The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-25
Christmas.


Before another issue of our paper this
great Christian festival will have come and
gone once more. Need we remind any of
Our readers that it is en3inently Christtun
festival, and should be, therefore. celebrated
with peculiar Christian feelings, and with all
the prophecies of Christian observance! Our
people everywhere take some notice of it,
Like the Saturnaia of old Rome it recurs at
a season when the labors of the year are over,
and its fruits are gathered in, and men find
leisure to give themselves up for a while to
cheerfulness and merry making even if they
find no room in their hearts for grateful re-
collections. There is no doubt, something
OF a religious sentiment that gives everything
peculiar cOlOring to the hiarities of this
season. Over those even who would reject
all purely religious thoughts as disturbing
the enjoyments that especially betit the occa-
sion, there is yet brooding a spirit that is
akin to solemnity, and that will not allow
any to forget in their most furious mirth the
origin in Christian truths of their festivities
So far at least has Christianity impressed it.
self upon even the amusements of our peo-
pie. Still 1t is true that by far the larger
number OF persons among US regard this
season simply as one to be observed with u
UNIVERSAL iolitv
That Christian men-the most spiritually
minded we mean-should thoroughly in
dulge the natural JOY which the anniversary
OF the Nativity must G i've rise to, and should
SO come to sympathize in good degree with
the popular feeling and even fall in to some
extent with the popular expressions of that
1eel1nS, IS In no way wonderful A true ap-
prehenslon OF the great event which our
Christmas was designed to commemorate will
ill the heart with warm affection towards
all men. and perforce shut out all churlishness
and Will make them ready to join in all the
innocent and accustomed exhibitions of the
gladness that prevails everywhere. There is
not much danger, perhaps that good men
Will go to an excess in this direction. But
may they not, while they give due rein to the
freedoms OF the season, and for that reason
the more etfectually help to give more re-
llglous character to its festive enjoyments
Is it not good occasion to shew that the
most earnestly religious temper does not in
any way unfit men for hearty share in all
proper modes of entertainment and amuse-
mentf And may not men be thus won back
to welcome of those facts of Christianity
from which the peculiar joys of this season
spring? Let those who love to recall those
iacts do so now more zealotlsly than ever /; |
let their minds be filed with the tender and |
inspiring thoughts which those facts sug-
gest let their hearts be impregnated with |
Inc hlSn anu pure sentiments and feeling |
that accompany Peace on earth, good will |
VIII 10 men and, while they shall certainly |
fehuer true service, and such as BELTS the !
q day' the deVout cheerfulness that animates
them will not be lost as an examine also and
may aid to teach that now most ncedfuj leo
son, that true piety and true endowment 90
naturally hand in hand Church I,teUioence,
Ma, said young Hopeful at the break