds, the neighbors, the Wise-men, all |
made proclamation of the good tidings |
of great joy To share the best news |
one has with the person who will be |
most benefited. No better gift can one |
friend make to another at this season |
than this one of good tidings. Tell |
your friend the best about himself and |
about yourself. Bear inspiration and |
encouragement to a world that sorely |
needs a word of uplift, vision and en-
couragement
Tell ~ preacher when his sermon |