The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-24
Christmas Reveals Power .
Of Gospel, Says w. j. Bryan
Declares Arms Conference Has Made Pres.
emit Yuletide Happiest Since Christ
Was Born.
Bv WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.

cOnNeTteus anu DecOfue as little
children. We shall not enter into
the Kingdom OF heaven" Matt.
1872
Psrents Happy I'm Giving.
To those who are grown. the
Christmas season offers unlimit-
Use that more blessedaess is to
be derived from giving than from
receiving, In the family. at
feetion protects all from disap-
poiptment--needs are gratifiesl.
wishes expressed and unex-
pressed. find fulfillment on THE
day. and wants are anticipated.
Parents are happier than the
| children. and the children them
selves. passing from recipients
| TO donors. begin to learn the
: great lesson of life. namely, that
happiness. as well as greatness.
Is measured by service--that life
is estimated by it's overflow
rather than by its income.
4 But Christmas day is too large
to be limited to the family circle
or to be confined within the
ureIess affection of the Father.
manifested in the gift OF His
Son. and the boundless love that
prompted. the Saviour's sacrifice
touch the hearts Of all who have
taken Christ's name upon them.
and the anniversary OF His birth
furnishes an occasion for the ex-
preston of gratitude.
Charity Makes strong Appeal.
At this season every worthy
charity makes its strongest ap-
peal. and the Christmas dinner
Is enjoyed In proportion as those
who dine have remembered
others besides themselves-other
TO whom they are not obligated
except as the sense of kinship
binds each to all. There shouId
be no hungry people at any
time. least of all on Christmas
Day.
Christ did not confne His at
tentions to the deserving. His.
salvation was for all and He re-
vealed to man Father who
"maketh his sun to rise on The
evil and on the good and send
eth rain on the just and on the
unjust" Many of the misfor-
tunes that overtake men are un-
Observation-Disclosures that are in
no sense punishment for sin.
Even the punishment that comes
as a just retribution for sin
sometimes opens the way where
by the strong may help the weak.
If thine enemy hunger. feed him.
Great Fact in History.
But Christmas turns our
thoughts to larger subjects than
physical needs The wants OF
the body are imperative and
brook no delay, but the Master
who was touched by the hunger
of the multitude taught that the
bread of life was more important
than the loaves and fishes; the
same great Teacher who blest
a cup OF cold water pointed us
to the priceless value of the
water of life. No one so exalted
little acts OF kindness, and yet
no one so understood relative
values or so emphasized the
great things of life.
because ii turns our thoughts
toward the Great Fact in history
and to the Growing Figure of
all time, and our gratitude for
what He has brought into our
lives should make us sconsider
the large methods Ny which we
may be able to make partial
payments on the incalcula BILE
debt we owe.
May we not find one outlet for
our devotion in a defense Of His
deity and in resistance to those
who would curtail His claim to
authority? Surely at this sea-
son they should speak ia sub
dued tones who question His
supernatural character, dis
credit hte evidence f His SON.
ship. reject the miraculous in
His life and dispute the fact of
His resurrection.
Gould mere man have so inn
pressed woridd If so, why
have not other men enthrallei
succeeding generations for so
many centuries? Why has Christ
mas no rvials-why was Bethle-
hem's the only manger-cradle?
silences the skeptic.
The skeptic may ridicule the
Magii who followed the Star in
search of the Messiah. but they
will not quarrel with their own
children on the morning of this
glad day. They may call, Christ
a myth when He re9ukes them in
hA 1Av oil
they, will be silent in the nurs-
cry when the children acclaim
the birth of a Child unlike ali
other children in the manner of
His birth, in the sinlessness Ok
His life and in tho subifmisy OF
His death.
Christmas furnishes the
thoughtful an occasion TO review
the history OF mankind and to
note how the teachings of Him
whose birth we celebrate have
softened the harshness of an
cient laws, introduced mighty re-
forms and moulded the manners
of mankind. For a thousand
years no really great improve
ment has been wrought in any
4
In harmony with HIS philosophy.
Wherever His Gosple has been
carried and His words have been
needed man has been ennobled,
his purposes purified and HIS
possibilities enlarged. Whether
the pupil be an individual, q ma
ton. or all the world. His coun-
sci has been equally helpful and
the beneficence of His word
equally demonstrated.
To the individual He tlhas
brought not only salvation. but
security; not only conscious-.
nsss of sins forgiven. but a cs1e
Of morals to be embodied In the
life.
Exalted by Rishteou.aes..