The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-25
Light OF FIRST
CHRISTMAS WILL
AGAIN SPREAD
over THE WORLD
Peace on Earth and Good
Will Among Men Com
ing, Says Ford
AUToCRACY is NOT
TAKEN WITH SPIRIT
Frost and; Berntsen Tell
Feeling of Times in
Their Sermons

me uEnE whlcn nFsL appeared a
Bethlehem the first Christmas, ant
has touched the hilltops of Palestine
again this Christmas will yet spread
over all the world, and there will We
come an honorable peace on eartf
ana good will among men.-Rev. Il
c. lord, Plymouth Congregations
church.
II necessary, countless millions
win climb Calvary for the great sac.
rifee to ! convince selfish autOcracy
that the Christmas spirit in thu
hearts Of men Is not only real, not q
myth. but, on the other hand, tha'
il ID the greatest thing in the world,
and as well, the fiercest thing in TIT
world when, as now, 1t is compelled
to tight for the freedom of common
humanity.-Rev. H.. H. Frost, First
Methodist church.
He is our peace. He brings peace
into every hearth that will receive
him. He establishes peace among the
nations Of the world. May God hasten
the day when there shall be peace
perfect peace.-Rev. Edward Bernt'
sen, Pontoppidan Lutheran church.
The above are excerpts from
Christmas sermons and messages OF
Fargo pastors, expressing not only
the spirit Of the day, but the spirit
Of the times, and the prophecy OF
that which is to be.
The sermons. in part, follow:
NBy Rev. Henry Heaa Frost, First
Methodist chUreh.)
n IL said that in Germany during
the last years preceding the war
the reply to any expression of faith
in Christianity was very often the
sneering question of surprise, What,
DO you still believe in that Jesus
myth" Such probably indicates,
not a general loss OF faith on the
part OF the masses OF Germany, but
rather the contempt in which Christ
is held by the heart Of militarism.
That autocracy should thus scoff at
the idea Of sacrificial love and human
brotherhood should not be surprising,
for the whole system Of oppression
of the masses for the sake Of sell
fish, autocrstic dominion is dia-
mEtricalIy opposed to the Christmas
spirit in the world. AS civilization
brings closer intercourse among the
nations, IL is most absurd to believe
that It L. going to be possible for
the autocratic spirit to exist side by
side with the spirit Of brotherhood.
If the kaiser and his militarists have
every moral right and obligation Of
humanity for the sake Of world pow
err he and his henchmen have no
choice but to curse the name Of the
Babe Of Bethlehem, for Christ the
klnnS OF Kinmg is the inviR0ible
champion Of the precious righth of
humanity, which they hate and de-
splse.
But do the sneering and curses Of
the Hohenzollerns change eternal
truth2 Is there, then, no reality to
unselfish love and sacrifice for the
sake Of brotherhood among men?
Obsessed with the mad dream Of
world dominion, and educated to be-
1ieYe In themselves as "supermen,"
above any responsibility to society
at large, official Germany has with
malice aforethought planned this
diabolical war, thinking to capture a
submissive world in a short cam
paign. But in the last few months
there has come to them a rude
awakening. That spirit OF love
among men that they scoffed at and
pronounced a myth Is showing itself
today to be q tremendous organizing
force Of an aroused and indignant
world, pitting all Of decent civillza-
ton against their drunken folly.
Love never shows to better ad-
vantage than when its object is in
danger. Il partakes, then, Of the
ferceness Of the mother tiger in the
projection Of her young. Such is the
spirit that the colossal blunder Of
Germany has aroused against her,
and the end is not yeti
1f necessary, countless millions will
climb Calvary for the great sacrifice
tosconvince selfish autocracy that the
Christmas spirit in the hearts Of
men is not only mot real" not a
myth" but, on the other hand, that
itSis the greatest thing in the
world" and as well, the fiercest thing
in the world, when, as now, II is
compelled to fight for the freedom OF
cannon humanity, for the sanctity
Womanhood, and for the rights OF
hslpIess and unprotected childhood.
(Sy Rev. Edward Berntssn, Pontop.
pidan Lutheran Chureh.)
For unto US a child is born, unto
as q Son Is given; and the govern
ment shall be upon his shoulder, and
his name shall be called wonderful,
counsellor, the mighty God, the
Everlasting Father the Prince Of
Peace, lisa. 9:6.
This prophecy Of Isaiah about the
savior Of the world is fulfilled.
a child is given us; the Son Of God
and the Son Of man.
II have set my king upon my holy
hill OF Zion. I win give thee the
nations for thine inheritance, and the
uttermost parts Of the earth for thy
pessession."
The government OF Christ, which
Is being established with Judgment
and Justice. there shall be no end.
He shall be called wonderful: won
0erful in birth, as 1t is written.
FGreat Is the mystery of Goodness.
God is manifest in flesh; the angels
desire TO look unto It."
Wonderful ia His fate. He went
about doing good-a life in sacrifice,
wonderful In death. He died not for
himself, but for the world, wonder
ful IN His resurrection. Death could
not hold him; He arose on the third
day--W0ndeFful I'm His ascension. He
ascended into heaven.
His name shall be called Counsel
1or. It % by Him that God has
given us counsel, He shall answer
TIE worlds need OF counsel. On, but
that the world would take counsel
from Him.
he Is the mighty God. All power In
A$AN4AA 4A4AAA AA Ac&NGM &A10 On N11ENls
lie wins the victory in every field OF
bttIe.
Re as the everlasting Father, He
could truly say: He that hath seen
e hath seen the Father.
Re IS the Prince Of Peace.
He ts our peace. He brings peace
into every heart that will receive
Linn. he establishes peace among
e nations OF the world.
May God hasten the day when
tHefe shall be peace. perfect peace.
Rev. g. g. Ford, Plymouth Con-
nrenGtional church,
Christmas. 1776, found rs as a ma
<lea fighting Tor the freedom Of