The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-12-26 00:00:00

notions of propriety to disturb the attention of our

social amenities, rather than the stern realities of

life—with any comments on the various questions

which engender political strife, with any appeals

s on Constitutional privileges, or with any
remarks on the conduct of political or reli-

might, indeed, content
ourselves with enlarging on the• reflections which

pious opponents

a return of this auspicious season most appro-

priately suggests, and refresh the memory of our
readers by allusions to the particular duties which

ertorm—thereby seizing
the opportunity to counsel a remembrance of the
object contemplated in the glad tidings of " Peace
on earth ; goodwill towards men." Unfortunately,
Day of Sale, when I however

we are surrounded by stern facts which
brook no delay, and by circumstances which force
themselves upon public attention, however well
disposed we may be to join in the holiday which is
the especial privilege of the season. The war is
still going on in the Crimea, although the com-
batants may have temporarily ceased from active
hostilities : the necessity for reinforcements of men
and material still exists, and the demand must be

HALL

ended to, however strong the inclination to

indulge in repose ; and up to within a day or two
ago both Housesof Parliament have been engaged in
the active business of legislation and the strife of
party warfare, while their constituents were pre-

paring for the customary rejoicings.
But, amidst all these claims to notice, we must
not omit what we may call the pleasing duty of
reminding our readers, that the only true enjoy-
ment of the delights of the season will be obtained
from the extent of happiness which each has been
the means of diffusing around him. We can hardly

expect to return, in this utilitarian age, to that,

with which our ancestors marked the return of
Christmas ; but much of the same spirit may be
evinced, in a general practice of that benevolence
which binds together high and low, rich and poor,
in that common bond which recognises mankind as
one brotherhood. Those, upon whom the bounty
of Providence has conferred the means, will show
their appreciation of the blessings which they
enjoy, and their gratitude to the DIVINE GIVER
of all good things, by contributing to the necessi-
ties of their poorer brethren, and enabling all
within the sphere of their influence to partake of
their abundance. Nor should the spirit of bene-
volence be confined to the wealthier classes of
society, for all have it within their power to do
good, if it be necessarily limited to friendly acts,
kind words, or charitable thoughts of each other :
remembering that OUR SAN-palm has blessed the
gift of a cup of cold water in His name, and given
us the significant warning, "Inasmuch as ye have
done it not to the least of these my little ones, ye.
have done it not to me."

The manner in which the appeal for contribu-
tions to the Patriotic Fund has been responded to
throughout the kingdom, offers a gratifying proof
of the kind and sympathetic spirit which animates
the majority of our countrymen ; but there are
ditties owing also to the poor at home, who have
no other claims than their poverty ; and there is no
season so appropriate as the present to put into
practice all our good resolutions, to let the com-
mencement of another year witness our determina-
tion to become more and more what we ought to
be, less devoted to the mammon-worship of this
world, less selfish, and more regardful of the
interests of others. It is true that the especial
Day will have passed when this may be read,
but it is never too late to do good ; and sufficient

time is left us, before we enter upon another year,
to show that, in keeping our Christmas holiday, we
have not been neglectful of the blessed truths, the
glorious event, which it is designed to commemo-
rate. In addition to the many acts of individual
benevolence, there are numerous societies estab-
lished for pious objects, which require increased
support, in order to maintain their efficiency. All
these are specially commended to our attention,
and if we mark the Christmas of 1854 by such
proofs of our being Christians, it will prove to us
as great a blessing as the event we celebrate was
designed to be to all mankind.