Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-12-18
THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

Pagan religion adopted by Romans
failed satisfy the real ongngs of the human heart The phi
loophe of them had begun the of tearing to
pieces but instance they had failed to substitute
thing better in its place.
The Roman Empire practically finished great
OF expansion for then embraced nearly all OF the known west
world Beginning several centuries before with the city of
brace all of the land bordering the Mederranean Sea including
northern Africa Spain Italy Asia Minor and
Egypt The great Persian Empire had fallen before the of
The Roman backed Roman legons with its
great of organization had forced all this territory
the Roman of and law and had built it's great
system of roads rdatng out in all directions from the common
center at Rome and reaching the hest confines of the En-
pre bringing all these various peoples into close touch with one
another The Roman fleet commanded the having
broken the power OF Carthage and made itself mistress the
With the acquisition of so much territory and such vast
wealth had the vices
OF luxury love OF ease and No longer were the
the empire which and hired
soldiers belonging the various fierce German tribes which bor
dred the Empire the North while the Romans them
and luxury and RIGHTEOUSNESS
emp Bethlehem of Judea born the Christ child destined
founder of the Christian religion which permeae all this
vast mass OF corruption and immortality and raise all society to
The Babe of Bethlehem at an opportune
time Never before in its whole history had the of
good Merchant ships constantly sailing between all the
Roman part Of the en-
pre- to the other were constantly aversed by crowds of people
Never before in the history OF the world had the
religion based the fundamental
pies of brohe love and forgiveness religion God
stead of the Pagan dee who represented all grades of
the highest ideals pure living and clean manhood
womanhood religion which stood absolutely opposed such
inhuman practices the gadatoria combats then
means of political and moral corruption
Inc babe grew to manhood surrounded by all the shocking
them He lived life in which his btteest enemies could find
flaw and set the world example of upright
hood such had known before Surrounded his
disciples whom he chose because of their wealth influence
but because of their integrity and dependabit he preached
religion religion of God religion of light and love
Betrayed by of his trusted apostles he suffered all the
agones martyrs death upon the Cross and
inspire his ow followers with OF the great responsibility
bt fierce hostility Of the Combined forces of Jewish priesthood
ntrenched behind centuries Of Formally paganism
which had long held the Roman mind How well
day over years later lays
occupations celebrate the birth of the Christ child
to the s1 world ''''' y - '''''
The Christian religion substituted love for fear purity for
for brutality and cruelty stands for all that best and nobest
our present day civilization and because of this fact it has
AS we approach the Xmas which has much
the birth of the Christ child with the spirit of
Christmas houd the tn s han
the exchanging gifts with those who give much
freely to his friends much of his time in relieving the
misery and suffering about him We only hope celebrate
the Christmas with something of his spirit of love and
hepfuness hearts and thus enrich lives and the
In addition to this fitting this Christmas
ing the principles for which Christianity just
fought great in defense of these principles
have that Having done certainly behoove
to live to the principles for which have fought
to allow the old Roman love of
and loose living undermine the foundations of society
they undermined the great
brought about downfall strong
and steadfast the lives
make nation 1t is the Spirit of Christianity
solve the problems before nation
that hold to those ideals for which the world has
lust sacrificed much
The recent elections in France indicate that
slowly returning sanity The extreme socialists
and in the chamber deputies results
and the sebacks the
afford practical to those Vho
pre-war standards of civilization.
Much of the Red propaganda goes through the mails Is
printed matter at half ounce That concession
postage rates is made with the stipulation matter
must be unseaed to permit of easy inspection postal