Evening star., 1936-12-20

We can be thankful at this Christmastide
that the engulfing paganism which destroys
democracy and science has not swept our own
land. Only where peace and good will reign
can science find its destiny.
Christmas knows no boundaries, has no
limits, recognizes no restrictions. It is the
possession of all who desire it or seek it. 1t
overcomes sectionalism and provincialism and
gives magnificent universally to all races
and creeds.
Witness the Christmas message of the
British Empire last year. By radio the magic
message of unity was conveyed to the world
by Briton, Canadian, African, Indian and
Australian. coming to an impressive climax
in the fireside talk which King George gave
to his half billion subjects.
Christmas breaks through all barriers and
declares men of all nations to be of one
blood. and by its spirit it bespeaks to them
Ito dwell together with one accord" Christ
mas has given beauty to the world and
sanctity to life
The Christmas story has helped to release
life from ugliness and despair and to ennoble
it with dignity and beauty. Life took on a
meaning and became destiny. The childhood
of all the world owes its disenchainment to
the Babe of Bethlehem.
But to me. the greatest gift of Christmas
is its gift of freedom and the spirit of science
to the world. Did say that Christmas has.
given the spirit of science to the world?
mean just that. From the manger of Bethle-
hem emerged the One who at twelve engaged
the learned doctors of the temple in discus
sion. We have the record that His parents
found Him in the temple, sitting in the
midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and
asking them questions"
Where is there better definition of the
scientific method?
From Him came the word. "You shall know
the truth, and the truth shall make you Free"
That is a sublime utterance of the spirit and
purpose of science. We know how science has
pushed back the hunger lines from the
unspeakable plaques from the face of the
earth; how it has released men from the
shackles of superstition and ignorance and
how some day it will free him from the
slavery of war and injustice and hate And
history unerringly traces the impulse of all
this to the humble Nazarene who foretold
that in seeking and finding and applying
truth, man would discover the way to the
kingdom of happiness
He gave to the world the message that the
future has in store for the race something
superior to anything it has known in the
past.
Neither India nor China ever offered that
concept. They were always looking back on
the Golden Age, but Christianity looks for
ward to it. In such an atmosphere scientists
labor effectively. The early group that started
the modern scientific era, including Roger
Bacon, Copernicus, Isaac Newton and Sir
Robert Boyle. were men of deep faith in the
future.
The scientific spirit had been born before.
notably in Arabia and Greece. but it died
soon after 1t did not have the spiritual con-
tent to keep it alive. The religious background
is essential for the continued development of
science. This was given to Christendom as
Jesus inspired His followers to know, to be
and to do the best.
Through His life Christ taught complete
freedom of the will. He denounced bigotry,
hatred. injustice. oppression, all of which
are unoompromising enemies of science. He
y,rounOfod froodOy,, ,f <ho,,oh< 1;l,o~+,, ,e a..