Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-12-21
Christmas.

The hallowed season approaches. "whcrru our
Saviour's birth is celebrated" Other sunivcrsa.
| ries among men have only to do with mortal aud
pcrishable greatness. But this is the anniversary
of the birth of tho Son Of the Highest Other
celebrations have for their subject the triumph Of
armies, or, it may be, the achieved independence
of nations. But this is the celebration Of ap event
which naugurated the Salvation Of World.
Eighteen hundred and ffty-ninc years have run
their appointed rounds since that glorious morn
arose when the Angel of the Lord aroused certain
shepherds Of the plain with the thrilling intelli-
gcuce, bring you good tidings Of great joy,
which .hall DO to al people; For unto yot is
born this day in the city Of David Saviour, which
is Christ the Lord" And as often Us that anni-
ysrsary has recurrcd, that Angel with legions of
atteudarG spirits may we'll bc supposed to have
descended from the battloments OF High Heaven.
to sweep through the murky atmosphere Of Earth
ag,iu, aud agGip tp reucw those precious breath
ipgs OF Hoaveuly Inspiration: G!Ury TO God in
tho highest, aud on earth peace, good will townrd
lneu." May it not be, tbut Z" d multitude Of the
Heavenly host" is now again preparing. in the
very ecstasy Of rapture, to revisit Bethlehem in
memory OF tba: great mission Of Love,-;heucc to
impa1t to tho four quarters Of the Globe tho be-
nign influences Of the GuS.like boon Of which
they wero the huuured bearers eighteen hundred
aud 6fty-uiac ycars ago.
Call it superstition, if you like; there has ever
peryaded tho atmosphere Of earth, ut this blessed
season, 8 peculiar something of JOY and gratitude
and love and charity which have not been ub.er.
vaLlc ut any other periods Of the rolling years.
True, this blending Of righteous impulses has Of
ton been found running i'll polluted chsunels and
exhibiting itself in unhallowel orgies But good
men have ever been lifted nearer to Heaven by tho
suggestions Of the hour; and even the demonstra-
tons of the thoushtlpss and Of fools seem to have
proceeded upon some undctinel conviction, now
dimly realized through the dusk Of their becoutled
imagnations, that the earth is full of the glory
and Of the goodness Of God. The bard of Avon
than whom no msu ever more accurately recorded
the opinions and traditions of his day. thus makes
an inferior character in one Of his plays aliude to
the ever widespread sentiment of involuntary faith
respecting this great festival Of pence:
And then they say spiri, darcs stir aJrond
Ths nights are ,chotcsome; then plrnrts strike,
No fairy takes, 'ritch hath porrr to charm,
So haltord and so gracious is The time
AS then, so before, and 90 to the day in which
We live, has the mystery Of divine agency been
recognized throughout Christendum as peculiarly
prevailing in the earth and air and waters Of our
planet OF this mighty anniversary.
Let us then, with all the hosts of Hearen, and
with all the elements Of Time, and with nil the
sparkling orbs that fill crestioD, bow down our
hearts in gratitude and lore while viewing anew
the birth day of the Prince Of Peace, However
We may be found celebrating its return, let not tho
memory of Eternal Loyo he altogether absent from
our rejoicings! Let Posce and Charity temper
our festivals Let joy be softened by humility
And let Hope take hold of the promises that clus
ter around the Season So may We derive tenn.
poral pleasure and eternal gain from this Great
High Feast of the Christian Church.