South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-26
GLORIFICATION OF
GOD Is URGED BY
REV. J.L. GARDINER
Pastor of st. Paul's Church
Warns Congregation
Against Selfishness.


day morning a Christmas message
on the subject. GLORY 10 God in the
IIghes,. The sermon was based on
Luke 2.S. GLORY 10 Cod in the High
est. and on earth peace toward men
of goodwill
Dr. Gardiner iu part said
This IS Cristmas morning To US,
one and ALL IL ought % be the glad
dest. the happiest dav OF the whole
year. II ought 90 be the most joy
Gus or all days. because this IS the
day when the Christian world cele-
hrates the birth OF the saviour-ot
Him whom we proudly call the
Prince OF Peace.
I'VE ought all this morning 20 Joe
in the Christmas spirit and I have
every reason to believe that we are.
As walked along the street on my
way 20 Sunday school I heard again
and again the glad words Merry
Christmas. =" And now "a 7 look into
your faces I want 20 take the Oppor-
tunltv OF wishing YOU and your FAM
lilies a very. very happy Christmas.
Christmas influences All.
con FRIDAY evening we listened 20
q presentation OF Charles Dickens
christmas Carol"-thc most beau
tiful OF au the many Christmas sto-
ries that have ever been written.
once more We were reminded az we
listened % that story OF the fact that
there is no man. no matter how hard
or close or misery who can escape
the benign influence of Christmas
Even old Scro0ge hard as nails. sour
as lemon and with words as sharp
az a serpent's tooth even cross. and
cranky old Scrooge could not with
stand the influence Of Christmas
bells. Christmas trees and Christmas
music. II was Christmas and the
Christmas spirit which at last grip
ped his miserly heart and made him
open Up with generous hand 10 Bob
Cractchitt and cry. A Merry Christ
mas 20 YOU one and an
"Our text carries MS back 20 the
first Christmas that ever dawred up
on this sinful earth. Il carries rs
hack 20 that glad dav when jesus
Christ. the son Of God and he sa-
viour OF the world was born IN Beth
1ehen OF Judea. II carries us back
10 that happy morning when the
angels sang GLORY TO Gcd IN the
Highest and ON earth peace toward
men OF good win
There are several interpretations
which may be given 20 the words
fin the highest II may he "A call
20 the highest inteiliEencies in the
heavens 10 give glory 90 God. II
may be q call for men I'm the highest
and best that is IN their life 10
rraise God for the birth OF the
worlds Saviour. But this morning
desire that YOU sec I'm these words n
call 90 give glory 70 God in the high
est relationships in human life.
Family Highest OF Al.
'First ln the Home. The family is
the highest Of all human relation
shi1s God has founded three divine
institutions. the Home the Church
and the Statc-but the first 20 be cs-
tabushed was the Home By and by
the state will pass away and the
church will have performed his glCr-
i9us mission among men but the
home will live ON for Jesus said. In
my Fathers House are many home -
Vow Christmas day is q great
home day II IS the greatest home
festival OF the Christian world. But
there IS great danger that we to-
dav I'm our homes forget the true
spirit Of Christmas There is a dan
ger. that with all OUR giving and
getting we forget. the greatest OF OH
giftz-the CIft OF Christ o. q s.nfu
world
When Jesus Christ was born we
read that there was no place foI
-r-H.. r... 3D..
gathered in Bethlehem were moi
openly hostile ~ tIim-hut on th'
other hand there was no welcome
far Him lie was crowded ont o'
every home and inn and made tC
dwell whore the tired animals lay
Alas is 80 not too true today thai
while there Isl no open hostility %
Ch-,~. .r.~e Isl no welcome Tor Hin
fr cu- homes The greatest DANCE
uf Christianity iu modern life Is no
open hoStiIty for thcr. are few
atheists orr irfde-s in the world. Th'
rroatrst danger is chat we ALLOW
IN, petty things OF human Nfe %
leave no space for the claims %
IrsIe christ 7 fear chat many fam
Vie- today I'm our CITY arc crowd
.uc rcvus Christ out OF their hon'
$500 Tre IS made still 90 dwell I'm
a.a0re~ There Is no room for Hin
en- tho lrn our text calls upon ~
.n Shortly che Christ FIN our hom'
ami family life.
second Highest
Second we should glor.fv God n
fne church FOR this is the secon'
highest relationship I'm human life
This morning 7 shall not CRITICS
tho modern church. shall oni
r Your attention to some Of tn
er0r+rrr-iurs OF those who compos
Is II not true that sometime
with au our educational social an'
reereotionlr activities I'm the rhurc'
chat there is n tendency that w
crowd Christ into manager. I
Those NOT a danger that we fail @
give christ His ~iehtful place a
Head 90 the Christian church
OF believe in all the activities O
tr. modern church that have 10
thrir object the physical social am
mental develonmeut 81 man. but w
ought not Co forget that mad has
spiritual nature and that the spirit
uaf nature cannot reach its highes
and It's best without coming in con
tact with Christ His name shout
Ie ulaced-and especially in th
.hurCh-above every other name.
caro- not how fine and dignihed IA
service may he II I'm our prayers am
nrmus and sermons we leave ou
Jesus. or fail 20 give Him the pre-
tuineuCe. we are not properly glori
flying God in the church.