Evening star., 1923-12-25

RI. Rev. James T.. Freeman. Bishap
Of the Episcopal Diocese of Washing
ton. today gave the following Christ =
mas message rpoa the e"e Of his
com .ng tour of the country in the
interest OF the completion Of the
nat opar cathedral. The local cam
paign ended yesterday with con slider
ablN mere ths n a million dollars con
tribut, by the peope of the National
Capital
Bishop Freeman. in his Christmas
message. said:
The return OF the blessed and joy
Gus season of Christmas brings once
again before our vision the story of
the birth of Christ. 1t is inwrought in
the dearest and finest things we
treasura i'm life. 1t has furnished the
Inspiration of art. of poetry and OF
the nobler and truer things of domes-
tic life. Through the long centuries
in. the face of apostacy and SIN and
the horrors of war itself. men nave
been saying one to announcer let US
row GO even unto Bethlehem. and see
THE thing which is come Ia pass.
"Wonderin" as they behold its TyS-
terry. too deeo for the mind of m"n TO
fathor'. trrin" as they m1~hl thron u
the rrediuTn q" an.'uaCe TO hfaSe
their I'll it'll ccncermin. il. their love OF
the circumstances at endin" the home
IN incidents connected with the adj
vent of Jesus Christ. has irapelied them
to offer their devotion and TO rea re
anew the meaning Of the ancient
prophecy: Il little child shall lead
Them Here at Bethlehem. under
standing gives place to the subhmer
; things of faith and reverent adora tion
takes the place of cod admiration.
The beauty of it commands the devo-
tion of the careless and Indifferent
alike.
Benefit to All.
The learned and ignortant. the rich
and the poor. the lisht-hearted and the
sad. find in this Christmas story that
which focuses their love. quickens
their thou~ht and satisfies their deep
est aspirations. The very mystery OF
il all enhances its significance and rem
ders ii the most compelling and tas-
cinatinc incident in human history.
Our eX' Ii nations of its, meaning
1 are unsa tisfyinr, our theories concern
ing ii divest il of it's most appealing
aspects. even the brush of Raphael fall
/ tiers as IL attempts TO give II ITS set
| ting and beauty or canvas. Sublime in
! its simplicity. rich in its significance,
unfa thomable in its mystery, II STANDS
as the symbol of holiness, the witness
| of love that is beyond all our pow
! ers to adequately comprehend,
o1lce az a II liieu " vi III tui isS
! to behold the Christ Child. Once
again We lay aside all bitterness and
wrath and anger and clamor and
evil speaking, with all malice, and, in
| the spirit of true fraternity and the
deepened consciousness of our COM
, mon need. pay homage to Him who
! for our sakes became poor. that we,
! through His poverty, mighe be made
! rich. How Insignificant and mean
| seems all our piled up material
wealth. our proud intellectual con-
ceits. our speculations and negationS
In the presence of this mighty myS.
terry which this anniversary OF the
birth OF Christ proclaims What need
what tragic need. there is today that
we should with England's great lau-
reate say:
"Our wills our own. we know not why
Our wills are ours, to make them
Thine"
Away from our strifes and dis
cords. away from our selfishness and
ignoble rivalries and competitions.
away from everything that is petty
and mean and unworthy of our better
natures, He is calling us today.
There is that within US which
cannot find satisfaction apart from