The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-12-19

dren educate the parents in affection
and gentleness, and through them the
community. The spring whence civ,
ilization flows is the Babe of Mary
and the babe in every home. Th(
Christmas spirit incarnated in deeds
of kindness, of selfforgetfulness, love.
mutual helpfulness, is the secret of
Christian civilization. 81.
1t will inoculate all the world with
that purpose to do justice and deal
kindly with our fellows Christianity
has been defined as "a beautiful CIV
ilization slowly journeying across the
earth" 1t is the only civilization
worthy to be named. 1t presents
ideals, with the power to realize them:
~ HERE were individuals who re-
flected ideal virtues in other
periods, but were unable to null
tiply themselves, dying like Beatrice,
who took her beauty, as they carried
their moral excellences away with
them. The first Christmas dawned on
world of selfishness and sin, and
dark with folly and cruelty. There
was beauty for the few, slavery, pow
erty and starvation for the many
death for the unwelcome child and
$4,000 paupers in population of
100000 in Rome. 1t was period OF
intellectual chaos, moral and social
desolation, and individual hopeless
| ness. Into this gloom came the star
of Bethlehem, beaming light, hope and
| sympathy. The contrast between the
| manger birth and the Christmas morn
| that will dawn this week with it's
| carols, songs, gifts, joy and gladness,
| is the most striking contrast earth's
history holds.
With that first Christmas childhood
| became sweet and sacred, woman was
crowned queen of the heart and home,
] the slave made free, the ignorant, poor
and wretched found education, shelter
and sympathy, and the joy of gener-
osity became contagious. AS the sun
rises earlier and fingers longer than
yesterday SO the spirit of Christmas
will usher in the golden age of happi-
ness and good will. In the great pic
ture of Coreggio the light on the face
of the babe lends a glow to shepherd
and wise men. The Christmas spiri1
| lends glow to all the instruments
and forces of society.
WV HILE humanity falls below the
1 W ideal, the effort to practice it
~ is not wholly nugatory. The
drift of the world is upward" The
people are climbing. Interest in chill
dren is increasing. Woman Is coming
to her own. Labor is entering the
reward of work. War is becoming
unpopular. Racial prejudice will hide
in shame The Christ spirit is vic
torious Gods good will becomes tri
! umphant in home, street and legis
lative hall. The triumphsaof the past
dictate new struggles for the future
When Pericles gave his Grafton over
the Athenian dead, pointing to the
graves, the great orator said: "Theil
silence is eloquent These heroes ask
us to go and live for the city for which
they died" Thus past achievements
pledge us to fresh fidelity. Christ
mas asks us to lend the impulse of {
new love to home, school, street ant
city; to be friend of the friendless
a benefactor to some dumb beast OF
deserted child, to be voice for tht
dumb, eyes for the blind, springs o
water for the thirsty, trees of shade
for the weary, food for the hungry
refuge for the smitten.
Be an angel of mercy, bringin,
peace on earth and good will towar,
men," and thus hasten Christina
which will not simply come to-mo1
row, but will stay all the year.
]. 8ss<1sE -