Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-12-17


Instincts Of humanity This holiday
ecliDses all other birthdays, as the
sun makes the electric light to cast
q shadow. At this season 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 1000 years, and
whose work will endure so long as
earth shall continue and influence 9th
er worlds.
AT lNETEEN centuries ago a peasant
IN woman OF Judea in 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 q child. a man. a
teacher and as a Saviour, as one who
put the eternal right of man above all
established customs and precedents,
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 moves 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
ters, literature and morals are
ascribed to him
lis influence upon the centuries Is
III 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 itself
fttingly to portray his life, architect.
IRE struggles to build temples suitable
for his worship. Universities, col
leges, schools, and all systems of edu.
cation attempt to realize his esti-
mate of the dignity and worth of child
hood Government ITSELF" said Glad
stone, is but the translation of the
teachings of Jesus Christ into human
laws and institutions" His thoughts
and ideas toll like a giant for mar's
progress. The single historic vine in
Santa Barbara carried to California by
a priest has changed all the industries
of that land, so Christ's ideas carry
energies for civilizing worlds. las the
sun upon the horizon rolls forward,
pouring forth warmth out of its in
visible urns, so We perceive an atmos-
phere of hope and joy has been
poured over the continent out of the
heart of Christ and those who loved
him" The world celebrates at Christ
mas the advent of this wonderful be-
ing. 1t LOCKS reverently upon the face
of him, the feeble infant in the man.
ger, and upon other children to whom
he gave so much.
children and Christmas are The
factors of civilization Edmund
Burke defined civilization as
1.-The spirit of gentleman, and the
spirit of religion in a life lived in the
presence Of man and Cod"
The beauty. purity, humility, faith,
helplessness and the promise of chill
dren educate the parents in affection
and gentleness, and through them the
community. The spring whence civ
ilization flows is the Babe of Mary,
ant. the babe in every home. The
Christmas spirit incarnated in deeds
Of kindness. of selfforgetfulness, love,
mutual helpfulness, is the secret OF
Christian civilization.
l. 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
iization slowly journeying across the
earth" 1t is the only civilization
wo; Thy to be named. 1t presents
ideals, with the power to realize them.