The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-12-17

IOTc Or LAS Dccu SLICE, went IOrIu
among an antagonistlc people the
living impersonation of a Divine
Love and Charity; man who was
executed as a criminal by those
whom he would most have befriend-
ed; and who. in that terrible hour
of trial reached the supreme con-
sumation of an earthly life dedicat-
ed to giving.
1t is, therefor, fitting and proper
that we should celebrate His ami
versary by practicing, in so far as it
Is given us power to practice, what
He practiced-the bringing of joy
to human hearts by the giving of
gifts.
We can not hope to achieve, even
in small measure, what he achiev-
ed. 1t is not mete for us to aspire
to the heights beyond the heights,
through which his pathway led. But
1t is for us to follow, solemnly, re-
verently, where he has shown the
way.
Today a world is in turmoil over
a petty question of national prece.
dence at the court of nations. Man
is at the throat of fellow man, and
in persuance of this grim business
of war looking neither to the right
nor the left at who may fall by the
wayside-lnnocent.
The United States alone among
the great nations of the earth, is en-
joylng the great blessings of peace
ard prosperity. We who are per-
mitted to participate in these great
blessings are, therefore, in meas
ure doubly bound to uphold the
spirit of this great anniversary which
is approaching. We stand fore
most among the peoples who are in
position fully to participate in its
fitting celebration. And standing
thus in the forefront, it is for us to
assume, in 30 far as we may assume,
to perform for and to those who can
not themselves perform the solemn
rites of its celebration.
1t not for us to question the why
of their inability to participate in
the coming Christmas. 1t is not
for us to point out the fault of this
or that party to the present conflict
which is responsible for the present
great want and suffering in Europe
1t is for us, rather, gladly. willing
ly. joyously to give of what we have
to alleviate that want, that suffer-
ing. That we have had no part in
it's causing does not de,ract from
our responsibility for its allevia-
ton.
Let us then in the sorroWful
Christmas season of 1914 give of
what in happier seasons we would
have given to those near and dear
to us; to these fellow men and wo-
men who are many times more in
need of the cheer and sustainance of
the Christmas spirit this year. Let
us divert our Christmas gifts, which
IN happier Sc; s ms it is rig ht and pro
per that we should give and receive
among ourselves, to the migitation
in such measure as they may migi-
tate, the sufferings of the helpless
peoples across the waters.
Nor is this high achievement OF
the Christmas spirit possible only
among those who are without the
prison walls, Even we who are
confined here. restricted as we nee
essarily are in the enjoyment of the
general prosperity of our great
country, yet derive much of benefit
from the peace which this nation
enjoys alone among the great ma
tions of the earth. And limited as
is our power of giving, we yet may
give what we can. Even those
who have nothing to give them
selves, may request their friends to
divert the gifts that would other
wise come to them to some one of
the relief funds being collected
throughout the country for the
starving men and woman andschild-
ren of Belgium and Servia.
For we are but IN prison. and our
bodily welfare is taken care of by
competent hands, but these people
of Europe are in a living hell.
As this is His anniversary, as we
give gifts but in honor of His power
among men, let us give these gifts
as He gave what He had to give
where it was most needed.