The border vidette., 1931-12-26
PEACE ON EARTH AND GOOD
WILL

In the fevered life of a mighty
empire, old already and proud,
scornful of lesser peoples, AFRO
CANT in power and assured in
wealth, the first Christmas mes
sage was unheard, and it's i'm
port to the world could have
found few believers. Rome rul
ed with strong band. Her
civilization followed the stand
ard of war. Power was for the
strong and peace endured only
10 the shadow of fear and battle.
Yet in the quiet hills of Judea
word of hope and prophecy
was spoken, ending an old era
and giving birth to a new.
Peace on earth, and good
will to men," q
A simple message, now written
imperishably into the records OF
the races; strange message to
world whose ear has been
turned for ages to the song OF
war.
More wonderful than all its
enduring triumph over the jeal.
ousy of time. the hatred of its
enemies and the doubt of its
friends. Kingdoms and empirei
pass and the pride of men and
kingdoms is humbled, yet this
promise of peace on earth en-
dures and its hope is PERENNIAL y
proclaimed. The message lives
on in the heart of the world.
Long centuries have paid il
increasing tribute, and it gath
ers in wide observance and affec
tons of mankind. For the mes
sage speaks to that which en-
dures though nations rise and
fall; to the world, which through
the ages has sought peace and
followed q star of hope and a
promise of deliverance.
The things we honor most and
on which we most rely for hope
full progress are the fruits oi
long effort to translate this mes
sage into daily life. The wiser
counsel of nations chooses peace
whenever peace is in the path OF
justice and honor. The world
strives increasingly to OUTLAW
the Injustice of war. The law
declares the dominion of right
and preserves the privilege oil
peace to those who seek it.
Increasingly we serve the uses
of peace and determine that they
shall continue by their own right
rather than by the grace of arbi.
trary power. Wars must occur,
and strife and quarrel will scar
the record again and again; but
this determination to peace on
earth continues to endure.
The dominion of peace is not
be established by law nor insur
ed by its proclamation. It's
origin is good will-good will
among men, among nations.
among creeds aud sects. Yet
there is no good will save that
of a man to his brother, whoever
and wherever be may be.
Greater knowledge and increas
ing understanding have made OF
the brotherhood of man no mere
phase, but a fact of faith and
practice with plain people, hon
est people, right thinking people
throughout the world, This is
sign to which rulers and law
makers must lend an ear; this is
the new promise of peace.
Out in the stress Of daily life
we turn aside to Christmas day.
1t is a day still touched with a
radiance from afar, and in it's
light we see with new perspec
tive the things that matter most.
We learn anew to cherish happi
ness and safeguard faith. We
learn again that wars and quar-
rels are shamed by the message
OF good will. We turn again
with hope to the promise brought
by Christmas of the fnal victory
of peace.
The day has become festival
of children, kept in memory Of a
Child, and in the unmeasured
happiness aud simple faith OF
children our trust is renewed.
Through young eyes we look
back to our own confident chile
hood. Old and faithful pleasures
attend On the day-plaasures Of
friends and family. of greetings