The Washington herald., 1910-12-25
POWER OF GOODNESS" A CHRISTMAS OPTIN1IST THEME

deep, spiritual words, ito forgive our
enemies" for in so doing we are raising
ourselves and helping them to rise
above their own undeveloped states of
consciousness.
As optimists we should guard our
thoughts well, as We have great power
for good, our loving, kind thoughts bless
ing every one who PASSES within the
radius Of our aura. or the thought atmos-
phere that surrounds each and every in
divldual soul L. CROWELLDUNLOP.
Goodness is love and kindness for all
living things and it's power is without
limit As "A modern example OF the prac-
teal worth Of kindness i would cite the
work of Judge Lindsay, Of the Denver
Juvenile Court And what Judge Lind
say has done for the boy by kindness
can be done for the man, no matter how
degraded he may be. by the same meth
cd. Ii may take much time. and it will
take much patience. but in every man
there is spark Of good. and. like beget-
ting like, it is only by kindness that we
can reach that spark and develop il.
Punishment and the fear Of punishment
may prevent some crime. but by love and
kindness, and these alone, is the crimi-
ma reformede
Goodness pays in peace OF mind and
bodily health, for angry and evil thoughts
poison the mind ana hurt the body. II is
the greatest beautifier, for no features,
no matter how irregular are ugly that
bear kindly expression. Il pays in coin
OF the realm, for the taskmaster who has
taught his help 10 fear him is served well
while he watches. but ne who rules by
love gets willing and faithful service at
all times.
Then let US love much and love indis-
criminately. LoYe the sinner for the
good you know he is hiding and he, too.
will discover il; overlook the crouch Of
the pessimist and love him into being an
optiTnist smile al ingTatitude and give
more until you reach the spark. Begin
to-day. on the birthday Of Him who
made the supreme sacrifice because He
loved, and you VIII be a richer man or
woman and the world richer because Of
you. PRANK J. oBOURKE.
Did you ever consider the number OF
new leaves you've turned over. spreading
your resolution at the top Of the page
and enumerating below your victories
day By day, and how finely you pro-
crossed for a few short weeks. or at best
changed with the season at equinox and
drfted into old haunts and old habits?
Don't turn over another leaf in this
same book. open a new book, brand-new
through and through, from cover 10 COW
er Get away from uarrOw-minded, self
seeking aspirations. and in the larger
optimistic sense open your yearbook for
1911 by inscribing on page one the fol
lowing. ] resolve TO do my best, first,
last all the time / regard this resOlu-
tion binding. l consider doing ones best
broad vow; / hope 10 measure up to IT,
desire 10 live above reprOach I viii be
firm.
Using page two for debit" and page
three for credit keep a record OF your
life on opposite pages for the ensuing
year. Remember, you are 10 debit your
self with all your Inconsistencies and
shortcomings, any queer business trick
cry. or lax sociabfity. To be sure, you
viii take wondrous pride in your credit
pages each day, for modesty should not
prevent an entry in your own little diary
Of the good deeds for which you are re
sponsible Cultivate the finer optimistic
spirit that your 955th entry may be- 365
times more cheerful than your first If
AT the close Of the year Won strike q fair
balance on the credit side and you feel
strong in the work. with charity pervad-
ing your soul, your experience IN the op-
timistic circle, under the banner Of
Lets help" will stand you in good
stead and your yearbook for 1911 will be
treasured always as the first step among
new people In a strange sect which
knows no creed nor litany save the
brotherhood OF man"
4 year OF hOpcfulness and the habit is
fixed; you could not backslide il YOU
would. May the tears OF angels baptize
our cause and eternal goodness reach
even unto the ends Of the ea-th
CHARLES ALBERT BREWTON.
For nineteen hundred years and more
the worlds imagination has run riot in
picturing he scenes OF the first Christ
maStide. The greatest artists OF the ages
have put upon canvas their noble con-
ceptOns Of the wondrous event The
greatest musicians have woven the theme
into soul-inspiring harnonies. The great
est poets have enwreathed it with the
pearls Of expression. The greatest ora
tors have dwelt upon it with words of
burning eloquence But no effort of man
has ever added TO or taken away from
its significance Nothing has ever
changed the meaning Of the angels song.
Now, as Of old, it is "Peace on earth,
good Will 10 men"
And yet with every Christmas time
there comes renewed sense Of the bless
edness of the old. old story. because in
the light of experience we have a fuller
realization Of its significance. The notes
Of the angels song sweep across the cen
turtles with ever-increasing sweetness and
power. The all-peryasive light shines
out over the dark places OF the earth,
growing more and more luminous with
each passing year, Illuminating both ma
uonal life and individual lives. The inn
pulse OF the new life throbs through the
heart of the world, and with the ever
widening sway of the Prince Of Peace
the Christmas JOY is more and more be-
coming the universal JOY, just as the
Christmas peace is more and more be-
coming established in the hearts Of men
and women just as the day which COM
memorates the advent OF the Christ is
being recognized more and more as the
gladdest day this world of ours has ever
seen.
ION earth peace, good will toward
men, This is the message for to-day
a message which embodes the spirit and
the power of goodness" Let il ring
out again and again this Christmas time.
The world has need to-day Of all the
cheer we can give. II needs the reas-
surance of the Christmas time; it needs
our gifts and our ministrations. Even at
this happiest season of all the year there
are so many who are discouraged. so
many who are grief-stricken. so
many who are helpless and needy And
IT We have truly learned the meaning of
the song, We know that We best realize
the Christmas joy and peace in our own
lives when we carry it into the hearts
and lives of others. Let US yield our
selves to the inner meaning of this fes-
tival season, and under the influence of
the source and power of all good let US
inspire confidence and courage in our
contact with others and strive to make