The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1912-12-16
The Message Of ChPistmastide.
(By Charles Maxon.)

(By Charles Maxon.)
A picture bringing back many
dear memories of childhood comes
before me; memories of the home: of
Christmas morning. of a mother
tenderness, and the old, old story
she often told of the Christ-ch:ld.
the Savior of the world. Mem cries
too of picture of bright-robed,
winged Angels, with long silver
trumpets, proclaiming the Christ
mas message, Peach on Earth Good
Will to Men,"
For us, children as we were then,
and for the children of today, there
was and is no festival so full of joy,
of bright anticipation, happiness. as
Christmas morning, and doubly dear
to memories of later years if in our
childhood days it was hallowed by a
sense, however vague or dim it
might be, of the deep significance
OF Christmastide, with all the sacred
legends gathered round about it.
What is the message of Christ
mastide to you and me today?
What is its significance to us,grown
men and women, who know the
world and it's sadness and pain;
what significance has it or might
1t have, If we knew and did our
part, to the man in the street, the
t. 10 Mt
the convict in his cell?
Peace ON Earth. Good Will to
Men"
Such is the message proclaimed
on Christmas morning from all the
pulpits in Christendom. And from
the hearts of unnumbered millions
who never enter a church, it has
voicing: Merry Christmas" glad
ness, joy, are passed from one to
another by word and look. For a
moment caste and race distinctions
drop (almost) out of sight, and we
stand on the level ground of our
common humanity. For one day for
just moment of time, there is
a pause in the turmoil of life. For
one day only. If for that, and then
the world resumes its course. On
no other day or festival in the whol
year is the feeling just the same or
the sense of sacredness so marked.
Even New Years Day is different,
though it partakes of the Christmas
tide feeling and is almost one with
it, and in some countries is the day
of gift giving as Christmas is with
the Teutonic people. Properly is
: should coincide with Christmas whic|
IS the true beginning of the year,
marking as it does the beginning of
the suns northern course through
the heavens. Easter again is differ
ent. and Thanksgiving Day, and all
The Their festivals and national heli-
days; on none OF them is there that
wonderful stirring of the heart
forces, that thrill of joy and good
will, kindness, sympathy, which for
= moment we feel on Christmas
morning and which, If we will open
our hearts to it, brings a benediction
to US and all whom we contact-if
our Christmas greeting given and
received does indeed come from the
heart and is not an empty phrase.
Good Will to- Menu" Go to the
great cities of our civilized nations;
acquaint yourself with the lives of
the people. What is the picture
forced upon your vision? Fierce
contempt for wealth, fame. power,
aye, for very existence, even though
the world teens with abundance;
selfish luxury, grinding poverty,
white slavery; stunted children and
tired mothers working in the mills
and sweat shops; increasing insani-
ty, crime and suicide; judicial MUIR
der of criminals; thousands of dumb
animals yearly tortured by vivi-
section. Dare we say, Peace, Good
Will, in the presence of these?
Yet we call ourselves civilized en-
Mghtened; and because you and
(let us assume it is true) do not
directly encourage, or take part in
or share in the profits of these
enormities, we-aye, with hardly one
absolutely sincere exception in a
million-we say, or we think, or
act, Lord, thank Thee, l am not
as other men, extortioners, unjust,
or even as this publican"