Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-12-18
"A. ]. Broker, Nj. ID.

The spirit Of Christmas is contagi-
Gus. There is happiness and good
feeling in the air; one cannot help be-
ing affected by it; the spirit Of the
occasion is free without money and
without price. Rich, poor, black,
white. sick and well are affected and
effected. In this is great lesson, II
we stop and think; it is the lesson OF
the finer and better things Of life de-
pending on our attitude of mind rath-
er than on material possessions. Or
the finer aid better things of life
there can be no stint-things joyous,
helpful and inspiring are free to
every one who viii put themselves IN
the attitude to receive them. Nearly
all of US are better off than we think;
we all have greater cause for thank
fulness than we admit.
Peace on earth and good will to-
ward men brings more joy than any
two factors on earth. These qualities
are from the heart; if the heart is
right and the ideals correct there can
be nothing but happiness as result.
Ideals are everything. Some folks
imagine that money will bring happl-
ness: some folks have minds so set
on the material benefits of Christmas
that they lose sight Of the spirit OF
the celebration entirely. If money
were all or an essential to happiness
then the whole of Europe would not
be outdoing the barbarians OF the
early centuries. Power and supremacy
have been the ideal and that is wrong
So with the man or race that puts
money ahead of the onlp worthy ideal
which is love and peace and good Will
which means good deeds and unseltsh,
ness.
The person who puts the gift above
the spirit in which it was g iven is not
worth the thought prompting the gift
1t is the spirit that makes one happy
or sad or grateful
Tidings of great joy are brought tc
US with each awakening. He came tc
US ever laying emphasis on the spirit
OH the local. Whosoever has beer
fortunate enough to grasp part CT
the great truth he taught ard exem'
plified has indeed found pezrl OF
great price. It is less a matter OF
loud profession than it Is quiet rea-
lization of harmony. This is the Sc
cret of drawing men unto one, not for
power, nor for money, nor for any un-
worthy purpose, but for Eelpfalness.
Therefore let US keep the feast. Let
us have our hearts ready to hear the
curing of angels, by laying aside the
gain and material side Of the birth
day of the King He shall DC called
Wonderful, Counsellor, Everlasting
God, the Prince of Peace, not for a
day, but for eternity; so may we rea-
lie these purely spiritual attributes
if we open our doors to the east. Nor
money, nor presents, nor influence can
bring to US the most potent factors
for happiness. We wait for season
Of the year to open our purses and
memories of forgotten service, when
we can make it Christmas all the
year and bring nearer to earth the
kingdom OF Heaven. If you are happy
and kind the contagion Of good will
toward men win be as effective in
June as in December. This is the ideal
of all our prayers and churches and
spiritual striving.
Let the Christmas spirit abide in
your heart; let every day be the birth
day of the King; bring forth the
myrrh of sincerity, the frank incense
of truth and the gold of love as gift
and surely joy and peace and plenty
will be yours through the length of
days and you will dwell in the house
of the Lord forever and the Christ