Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-12-29
CRRIsTM MAS.

= - CaRIsTMAs.
Tomorrow win be Christmas Day, or at least the
day observed by general consent Of Christendom in
commemoration Of the great Founder of its faith
We confess ourselves too slightly vesed 10 ecclesasti
eal history to understand precisely +chy OF all other
days in the year, the ash of December should have
been fixed upon and set apsr for this great
Most PROBABLY uniform tradition derived from the prim
tive Church. handed down this day with sufficient
thority to command the assent Of the devoted apostles
and disciples and their successors. At the time of the
death OF the Savior there many relatives of His
according to the fesh) still living who could aud no
doubt did impart Information upon this subject Al
his apostles survived Him and must have heard o.
and have remembered and transmitted to others the day
and month OF His birth, although 1t ID somewhat
markabls that Of the four Evangests, only one, St
Luke gives any de6aite information upon the sub
ject. It i'm true that st. Matthew mentions crcu
stances connected with the birth OF the Savour-the
persecution instituted by Herod etc. but nothing that
would at all 60 to point out the day
month or even year, unless, remotely. by the death
OF Herod while 10 SITS. Mark and John nothing b
this kind 10 me ntioned. The preaching OF John the
Baptist-the Fore runner, introduces the Lord, who
comes to be baptised Of him.
st. Luke ia much more crcumstantial, bat makes no
definite aIuson to the tame of the year. Possibly the
ssoson might be indicated in the 8h verse Of the I'd
chapter -" And there were in the country shsp
herds abiding 10 the field, keeping watch over their
,cks by night" which, Bethlehem is in about the
latitude OF Wilmington, but considerably more eleva-
ted would rather controvert the hypothesis Of
The season being mid-winter.
However the speculation liz rather out of PLACID
We know that the angels proclaimed to the shepherds
On the hil-sides of Bethlehem, Glory to God 10 the
highest, and on earth peace Jod will toward men,
And it is With the spirit Of this anuuociaoa that The
kind and genial ceremonies aud ooservances OF the SEA
son Oh luld be 10 accord. Such spirit should Of
ooudo,d 20 no day, nor time, season, but should
pervAde our whole life and conversation. Nearly
two Thousand years ago "a multitude OF the heaV-
eny host" proclaimed On earth peace, good will
toward men. Now, We write our land stream.
With blood and the smoke of burning borneseads rises
agsnst the sky acceptable incense, grateful as
eription OF glory to God 10 the highest, by Peep
who claim to be followers Of the neek and lowy ssus,
and who illustrate their ath by Ginning with fire and
sword to RUN and murder people to whom they Cfr
the alternatives of death or dishonor.
Many are called but few chosen--much is said
about Christianity, but little of it is practiced 1t al
most di.courages one these things shakes his
faith in, humanity to think OF thsm.
But th re is desert without oasis-no life with
out some green spot. Lst Us not pass scornfuy the
spring 10 the deasr-the green spot in fe-becauss all
In not spring verdure. Let upon the bless.
ings OF e,-let refresh spr oy cultivatng it's
gentle charities. Let those who may still be able to
gather around the family altar, gather gratefully around
1t to send ervent prayer for their country and for
their abse loved ones and let them not forget to cheer
these loved ones by some testimonial of their kindly
membranoe.
Let u.s. in conclusion, but still in advances, avail
selves Of this opportunity to present to all the comp
ments OF the season, and many returns Of the same
though not under the same circumstances.