Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-12-26

OF all the festivals which crowd the
christian kalcndar there is none tha,
exercises an influence so strong and uni
versal ns that Of Christmas, and those
varied supersli!ions and quaint customs,
and joyous obscrvances, which once
aboundcd throughout the rural districts
of England, arc at no period Of the
year so thckly congregaied ,or so strong
y marked, as at this season Of unre-
strained festivities and extended celc-
bration. The reasons for this are va
rious and very obvious. IN the case of
"A single celebration, which has 20 sup
port itself by its own solitary influence,
long, perchancc, after the feeling in
which It originated las ceased to oper-
ate,-whose significance is, perhaps,
dimly s more dImly perceived, Through
the obscurIty Of n distance year after
year receding further into shadow by
its own anaded and unrclecting light,
the chances are many that the an
nualy increasing neglect into which its
observance is likely to fall shall finally
consign il To an entire obliteration. But
a cluster Of festivals, standing in a
proXimate order Of succcssion, at once
throwing light upon each other, and it,
Iustrated by varied and numerous host
of customs, traditions and ceremonies,
of which Jas in a similar cluster Of stars,
the occ casional observation fany one or
more would not prevent their memory
being suggested, and their place dis
inc,ly indicated, by the othors--prc-
sent greatly multiplied probabilities
against their existence being ever
entirely forgotten, or their observation
wholly discontinued. Tho arrange
mcnt by which series Of celebrations,
beautiful in themselves, and connect
ed with the paramount event in which
arc laid thefoundations of our religion,
-nre made to fall at n period other
wise Of very solemn import, from its be-
ing assumed as the close Of the larger
OF those revolutions Of time into which
man measures out the span Of his trausi-
tory eXistence-and the chance which
has brought down to the same point,
and thrown together, the traces Of GUS
IONS and supcrs,iiions, both of n sacred
and secular characier,and uniting with
The crowd Of catholic observances, off
shoots from the ancient Saturnalia, re-
mains Of old Drnidical rites, and glimp-
ses into the mythology Of the northern
ns,-have written a series Of hero
glyphics upon that place ofthe kaendar, |
which, if they cannot be decypherod in
every part, are still, from their number
and inxtaposiiion, never likely to be
overlooked.
But, though these causes arc offered
"a accounting for the preservation of
many customs which, without them,
would long since have passed into oblv-
ion, which exist by virtue of the posi-
ton they occupy on the kalendar, yet
the more conspicuous cclcbra' ions OF this
season need no such aids and no such
arguments. Nothing can be added to
their intrinsic interest and they are
too closely connected with the solemn
warnings of mans temporal destiny and
linked with the story of his eternal
hopes ever to lose any portion of that
influence, n share Of which (wihout
thereby losing as light is communicated
without diminulion) they throw over all
the other celebrations that take shelter
under their wing.
IN every way, and by many tribu-
tary stream, are the holy and bcneGcenl
sentiments which belong to the period
increased and refreshed. Beautiful
feelings, too apt to fade within the heart
of man, anil the chilling influences Of
worldly pursuit, steal out beneath the
sweet religious warmth Of the season
and the pure and holy amongst the
hopes of earth assemble, to place them
selves under the protection of tha. ctcr-
nal hope whose promise is now, as it,
were yearly renewed. Amid the echoes
of that song winch proclaimed peace on
earth, and good will towards men,
making no exclusions, and dividing
them into no classcs--iscs up n dormant
sense of universal brotherhood in the
heart and something like n dstribu-
ton Of the good things Of the earth is
suggested, in favor Of those destitute
here, who are proclaimed rs joint par
ticipators in the treasure thus annoUnc-
ed from heaven. AZ no other period Of
tho year, are tho feelings Of on univer-
sal bcnevoloncc and the sense OF a com
mon Adam so widely awakened. AT no
season is the predominant spirit of self.
ishness so cllcctually rebuked never
arc the circles of love so largely widen
ed.
The very presence OF heightened
fcstivi,y-ior lcstivi'y can never be
solitary - would (apnrt from its sacred
causcs) promote these wholesome ef. \
iccts. The extended space ofiime over
which the festival is spread, the pro-
irncicd holiday which il creates, points
il out for The gathering together OF dis
tnnt friends whom the passing nature
of an occasional aud single celebration
would fail TO collect, from the scattered