The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-12-24
CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS.

holds the theory in allegiance until ne sees
how it works If it settles few vexed
questions he will say it is likely to be a true
theory: if it settles large proportion OF
these questions he will be inclined to adopt
it; if it satisfactorily disposes of all the
perplexities which he has heretofore en-
countered he will whistle his old theory
down the wind and accept the new one
without hesitation.
His rule is that what produces the best
results rsust needs be true, and when
new theory has been successfully put to
that practical test he has no prejudice
against an acknowledgement OF its claims.
Let us give an illustration which is fur
nished by astronomy. Upto the beginning
of the seventeenth century the planetary
orbits were supposed to be circles-that is
to say. the path around the sun in which all
the members of our solar system moved,
from Mercury to Neptune, was thought to
be circular. There were some difficulties,
however, which the circle failed to solve,
and these increased until astronomers were
in despair.
When Kepler came he declared that the
orbits were not circles, but elhpses. Per-
haps no proposition ever created more
establishment 1t was daring to the edge
of rashness, and for some time was held at
arms length Later on, though, it was
discovered that Kepler's theory disposed OF
all the difficulties which had attended the
notion of circular orbits. Experiments
were made with it by the score, but it never
failed to vindicate itself. 1t worked, it
produced results, and from that hour to
this it has never been blurred by doubt.
The rule is good one to apply to society,
to civilization and to religion as well as to
astronomy. When we hear of Christianity
as a new moral and spiritual theory its
beauty and comeliness attract the intellect
and move the heart. But we can't fairly
judge either of its worth or its truth until
we find out what kind of community,
what kind of men and women it can make.
Mere arguments are seldom conclusive,
for in debate the brighter or more strate-
gic mind takes the lead; but when instead
of arguments you have facts and can say
to the world, christianity has done this or
that, it has caused the people to create
these or those institutions, political or
charitable, - then you demonstrate its worth
or its worthless. If it can do the best work
then it proves itself true, but if it fails to
do this we are like the astronomers in the
the time of Corpernicus, who were not
satisfied with the planetary circle and
waited patiently for some new teacher,
some Kepler and his ellipse.
Ii we contrast Christianity with Moham-
mechanism or Brahminism, regarding them
all as theories of life, the weight of argu-
ment would be in favor of Christianity, for
taken as whole Christ's teachings are
peculiarly unworthy and uplifting. But
when we place modern Europe by the side
of Arabia or India, regarding them as
elements of human progress, as opponents
of the best that can be done by three con-
spicuous forms of religion, argument be-
comes dumb and the matter is decided by
results.
In such competition Christianity has
nothing to fear. Whether it be considered
as human or divine is just now matter of
secondary Importance. We look simply at
the prerogatives which men enjoy under it,
at the kind of ambition which spurs men to
action, at the moral tone of society at large,
at the institutions which are the logical
consequence of belief in Christ, at the
literature in which the people delight and
at the sympathy for those who are unfortu-
nate which prevails.
Brush your theological creeds aside and
look at Christianity as dynamic force;
measure its influence in the career of any
one who has been conseerated by its spirit;
note its encouragement of public and
private virtue, its insistance on a high
standard of honor, its INDUCTION to provide
for the helpless and care for the needy, it's
promise or pledge that when we leave the
body we shall take up our residence in ga
house not made with hands, Then COM
pare these peculiarities with the general
teaching of any other religious system on
the planet, and you will be compelled to
admit that in the production of a noble life
Christianity leads all the rest.
1t is not strange, therefore, that this
higher thought was ushered in by an
overture in which angels predicted peace
on earth and good viii to men. Nor need
we wonder if He who bore the sacred