Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-12-19
The Star In The East

Nineteen hundred and thirty-fve years ago in
Bethlehem of Old Judea, Jesus of Nazareth was born.
His life and teachings profoundly affected all human
kind.
The story of the nativity has never-failing appeal
The Christmas spirit moves and chastens. 1t is a rever-
ent reaction to the teachings and the precepts of the
Master Christian who taught in the Sermon On the
Mount:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be
comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the
earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst af-
ter righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mer-
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see
God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be
called the children of God.
Blessed are they who are prosecuted for righteous
ness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are we, when men shall revile you and per-
secute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you
for my sake"
For more than 1900 years the teachings Of Christi
anity have inspired and comforted men. Upon them is
based every good and enduring thing in the world. Gen.
orally observed to the letter they would make on this
earth a paradise. For the good that we have, for the
progress we have made, tor Solace IN every Crisis, we
lean upon Chrstanty's infallible teachings.
In substance they have been voiced by other great
leaders of other great and inspiring faiths, but never
have they been interpreted with more answering faith
than by the Master Christian himself.
Today there is a star in the east. Over all of Chris
tendon there is again the Christmas spirit. All men of
all faiths reverence it. We catch and hold only part of
it in a distracted world where the struggle between good
and evil is never ceasing. Yet we have modern saints
unsung in almost every field of human endeavor. They
are great men and women, sanity men and women, be-
cause they have developed to a high degree the practice
of the Christian precepts.
Some may regret that from the human scheme of
things there has not yet completely passed the quality
of intolerance. Yet if we measure it today by the yard
stick of the past we must readily realize that men have
won splendid victories over their passions and their
~prejudices.
The story of the nativity has universal appeal. The
imagery Of the oriental story of the star in the east, the
wise men, the manger where the Christ child lay, holds
childhood enthralled- It is fascinatngly beautiful.
Because must humans have proved in their own ex-
perience the teachings of the master, most men rever-
ence it.
Christian ildealism is still the stongest force in the
world despite all the vagaries of humankind. The star
in the east is symbolic. 1t is a call to greater self-abne-
CATION, to greater service, to that battle with oneself
which is always grand.
At this Christmas season may all men again become
as little children. May the beauty of the story OF the
nativity chasten and inspire them to better and more
unselfsh living.
That is the wish today of The Herald as it bids all
its friends and readers a merry Christmas.