Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-12-17

4ARCXeMlS uration of the new
Oh )SNSf&EA year. The heart
" MONN Yields to the pre-
QRY@V vailing spirit and
IE1SI $40 sentiment, despite
SGS&Nxgo) intellectual dissent,
oNJ% Not to observe, in
COoY y some form, the
OC 81 Christmas festival
o. is felt to do VIC
lence to the best
instincts of humanity. This holiday
eclipses all other birthdays, as the
sun makes the electric light to cast
a shadow. At this season a large
majority find delight in giving. 1t
gives occasion for springs of human
kindness and good will to flow. 1t
challenges the charge that man is
~innately and persistently selfish.
More than is believed practice the
truth that is more blessed to give
than to receive.
Christmas is the festival of children
and women. Christ's conception of
childhood and youth and his treat
ment of women made it possible for
them to commemorate his birthday
with joy and gladness. At the out
set of his career he foretold the reg
nancy of the cradle and the glory Of
the woman. Christmas celebrates the
birth of a child to whom the world
owes the progress of 1900 years, and
whose work will endure so long as
earth shall continue and influence 9TH
er worlds.
AY INETEEN centuries ago a peasant
woman of Judea in a stable gave
birth to a child destined to do
the greatest possible work-to free all
women from bondage and all children
from slavery-the evils which dis
graced past ages. Jesus influence
upon humanity as a child, a man, a
teacher and as a Saviour, as one who
put the eternal right of man above all
established customs and p~recedents,
is the greatest inheritance of the hui
man race. The king of the Jews has
become the king Of the world. A He
brew mind with no racial bias is now
ruling the nations. The spirit of the
Christ most deeply 0 modern life
and thought. His name has passed
over our institutions and his mind has
penetrated into our social and domes-
tic existence. The inspiration of true
liberty and education, the benediction
of the beautiful, the elevation of let.
tiers, literature and morals are
ascribed to him.
EHIS influence upon the centuries is
as clearly marked as the cur
rents Of the Gulf Stream bring
ing verdure and beauty to ~inhospitable
shores, light to those in darkness, and
making the wilderness to blossom as
the rose. Innumerable poems, dramas
and songs have been developed
through his teaching. Art taxes itsel
fttingly to portray his life, architect
ure struggles to build temples suitable
for his worship. Universities, col
leges, schools, and all systems of edu
cation attempt to realize his est
mate of the dignity and worth of child
hood. Government ITSELF" said Glad
stone, sis but the translation of tn,
teachings of Jesus Christ into human
laws and institutions" His thought
and ideas toll like a giant for man
progress. The single historic vine Il
Santa Barbara carried to California b
a priest has changed all the industrie
Of that land, 80 Christ's ideas carr
!, energies for civilizing worlds. "As tn
sun upon the horizon rolls forward
pouring forth warmth out of its II
visible urns, SO we perceive an atmo'
phere of hope and Joy has bee
, poured over the continent out of tn
: heart of Christ and those who love
;. him" The world celebrates at Chris
mas the advent of this wonderful b
ing. 1t looks reverently upon the fac
ger, and upon other children to who
he gave SO much.
2 children and Christmas are IL
factors of civilization. Edmur
, Burke defined civilization
d "the spirit of a gentleman, and ii
It spirit of religion in a life lived In Il
=. presence of man and Cod"
The beauty, purity, humility, fait
helplessness and the promise Of CHI
:. dren educate the parents in affectit
d and gentleness, and through them Il
community. The spring whence CT
a. ilization flows is the Babe of Mar
and the babe In every home. II
IL Christmas spirit incarnated in dee
of kindness, of self-forgetfulness, Low
:" mutual helpfulness, is the secret
Christian civilization.
1t will ~inoculate all the world wi
that purpose to do justice and de
kindly with our fellows. Christiani
has been defined as "a beautiful G
u. ilization slowly journeying across t
n. earth" It is the only civilizatf
~ worthy to be named. 1t preser
,ir ideals, with the power to realize the
es
81 A MhriEfntaH Oldr]