The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-21

speaking, season IN which statesmen auu
others who fought and exercised their bodies
during the rest of the year, dehberated as to
what they should do next; season in which
kings who we're going to war sat down and
counted the cost, and IN which any light work
OF state, whether for good or for evil, was taken
in hand.
Winter was formerly time when war ceased;
opposed armies went into winter quarters; and
the commanders on either side went home to
enjoy themselves, and to get ready fresh means
OF attack against the next spring' CHRISTMAS
was also season when people in high places
were likely, If at any time, to be Oh thelr guardi
and we find accordingly, that not few of tIe
state villanles which have been recorded-
assassinations of princes, OF big men, plots OF
one sort and another-have had their denOue-
ment at or about Christmas.
As an example in support of the statement
that any light, unwarlike work was done at this
time, it may be mentioned thati was fortnight
before Christmas, in the year 1864, that Simon
de MontiOrt sent out writs IN the Kings name,
cOnvohiDg the first English Parliament He
had done his active, out ot.dOOr work for the
year; and, as the King and Prince OF Wales
were SAFELY in his power, and tue weather did
not admit OF his chasing any OF his numerous
rivals in the field ne staged in London and
thought over his next move; Happily the, idea
presented itself to his mind, that, II he wished
to secure the nation in the enjoyment OF those
benefits which his bpowcr had WOO Tor IT, the
best way to DO so wonld be to call the nation
into council, aud to strengthen his own power
by drawing afresh upon the source OF 1.-THE
Will OF the people. Aud thus the Cbustmas OF
the year 1864 is justly great in the fact that then
frst the people OF England were called uDou TO
state how they would be governed, and 20 come
by their representatives,, to London, there to
decide what should and what should not be
law. Richard II,
THE skipping king who Rmbled up and down,
With shallow Jes ers and Ta.h bagin wits
Soon kindId ana soon burhd,'
was very eXtrayagant in his mode OF keeping
Christmas, and is said not only 10 have been
prodgal in respect of his own dress aud equip
ment but TO have borne the daily expense OF
ten thousand men feeding at his cost during the
A plot which was discovered only by acci-
dent, proved nearly fatal to Richards sup
planter, on his first Christmas after coming TO
the throne. The Eails OF huntington, Kent,
Surrey, and Rutland, who mad been iayoTtes of
the late king, and who were, by consequence, III
disfavor of Henry, conspired TO seize the KING
at Windsor Castle, where he was to spend
Christmas ana 10 muruer MN uhuer prelense
of jousting. Everything was arranged, the
time drew near, and the king knew nothing OF the
danger that threatened HIM till accident revealed
it TO him few Gays after Christmas Day. One
of the conspIratOrs wrote to the Fart Of Rat
land, III London, TO remind him Of his engage
meut; the lctLer got into the hands of the Duke
of York, Rutlands father, who instantly sent it,
with his son. to the king. Henry would not
believe the news, till the Mayor Of London
having got scent of the same thing, came in
haste to Windsor aud prevailed upon Henry to
90 back with him 10 London. Scarcely had
they got clear Of tue town ere the cOnoplratorS,
! ignorant Of the Earl of Rdtland'5 capture, came
| to the castle, which they occupied with four
| bundled men, and expressed great cha9rn at
the kings escape. The heads OF the leaders
! we're soon oaruishing the gates of the principal
! towrs OF England; but the spirit OF conspiracy
! survived, for in "a lew months Tine we read that
! there was found in the kings bedclothes an
| ylon with 3 sharpe pixies, slender AMI round,
| Standing upright, laid there 10y some traytor,
| Vt. when the king should have laid hlm doune,
| he might have thrust htmselEe upon them"
1t was at Christmas time, sixteen years later,
Eiy I'M ln rl iva IL.
| hung in chains over a slow ire, kindled on the
spot where S. Gies-in. the Fields now stands,
! and burned to death, as a punishment Tor the
compound crimes OF heresy and treason. During
the Christmas holidays, too, in the year 1884,
| whether on the 2lSt or 28th december there is
a little doubt, died john WckIiffe, the first
bright hight OF the Reformation. See how an
enemy could write OF hlm. how an historian
/ contemporary with WiCklite, and the best OF
those whose writings have come down to US,
. cOu.d Beg arred away into violence OF language
and into distortion OF natural facts, through the
agency of religious prejudice.
! Thus writes Thomas Walsngham, ChrOniClel
| and monk OF 81. Albau's:-"On the day of 81
Thomas, Archbishop OF Canterbury, ana martyr
! that diabOlical instrument. enemy OF the Church.
| COnfcssor OF the vulgar, idol OF heTencs, mirror
! of hy poCrtes, iDtroduCer of schlsm spreader Oi
hatred, maker of a lie, John WiCklllfe, as he Wa:
| about TO speW forth the inYeCtVes and bias
pLemes against St. Thomas, which he had, 1t is
said, prepared for his sermon on that day
struck suddenly by the Judgment OF God, felt 9
paralysis to have invaded all his limbs. Hi
mouth, which had spoken monstCous things
against God and His saints, aud the Church
miserably distorted from its place, exhibited 6
spectacle horrible TO beholders.n
a hundred and thrty-sX years later, by which
time the abuses and COrruptions against winch
Wicklihe had lifted up his voice so boldly ha6
Capkered and Iotted the very heart of the
Church. Martin Luther, worthy representative
ot the great English reformer, solemnized his
CT rstmas by burning publicly, 10 the market
place at WihenOerg (l0th December, 1920, the
papal bull which authorized the sale OF pardon;
Tor sins committed and TO be committed. ''IhC
quiet German heart. modest, patient Of much
had at leneth got more than It could bear
Formalism, Pagan-POpism, ana other fAlsehOoC
and corrupt semblUnCe had ruled long enOush
and here once more was man found who durs
tell all men that Gods world stood not or
semblanCCs, but on realities; thl. life wa,
truth, and not e." II was an eYenlful CHRIST
mas. The whole civilized world had share il
The interests involved IN il, aud from that daJ
sides were taken, ana the great work was begun
v LiCh was not to be finished without long anl
bloody wars, cruel persg CuliOus, and the LeIiue
Of number OF lies in the Lame Of truth, tia
lFht have scared poor truth forever from the
, C5r,h.
The last Christmas spent by one VINO wa,
| foremost III this county IN bringing in the
KetoTmatiOn-,Lat stately lord that broke the
/ bonds OF ROme'-WaS an emmeltly CuuOu,
one. 1t vas Christmas of the year 1916. rel
years before, at the same season, Henry mad
received such letter from his htdrt-bfOkeu
Queen, Catherine 10 "her most dear lord. king
Nand husband as had impressed even him, aud
induced him TO send even MESSAGE IN reply
which death intercepted ere II could reach her
He was now summoned himself. A fever
induced by Inflammation prOCe- ding from al
obstinate ulcer IN the thigh, had been hanging
about him for some time, and in the early par
OF December had assumed q threatening aspect,
IL. l.. NF..W IaF.r Nh