Evening star., 1933-12-25
The Meaning Of Christmas.

The universally Of the Christmas
spirit must be to many thoughtful per-
sons It's most obvious characteristic
No one presurnes to stand aside from
thu influence of the annual commem-
oration of the coming Of the Saviour
of Mankind into the world. The dullest.
least responsive imagination is touched
by the fever of the ceremonies, the
rites and customs of the day. There
is a contagion in the very atmosphere
and high and low. rich and poor alien
and native, old and young, respond TO
the attraction of II with q passion
marvellous to behold. Christmas Is q
complusive idea. 1t grapples the mind
of the individual, dominates and gov
ems 1t, and does not let II 60 until
it has worked its magic will.
But when the student of human
psychology attempts to analySe the
magnetic power Of the occasion, what
does he find? No one impulse is re-
sponsible; no single motive Is dis
closed. On the contrary, it is an ANAL
gam of instructive reactions that is dis
soyered. Like a magnificent orchestral
rendition, it is found to be composite
Of many harmonies, Of many llelooleS,
Of many themes, each distinct In itself
but enriched and enhanced by contact
with similar strains.
For example, the natural will to peace
Is detected. The human soul, II Is
abundantly clear, desires quiet ana
placidity, rest and serenity. Its longing
is expressed in q multitude OF forms,
but none of the number is dearer than
the wish to be in tune with God.
Christmas affords the opportunity Tor
such communion. 1t is an open door
to the infinite rhythm Of life. and the
children of the Almighty Father pass
the portal with confidence and gladness,
certain of the welcome which was prom
ised by His martyred Son.
And again, the will to fellowship Is
evident. Normal persons entertain
with confirmed enthusiasm the humane
ideal of brotherhood among the peoples.
the nations, the clans and the classes
of earth. The ancient dream OF Q
world without war, world without
partisan strife, has q mirror in the
popular mind. 1t is not merely the
poets who vision the parliament OF
man, the federation of the race. Christ
mas, then. has the persuasive appeal OF
the unparalleled Apostle who taught
that "ye love one another" and its i'm
plications are as practical as they are
all-inclusive.
The will to mercy, also, is manifest.
1t hourishes in every average breast
and prompts innumerable acts OF char
ity throughout the year. But its most
engaging demonstration is that dis
played in celebration of the gentle
Master who gave all that He had that
mankind might be saved from selfish
ness and sin.
However, the problem dehes mathe-
matical naturalization. Perhaps an
approximation Of an answer is all that
may be achieved What matters is the
miracle OF 1t. It shares with the first
flush Of dawn, the splendor of sunset
and the pageant of the journeying
stars a mystery utterly marvellous. So
the quest leads into the unknown and
the unknowable, and the searcher must
be content with the appreciation of
Christmas as a time when humanity
shows what it really would like to be,
to think and to do.
When the Kingdom comes, when the
new Eden is established in the new
Earth, the spirit of Christmas will be
its law. Millions. it may be supposed,
labor and pray toward that glorious