The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-13
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

Five hundred years or so before the birth of Christ Isaiah
walked the streets, scoffed at, hooted, gibed and ridicu1cd, but
he was not discompoScd nor discouraged. He had a message to
deliver and his message was: For unto us a Child is born;
unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his
shoulders; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor
The Mighty God. The Everlasting Father. Prince OF Peace"
Prophets preaching a new doctrine were not popular in those
days any more than in these, Iudea was in commotion, Wars
alarms were heard on every hand, She was small and weak
and her enemies were great and powerful The terrible ASsyrian
cohorts of Sennacharb were advancing and laying waste the
small towns around Zion, and preparing for the great siege Of
Jerusalem. The voice OF the prophet sounded the d~eath-knell OF
Greek rule and Roman dominion. They had to pass 50 that
q new day might be ushered in and the command heard ringing
Vibrantly: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you and pray for them that desptetuly
use you and prosecute you" Here was the voice Of the Christ
mas spirit given first utterance by the Prince of Peace. Its
echoes have been reverberating for twenty centuries, in spite OF
the fact that men, having ears, refuse to hear, If that spirit
could enter and animate the coming great peace conference it
would simplify matters and make easy the solution OF many
knotty problems. There would be less struggle for place and
prestige and position. The gentler philosophy would prevail:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom OF
heaven" For whatsoever exaIteth himself shall be abased and
he that humbeth himself shall be exalted" Put up the sword
again into his place; for all they that taketh the sword shall
perish by the sword" Small concern would be felt about the
control Of the seas whether by one nation or a combination OF
nations. The rule would be "chacun garde son voisin," more
clearly and fully expressed in the command:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy
strength, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself"
No struggle for advantage in grasping for the ~perishable
things Of this world, which pass quickly, Peace terms and
not cruelty. Nations would enter upon a generous rivalry in
the doing of good. II the spirit Of Christmas could be felt,
conflict and confusion would pass away, and peace and happiness
and the welfare of mankind would assume the ascendant in the
minds of men. The world would be redeemed and the human
family ransomed.
There is nothing to come before the great conference that
cannot be solved if the delegates approach the task in the proper
mental attitude, and there is no safer or surcr guide than the
Scriptures. If what is taught therein is followed no mistake can
be made, because their wisdom is unerring for the present time
and unto everlasting.
Prayer for the divine guidance of the delegates should be
universal and the delegates themselves should be prayerful.
7 he tate and future Wel-beDp of the world 10 llruelv jnvolve1
an the results Of their deliberations. All hail the glorious
christmas spirit