Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-12-24
Friday. December "a. 1900
CHRISTMAS, A. d. ONE-19o.

An old, old story. now well nigh
two thousand years, as the chron-
iclers have it. Wecall this ''Anno
Domini, the year of Our Lord;
, and this Christmas is 1909, ammo
domini. All our dates start from
atday when the supplemented
shepherds of Palestine abode in
the fields, keeping watch over
their fiOcks. And from that day
to this, wherever Christendom be,
this Ammo Domini is counted the
day of days-"For unto you is
born this day u Saviour, which
as Christ the Lord. Then sud-
denly appeared with the angel
who had tod the shepherds the
news, the Glad Tidings," the
Gospel, "a multitude of the
heavenly hose, singing, Glory to
God i'll the highest, peace on
earth, good will to men,.
An old story, told with almost
bald simplicity, and briefly. A
story for the ages, for at that
time OF this worlds age, and for
all days before, war was the right,
and by bloody strife the prize
that men struggled for was at
tanned. Had a mere man step
ped to the front that day and
told the world that peace was
attainable, that strife and con-
test might cease-would cease
some day-he would have been
laughed at as one who dreamed.
That one man should have mercy
on another more helpless than
himself, that any other doctrine
should prevail than that might
should and did make right, and
that the weak should ever be
spared or the defenceless pitied.
no one up to that time thought
OF. For, to the natural man
there are no rights save such rs
can be defended with strong arm
or quick-witted brain. = oe TO
the weak, mercilessness to the
helpless, to those unable to pro-
tect themselves. True, another
teaching had been Swallowed
forth In the writings of some
Jews. Mercywas taught by some.
but apparently as an abstract
doctrine, having little place in
the stern rough struggle of man
against man. "Vae Victis" was
the cry, even when the worship
OF the one God was taught.
But suddenly there flashed out
astar-that of Bethlehem-mark-
ing a day just born, signalling a
Man just come to earth, one who
could and would teach by precept
and example and in spite of
enmity, the doctrine of peace on
earth, good will towards men.
Ages have passed, dynasties
have risen and fallen; nations
have held sway and passed out
OF history's sight; great kings
have ruled and fallen, and codes of
laws formulated, to be succeeded
by Others, but in all this while
the doctrine Self, though a part
or the great law of self-preserya-
ton, and SO part of mans life
In way, has been superseded by
the doctrine, nay, by the practise.
that what we would love to have
done for us, that doing we must,
II we be true men, do for others:
that no man has rights that can
override the weakness of his
fellows.
Today, because of this new law.
promulgated by the Man born in
bethlehem Speaking of him mere
~ as a many, we rest i'm quiet.
nave homes, safe abode, pros
perlty. Today, because He
taught, we have freedom from
molestation, and liberty of
thought and action. TODAY.
because of that day when the
slmple-minded shepherds said
Let us go even now to Bethle-
hem and see this thing which has
come to pass, men dwell in peace
and safety, and even When thew
do not love each other, they at
least tolerate and speak kindly
Of each other, and many, very
the multitude steadf-
y lncreases-love each other
simply and devotedly. II
1t is a day of rejoicing, of glad
hess and delight. Many of us
doubtless miss the main point oil
he celebration. miss the fact that {
teadily, if slowly, peace has come
% the torn and half murdered | c
arth. But the peace sung bvIf
he angels in that early morningl
wo thousand wears ago the
'eace o. Co., tIiat re enrt i,r
erstanding", creeps Nv init
'mong US men-nay it is anonel {.
g in a larger sense than we dream IF,
land some day it will envelopl
ne earth and the Christ doctrine v
G that of the majority:-the ma v
)rity, for the devil still has place n
nd sway and will to the end. butI :
ne larger spirit will and must Il
row. q
Some indeed there are who saw +,
Il this is a mere myth, that the ii
octrine OF the Virgin birth. of t,
he wondrous telling of the Kings Il
,ming, even of the death and o.
'surrection, all are but fables ri
nd that what has come of peace "
nd safety to men here has come SO
? mans struggles upward; that C,
is all nothing more than the pl