The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-20
IS GROWING BETTER
Each Christmas Sees Nearer 40.
proach to Ideal.
Humanity Affected by Teachings Of
Him Whose Birth Is Celebrated
Spirit Of Helpfulness Prevails
Among Men.


Mh%4 nearer to the ideal of the
JH1k Prince of Peace, the ideal
IUN of universal brotherhood.
mn Wars may occur from
W. time to time and nations
CEESK3 continue to arm them
lE5TSA selves, but steadily the
thought develops in the
minds of men throughout
the range of civilization that fight
ing is wasteful, senseless, incon-
elusive method of adjusting differ
ences, and that righteousness and
justice can be maintained by other
means.
Over nineteen hundred years have
passed since Christ was born, bring
ing the message of peace on earth
and good will to men. Before his
time the world knew no such doc
trine. There was the law of might,
and might prevailed. There were
rights, but rights were dependent up
on the strength of arms and often suf-
fered. The strong arm governed in
the affairs of men. The doctrine that
Christ preached was one of enlighten-
ment, an appeal to the reason, ad
dressed to the higher self of man.
That Christianity spread SO rapidly
after the first struggling start is
proof that men were eager for such
a teaching, and that they longed for
the opportunity to live their lives
placidly and honestly in a spirit of
brotherhood
Those who are discouraged by the
occasional outbreaks of strife between
nations should take comfort in the
thought that there Is a steadily in
creasing sentiment for pacific adjust
ments, that the essential spirit of
Christianity is at work throughout
the world to bring men into more
reasonable relations. and that in the
international as we'll as the private
conditions of life the doctrines that
were first preached in Judea nineteen
hundred years ago are becoming
steadily more dominant.
Christmas day naturally causes a
reflection upon the state of humanity
as affected by the teachings Of him
whose birth is celebrated. Men are
unquestionably kinder and more
thoughtful toward one another now
charity in the world, and more JUS
tice, and more earnest disposition to
bring humanity up to a higher level.
There is more widespread education
as a result of this spirit of helpful
ness. and there is less suffering.
Men are devoting themselves and
their lives to the study of the needs
of the less fortunate and to the
amelioration Of their condition. In
all lands practical Christianity is
working to the end literally Of bring
ing peace on earth and good will to
men.
| The observances of Christmas are
mere tokens Of the essential spirit Of
/ the day, which is more than the mere
/ twenty-four hours OF this particular
/ calendar time, and extends through
1 out the year. No matter how elabor-
! ate or costly the gifts that are ex-
/ changed. how beautiful and impress
! sive the services in the churches,
/ how extensive the decorations, Christ
/ mas is no more sincerely commend
rated than by him who on this day
/ pauses to remember what it means,
/ who pays tribute in his soul to the
! glorious example of Christ's life and
( resolves to conduct his own as nearly
as possible in imitation Of it. It is
the personal Christmas celebration
that counts the Individual effort tC
apply TO everyday life that which IN
-I,1- h tnJ1 hoo
at bethlehem over nineteen centuries
ago.