Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-01-03
Message of Xmas
In Splendid Sermon
At Palisade Church

| Rev. Hermann P. Guhse delivered
his most notable sermon at the Pail
SADIE Church last Sunday. His sub
ject was "The Progressive Message of
l'Christmas." In substance the speak
er's talk was on the position of re-
ligiOn before the world today as it has
been affected by the war. He reviewed
many of the situations presented
through the influence Of that momen-
tous period. Among other things he
said that Germany, with her really fine
kultur, had reached the heights in
education and in the arts, but that with
it all, because her ideals were not
pitched upon high planes and without
proper ideals, she was today the most
| degraded of any nation in all history.
She had sunk to the lowest depths be-
cause she was false to truth and the
case had been proved against her.
Taking the various major interests
of civilization today, he said with the
education of the world had gone spe-
cial privileges to the classes which
proved it to be misdirected energy. In
commerce and trade the one big fac
tor was material gain and money.
Life, with its precious qualities of joy,
! love, happiness and attainment, had
become subservient to gain, profit and
money. Material assets had suppressed
ed spiritual gain and values. Is it any
wonder that with these things before
us the final conflict came in these lat.
ter days and is still raging? 1t is but
| the old fundamental issue-life OF
money. Which is the greater? What
has been the unfolding scene on the
stage of government? Freedom, jus
tice, righteousness, have trailed in the
DUST while thrones of power have
crushed out the happiness and wruns
the life blood from poor, helpless mil
lions. And so the best standards hav,
been tested We have had war t,
subdue war, but has it done it? No
yet. Unless something is done to RICH
things the treaty will be meshwor
been ignored? Do they not deal wit
a tangle of a worlds strategic storI
center? Even the mention of God i
:. the treaty is ignored. In religion it ha
become ecclesiasticism against Chri
tianity. Where has nationalism bee
: raised above humanity?
But there is reverse side to a
this, he said. The fact that Jesus wa
born in a manger Indicated that II
g should grow upon the world waitin
v for redemption. The child had I'll
l. power of growth and the promise {
greater things. If my summary /,
: world conditions is unwholesome as
picture, there is surely reverse ar
better side, for throughout all the.
states of mankind the climb has bee
upward towards better things comm
1 TennysOn said this fine old world
ours is but child yet in the go-cai
Patience! Give it time to learn i
limbs. There is a hand that guides.
feel that humanity has broken can
and is moving out of the bondage
the past into the promised land of Il
future. The underlying cause is IL
irresistible progress of Christianit
ThatIis the message of Christmas. Il
comes again! Christmas is not an o
casi0n orsan event; it is spirit. Ne
currents of spiritual progress are to |
released.
During parts of this unusual deliver
the congregation was spellbound.
was one of the most remarkable e
forts ever heard in this section of tn
country.