The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-24
THE RABE or BETnLrnEM.

THE BABE or BETHLEHEM.
The fundamental aspects OF Christmas have
almost been lost sight Of tn the maze OF dogma
commercialism and convlylallty which has come
10 characterize tho ommemoration OF the birth
of the babe Of Bethlehem. The importance or
the event. we may be permitted tho observN-
ton. has boon discounted by theological dis
putants and controversialists. while the mystics
have successfully managed to cothe tho great
est incident IN the history OF man in habillmontN
which are not at all times pleasing.
The popular conception OF the mission OF
Jesus Christ Is that OF life insurance com
pany. the benefit Of which depends on a more
lip profession Of adherence to certain theological
observation set out in the first instance by de-
nomlnational founders; that IN order to secure
the benefits OF this insurance one must die
Those who are professional advocates OF hls
cause wont to draw harsh distinction be-
tween service acceptable to him and the enjoy
ments OF this world the desire for which have
been implanted In mans nature by the very
same causist who brought Christ into the world.
The consequence Is that tho so-callcd Christian
people of today are in great part merely await
ing the benefits Of the Christ philosophy and
look upon Il as something in the abstract, sep
arate and necessarily apart from the sheer
realities OF human existence. No one thinks OF
going to that fountain for the universal solvent
OF llfe's practical and ever-present dlstempers,
because his ministers In most part, insist.
precedent qualification for such devotion to
him. one must embrace controversial points OF
utter impossibiIIty to intelligent mind.
The world on this Christmas day in 1927, al
most two thousand years after the birth OF the
babe of Bethlehem. has tho temerlty to assert
that such conceptions Of the life ana mission OF
Jesus stultifyins to him. and delay, instead
Of fastening the hoped-tor day when his phil
losophy will heal mankind and tranqulllze
human relations.
It Christ himself who declared God Is
not the God OF the dead but OF the living" And
the first herald of his birth proclaimed his great
est mission In the worde, Peace on earth good
will toward men,
Can there then. be any question concerning
his great mission and concerning the tremen-
dous Importance of the day we celebrate7 Surely
not. The controversial points OF the evangelical
theory, the immaculate conception tho vlcarlous
atonement and the physical resurrection, may
each and all be rejected utterly and there stlI
remains the greatest curative philosophy OF all
time, demonstrabe by any who use tho rule and
capable OF stlllins alike the passions OF men and
tranquilIzng their approach TO the veil boz
hind which has looked and returned to
report.
1t is in its benefits to the living that the PHI
losophy OF the babe OF Bethlehem born 1929
years ago today, claims your consideration and
mine. Lay aside oil points OF theological con-
troversy concerning HIS origin and the mode
Of his departure, and thero remains this great.
outstanding fact:
The philosophy he taught and lived will n
applied by you and mo and the remainder Of
mankind solve every dlstemper IN the world
today. bring happiness and eonteutment and
justice, and afford that sweet benedicton which
will mantel the evening OF life with a trustful
willingness 20 leave all to him who has pur-
posely kept from us tho mysteries which lay
beyond.
For, after all, "what doth God require OF thee
but to do Justly and to love kindness and TO wal,
humbly with thy Cod"
And what more does the material practical
vork-a-day world Of today need but that7