The bee., 1908-12-24

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. The
Christmas spirit incarnated in deeds
Of kindness, of self-forgetfulness, love.
mutual helpfulness. is the secret Of
Christian civilization.
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.
m HERE were individuals who re-
flected ideal virtues in other
periods. but we're unable TO mul-
tiply themselves, dying like Beatrice.
who took her beauty, as they carried
their moral exeellences 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
degradation for woman. There were
$4,000 paupers in a population Of
100000 In Rome. II was a 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 its
carols. songs. gifts, Joy and gladness.
is the most striking contrast earths
history holds.
With that first Christmas childhood
became sweet and sacred, wemaR was
crowned queen Of the heart and home,
the slave made free, the ignorant, pSor
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 Ren. The Christmas spirit
lends a glow to all the instruments
and forces Of society.
wv HILE humanity falls below the
w ideal, the effort to practice It
w 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 win hide
in shame. The Christ spirit is vie
torious. Gods good will becomes tri-
umpAaAt in home, street and legis-
lative hall, The trlumphs Of the past
dictate new struggles for the future.
When Periciss save his oratlon over
the Athsnian dead. Pointing to the
graves, the great orator said: Their
silence Is eloquent! These heroes ask
us to 90 and live for the city for which
they died" Thus past achievements
pledge US tO fresh Rdelity. Christ
mas asks us to lend the impulse OF
new love TO home, school, street and
city; to be friend OF the friendlsbs,
a benefactor to some dumb beast or
deserted child. to be voice for the
dumb, eyes for the blind, springs Of
water for the thirsty, trees Of shade
for the weary. food for the hungry
refuge for the smitten.
BE an angel of mercy, bringing
peace on earth and good will toward
men," and thus hasten a Christmas
which will not simply ceme to-mor-
row, but win stay all the year.