American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1915-12-25
Peace On Earth,
Good Will TO Men

Nineteen hundred and fifteen years
ago the shepherds as they watched
their hocks by night listened to the
celestial anthem, GLORY to God IN the
highest, and on earth peace, good viii
toward men," as the angels announce d
the birth of the King Of Peace. He
spoke as no other man has spoken
before or since. His teachings grad
ually took root In the hearts of men,
produced fruits and were taken to all
parts of the earth. Nation after ma.
ton gradually was won over to the
doctrines OF the meek and lowly Naza-
rene, and His votaries had began to
proclaim that the day was at hand
when they shall beat their swords
into plowsharcs and their spears into
pruning hooks" Then all at once, In
the very heart OF Christendom, the
flame of war broke out and the great
est war In all history seems now to
be sweeping the earth. The followers
OF Wesley and Calvin are doing their
utmost to STAY the followers OF Mar
tin Luther. and they are being assisted
In their demon madness by the peo-
pies OF southern Europe. who recog.
nize Pope Benedict as the vice regent
Of God on earth
Instead OF beating their swords into
plowshares, all other forms of indus
try have practically ceased and while
one-half Of the people are making I'm
plements OF war. the other half arc
using them for destruction. All u
forces of modern science aud industry
are being used to this one end-de
struction, The belligerents are not
only using their own available re-
sources. but they are mourning oh
cations that will be burdens for gen
erations to follow. Accompany.
each regiment In this bloody war In u
chaplain. whose duty II Is to pray to
the Prince OF Peace that his side may
be victorious, while millions at home,
on both sides. are also praying to the
same Redeemer for the same result
Nations not now at war are mobin
ing their armies and our own Americ;
ia laying down ultlmatums to OF,
nations and asking Congress to vot,
millions and lay special taxes for wal
taxes.
Never before In the worlds hlstor.
was there such black Christina
What answer to II all can the Chrl.
tian give to the benighted heather
he quotes. "A trees Is known by tn, |
fruit 1t BEARS" and asks. do men !
gather grapes from thorns or figs
from thistles?"
The philosopher OF deeper though
will see In all this cataclysm OF bloody
war among the nations a big step |
nearer the millennium. When II Is all !
over, men will look at the millions
of widowed or chlldless homes and |
wonder why they forsook the path
OF peace and the teachings of the
Redcemer. AS they contemplate the
havoc and destruction. and labor un-
DER heaNy burdens OF taxation, they
will demand that steps be taken to
prevent u repetition of war by de-
handing IA disarmament of the ma
tions Now the people are listening
to those who preach and prepare for
war. Soon the advocates of peace and
industry will be In power and II Il
likaly that this will no tha Last grant
war. After these war clouds whicl
darken the earth are dispersed. IN
anthem OF the angels. ION earth peace
good will towards men," will bright
the earth. and the contrast will be sc
great that II In probable that lsaiah's
vision will have received Its fulfill
mcnt that Men viii not learn "
any more"