Putnam patriot., 1919-12-12

our eyes may ever penolu the re deeming beauties of nature; we. wh, may, if we will, have our minds a clear, our lives as simple. our wantl as few, our labors as concrete anS useful, our relationships to our fcl low men as free from strife :---we hay, lost our clarity of vision. we are los ing our sense of beauty. truth has lit tie significance. faith Is but a word doubt and questioning is our creed conquest is our business of life. greed is our love.
 If you, fellow citizen, were to gt out into the blackness of night; if you were to stand high upon hillside and look out over the silent world, re deemed from the sordid struggle oi humanity, and touched by beautiful oblivion; if you were to gaze up into the glowing purple above you. can you think that the rythmic universes swinging there would reveal to you now the glory of the Lord"? Would they speak te you of creation beyond your ken? Would you be sensible of power beyond your puny grasp? Would wonder sweep you out of your. self? Would mystery iiil your heart? ?
 No! No miracle would happen to you. You would behold no revela- ton. You would shiver, and seek the lights and warmth and diversion of crowds. of market places, of homes, You would strive to forget the mo- ment's awakening that trembled be fore you. You would shut your eyes to it, and your heart to it, and your soul to it.
 The angelic choirs could never reach your deaf ears. But if it were conceivable that they should, what would you make of those strange words, Peace on earth, good will to mem?
 Archaic sentimentality." you would exclaim with scorn. Glory to God in the Highest by all means that is traditional and indefinite and it's significance is vague and abstract; but peace on earth that Is obviously a dream, and as for good will towards men, how can that be. since l want and must have what my fellow man claims as his"
 Thus has the "glory of God" be- come matter of campaigning, and ''peace on earth" question of poli- tics.
 ''I will buy gifts for my children, for love them, and they expect It. always have bought gifts for my chil- dren. q must see to it that the mer' chant does not cheat me; that 1 gel the full worth of my money. He, too has children whom he doubtless be lieves that he loves, and whom hs would fsign, of course, set above mine: therefore l must protect my self, Nor better yet, cheat him if car flor my dear children's sake). W. will make feast (alas that the win' of scriptural times is denied mel VI will foregather and be merry. More over, will go to church. Threat hang over me if l do not In an. case, it is we'll to remember one's spir itual needs and duties. Indeed, th' 1 music is pleasant. the minister's word stir me. and l feel the better for pray CT, whether l join in it or not. But after all, these holidays are . littl oppressive. must say l feel bette attending to the routine of my busi ness. It is somewhat nerve rackinl | to live on this high plane. Life wa not meant for joy and happiness l could not have been: happiness is g disconcerting: 1t is unthinkable. Tn world is very evil, and we must figh our battles as we can. If do not pre- vail over my neighbor. he will prevai over me"
 Thus are we changed from the sheT herds abiding in the fields of Judes keeping watch over their iocks b night.
 So we look back over nineteen hui dred years of conflict. of war and pc
 tilence and famine, of jealousies ar
 intrigue, of bloody conquest, of ha
 red, of greed, of rapine and murd
 and every other form of black al
 hateful bitterness.
 1 The glorious strides of learni
 during these ages, the achievements
 science. the progress of civilizatio , have they blessed us, or have tn
 cursed us? Have we been exalte
 Have we been debased7
 Is there, then. no lightl There is tho same light that ~ | A. A. ~k n x,<0kn VI 2