Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-12-24
The Kar

IHt htys
Jesus walked and talked on earth
a poorly clothed and unshorn teacher
the friend and consort of the humble
and despised. He selected for his dis
cinIes and intimates twelve very COM
mon men He taught humility and de-
rided worship of wealth and power.
BY example and parable he endeavoreo
to show that God, his Father. was no
respecter of persons. When he dled
he invited thief on an adjacent cross
to share the Kingdom with him.
This is an old story but 1t never
loses interest. Men forsake it but they
90 back to it. No story in the history
of the world so abounds in majesty,
Dower and pathos as that told in the
scriptures. Naive, perhaps, from our
modern cynical standpoint, II con-
fronts us and humbles us as does the
presence of childhood purity ana
beauty.
And Jesus taught that love and un-
derstanding settle all problems ana
disputes, all differences OF race, color
and creed And that lesson is one the
world has never taken We take all
tbe PROMISES OF the Kingdom but none
of IT'S obligations. And because we Iall
in this we stumble along as far from
the beacon light that would gulde US
as did those who slew him.
It is a peculiar and worth notlng
Fact that rationalists and scientists
the learned cynics of the world, pay
tribute To the character of Jesus az
for thew have torn his claims to pieces.
The writer has read the opinions OF
dozens of the great agnostics on TINS
subject and not single one has ever
treated the character and aims OF
Tesus with aught but respect however
much thew might doubt his divinity.
These men care nothing for majority
oninion They fear no man. They say
what they think and are guided only
by the light of reason. Yet they ali
come hack to enc cOnclus1on-that
the character and philosophy OF Jesus
of Nazareth whom the Greeks calleu
"Christ." was sublime. They agree al
so that the world cannot be saved ex-
cept by following the principles eX-
pounded by Jesus. And they mean py
"saved" that men will dwell together
in peace and righteousness and attain
the Kingdom of God by having his
spirit IN their hearts as they live day
by day.
Past methods of various sects have
been to endeavor to conflne Jesus to
themselves They jealousy held onto
him. saying and indicating that Only
by following rules laid down by them
was it possible for the spirit to come
to men. And another great mass on
the outside steadfastly held away with
no great fear of damnation.
But Jesus is too big to be confined.
He cannot be held within creed he
walks ON the streets of the city and in
the crowded mart. He comes at night
to the prison cell He passes over the
battle fields under the pale stars after
the roar and carnage have passed. He
lifts the dying soldier and places the
cup to his bruised lips. He generates
the wilderness, bringing a sweet, SAD
happiness to the recluse who COM
munes alone with God. That know
ledge of the Justice, the mercy and
the nearness of the Infinite escape
no living man. It goes with him in
his sins. 1t rejoices at his shoulder
during his heroisms.
Sweeping aside all creeds in the
new brotherhood that is coming, the
whole religion Of Jesus is summed up
in a few words. Simple they are and