The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-12-22

Christmas.
Next Tuesday Is Christmas. Already iis near
approach is apparent by the preparations being
made, not only by our young folks, but also by
children OF larger growth" for the proper
commemoraiion ofihis most interesting occasion.
Christmas has long been day Of joy--a time OF
glad, happy excitement, and Il should be So
There Is nothing solemn in this anniversary. II
commentaries the day when Saviour was given
10 mankind-when n blessed Star Of Hope dawn
ed upon a sin-curscd world-whcn humanity
could rejoice In n means OF dclivcraucc, through
faith, from the consequences Of our first parents
disobediencc OF the commands Of Con. II com.
memorates the day when the shepherds upon the
hills of Galilec saw the glorious light in the
heavens proclaiming Peace on Earth aud Good
will TO all Men" Should II not, then. he sea-
son OF rejoicing and eladncss Young people
will gree, It's coming with glAdness, because 1t
brings good things " aud n restraint from the
proprieiies TO which they are usually subjected,
and the old aud the middle-agcd will join in the
festival In commemoraion Of happier days gone
by.
To US Christmas has always been welcome
season. We hail its coming now with as much
pleasure and satisfaction as in the days Of our
childhood for, although the friends who at thai
time surrounded US are scattered and gone aud
many changes have passed over US since then
yet We are not insensbe TO its attractions and
eau be happy ourselves, and rejoice to see others
happy, by It's festivities. Welcome. thrice well
come, merry, happy Christmas the season Of
good cheer and gayc,y and the occasion Of the
renewal Of old ties and friendship.
The celebration Of Christmas is Of very ancien,
origin. II was inauguraied by the early Chris
tians Immediately after the commencement, OF the
Christian era. II was then held exclusively ~ a
religious festival Ia COMMUNICATION Of the naiiy-
iiy OF the Saviour. II derives It's name from the
aPprlaiive CHRIST having been added to the
name OF JEsrs to express that he was the Nss'iah
or The AnHoiHicd. Ia the Eastern primitive
church, Christmas and Epiphnany were deemed
but one and the same feast, and consequently all
the intermediate time between the twcniy-fOurih
Of Dsccmber and the seventh OF January was
duiy observed. A solemn feast and divine SER
vice was ordered TO be performed on the twenty
fhh Of December by Rope Telephones, about the
part of,he fourth century, under the reign Of the
Emperor Diocleiion. Of Rome, that bloody. per.
scouting official offered terrible opposition 10 the
enjoyment Of that privilege, aud, on one occasion
while keeping his court At Nicomedia, he was
informed that the Christians had assembled in
large numbers on that day TO celebrate the naIv.
ity OF Christ, and became so much ncenscd tina,
he ordered the doors Of the church To be closed
aud the building fred, which mandate was duly
obeyed. and six hundred men, women and chill
dren Perish,d in the burning building
We have no brutes Of that character 10 deal
with in modern times, aud our observanccs Of
Christmas, whether they he religious or other
wise, are subject to interruption by official de-
crecs. We live In free country, whose insiitu-
ton, though terribly shaken Of late years, still
exist in their purity and integrity There is no
law here to interfere with the freedom Of con.
science, or TO offer any restraint to the aspira.
tons Of the immortal soul. We cannot only
freely indulge in religious exercises ON that dny
but also In innocent festivities and amuscmcnis.
which are always praisewOrihy.
But we should all be careful lest, In our gem
eral JOY on this happy occasion, We should go
beyond the bounds Of proprieiy. Christmas
should be time Of gladncss aud rejoicing, IL is
true, but not Of excuses. We iaay makc the
day pass away 10 an agreeable and interesting
manner without that. Let US remember that Il
Is a religious festival, though happy one, and
as our children are deep in the enjoymenis Of the
day, they should be taught It's meaning aud lis
origin. They should he told the story Of the
Babe OF Bcihlehem-of Him who left the glories
Of Heaven and came TO our lower world in the
form Of little child, enduring poverty aud
hardship, mockery and ignominy, and finally a
death upon the Gross OF Calvary, that mankind
through his poverty might be rich, and by his
death and suffering inherit eternal life.
Truly, we wish all our readers n Happy
Christmas" May the day he to them one Of joy
and unalIoyed happiness, Of pleasure and good
cheer. Aud the children too-we hope they
may cnjoy themselves immensely-that good
Saint Nicholas may give them " Gospel measure a"
OF good things In his annual visit, aud that they
may not have more than usual proportion Of
stomach aches when night closes on our coming
festival. Again, that all may hare n Happy
Christmas " Is the sincere wish Of our Uaion' -