The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-08-17
BY EDGAR lLIFF

6y EDGAR llIFF
1t is certainly one Of the good signs
Of the times when churches every
where in America are trying to get
into closer relationship with the mas
ses, and put themselves in touch with
the aims. objects, modes Of thought
and habits of the people. The old
idea that the mountain must come to
Mahomet is passing away. The
church Is descending from its little
molehills of dogma and exclusiveness.
and is going forth to greet the great
mountains Of humanity whose slopes
and peaks are gilded by the sunshine
of God
No great and enduring thing has
ever been accomplished by man unless
he went with the current of his age.
There was Lutherism before Luther,
Wesleyism before Wesley, and be-
meath and behind Lincoln was ma
tons heart painting and throbbing for
the liberation of it's slaves.
Church Guides Humanity
The church today is about to put
itself in the stream of humanity, to
guide it, purify it, and no longer stand
idly by and let the waters rush past.
This Is not offered as prophecy,
but as conviction forced upon US by
daily events. The union of the masses
and the church, and the loving care
of the church for children in every
avenue, alley and slum of life are
signs that point to great and noble
and truly Christian civilization to
come
Mrs. Barr, an American novelist,
has said that it is unfortunate that
the old Christmas customs have been
transplanted from the home to the
church. This is crude remark, for,
in the first place. In the olden times,
before the age Of Puritanism, there
was complete union between the
church and the home and all the
Christmas customs and pastimes. In
the second place, the church has not
supplanted the home in the keeping
Of Christmas customs, but has joined
in their keeping.
Our ancestors, especially those hale
old fellows Of the great Germanic
races, believed most heartily in Christ
mas, both as a religious and domes-
tic institution. 1t was a day more
closely connected with Jesus than any
other, and it was also Children
day" They had two beautiful names
for 1t. One of the "Children's Festi-
VAL the other the Feast of Light"
The home was decked in flowers and
the Christmas tree was always set
up in the best room. The church was
hung with holly, mistletoe and ever
greens, and enormous candles were
World. The home was the scene OF
festivities; the church was the spon-
sor of these festivities, and the BIZ
shops and lower clergy entered into
the singing of carols, the playing OF
games and many sports with all their
hearts. And Christmas was so closely
connected with religion in those days
that it was current superstition that
on every Christmas eve the very oxen
fell upon their knees in alteration Of
the child Jesus.
Beliefs Pass Away
There were many beliefs about
Christmas that have passed away.
one of which Shakespeare has made
immortal by his genius:
Some say that ever 'gainst that sea.
son comes
Wherein our Saviour's birth is cele-
brated,
The bird of dawning singeth all night
long.
And then, they say, no spirit dares
stir abroad;
The nights are wholesome; then no
planets strike,
No fairy takes nor witch hath power
to charm,
So hallowed and so gracious in the
time"