The New York herald., 1868-12-25
HoN TT WILL BE OBSERVED.
The Day in New York, Brook
lyn and Jersey City.
SERVICES AT THE CHURCHES.
Public AHnmSementS and
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given ard the government shall be upon his shoul-
der:r and his name shall be called Wonderful. Coun-
selor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The
Prince OF Peace" tIsaiah TX, o. "And the angel
eaid unto them, Fear not: for behold, bring you
good tidngs Of great joy, which shall be to all peo
pie. For unto you Is born this day. in the city OF
David, Saviour, Which is Christ the Lordn "And
suddenly there was with the angel multitude OF the
heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory TO
God IN the highest, and on earth peace good viii
toward men," tSt. Jonn IL, 10, H. 13, 14.)
Thus the coming and the birth OF the Saviour the
mighty God, the Prince OF Peace is foretod and
nounced in the Old and the New Testament. And
the whole Christian world commentaries to-day
the anniversary OF the fulalment OF the prophets
prediction. Nations celebrate with pomp and cere-
mony tho birth OF favorite rulers; peoples OF enght
ment and marching onward on the road OF intellectual
progress revert oyfuly back TO the days that gave
them the heroes of mind and science. who stand as
monumental milestones on the pathway Of civiliza-
ton. The birthday OF our republic and the day
which was frightened by the first glance OF him
who was First In war, first IN peace,
first In the hearts OF his countrymenn are
days OF rejoicing and festivity among US on their
annual recurrence. And SO the anniversary Of the
birth OF Him who founded for oil mankind the rei-
gion OF love and peace is justly festive day OF JOY
and delight in every part Of the globe whittier His
nativity OF Christ dates from the earliest times OF
the Church AS every community loves to do honor
TO It's benefactor the Christian community honors
the advent OF the Saviour. AT first it was remem-
bered only by Isolated congregations and at different
times OF the year. Some connected 1t with their
harvest feast, some with the baptism OF Christ,
Epiphany, January 0. some with the incom-
ing Of spring-the reawakening OF naturc-April
20, and some on May 20. About the year 1870
Of our era the observance BECAME general, though
the Church in the West adopted for it the time OF
the Epiphany, while in the East the period OF the
vernal equinox retained for the festival. Not
until about the middle OF the fourth century was
one day set apart throughout all Christian commu-
ntles commission OF ten, learned in the laws
and the history OF the Church, was created by the
Papa, bishop OF Rome-then still the mistress OF
the world and the scat OF all authority-to determine
from whatever OF scriptural and profane testimony
they may be able to gather the day OF the birth OF
Christ. This commission after laborious inquiries
and persistent search. finally united upon the twen-
y-fth day OF the original tenth month OF the year.
or December and this selection was generally
acquiesced in and afterwards made the law OF the
Church a. ID. $50, under Pope Chryscstom) And as
is written in the second chapter OF st. Luxe, of the
shepherds excepting watch over their nock by night
when 1.-THE angel OF the Lord came upon them,r an
nouncing the birth OF the Saviour, 1t was assumed
that Christ was born during the night. Hence 1t
was ordained that the day shall be ushered in with
solemn ceremonial and that mass be read at the
hour OF midnight, again at dawn and later In the
morning from this springs the name OF Christmas)
and that The evening preceding shall be spent IN
spiritual devotion TO prepare for the holy feast
of commcmoratng the coming into the world OF the
Tnus is hurriedy traced the origin OF this Christian
festival, and II Christians would only remember the
words Of Hin whose birth they celebrate to-day,
"Love thy neighbor thyselfr and Therefore ali
things whatsoever We would that men should do 10
you, do you even so TO tnem" then this day would
be no empty ceremonial and the heavenly greeting
would be fulfilled, "On earth peace, good viii toward
all men, and then the injunction OF the Apostle
Peter would be obeyod "Be We all OF one mind,
having compassion one OF another love is brethren,
be pitlful be Courteous
The festival OF the nativity OF Christ, at first q
purely religious ceremonial gradually extended into
differed according 10 the different habits and char
acteristics Of The different natonaities as they be-
came Christlanized. The heather celebrations OF
many were transferred into Christian form and SIG.
niicance and the policy OF the old Roman republic
IN conquered countries was adopted by the Roman
proceeded with the faith and mythology OF tue
Church the underlying, tone-giying fountain.
Local traditions were interviewer with the accepted
relations OF the Bible thus local sentiment gave
each country its own characteristic customs IN the
celebration OF the Church festivals and also OF the
Christmas.
Besg IN this country an agglomerate OF almost
all Ralonaltes OF Europe, we have pretty nearly
coHrp plned the prominent peculiarties OF each aud
from. being exclusively re igious feast u has be.
contL MS 10 were popular national holiday, sane.
fione by custom not only, but by positive law OF
the $, ate And all, be they Christians heathens.
belle, trs In the fath OF Christ or Jews or inhdes,
have their annual merrymaking az this season,
throug tout the vast expanse Of the country.
Though The boars head. commemorative OF the fable
OF stu TENTS tnrustlng Bible into the jaws Of pur
suing wi VI boar gnd TINS choking him, Is seldom
here yet the rolicang, bosterous spirit OF Old
England tempered by the cives OF modern life, Is
not missirsg. The cheerful family reunions, the
Christmas trees with the gifts for young and Old
'.as every hath received the gift even minis
ter the same one another, says 81. Pelerof the
Germans we have natlonalized IN America, and the
balls and OF the light hearted people OF the
pouth OF Europe In honor OF the day have also
found a second home with uz
Hence while the churches viii be opened TO all
for the religious cOmmemorntion OF the Nativity OF
the saviour IN the fnnily circle OF all naionaties
the rejoicing Will be great aud the more public
demonsira irations equally as numerous. therefore
let IL be = merry Christmas" " TO all, and let the
poor not be forgotten for IL written In the sacred
volume, And above all things have fervent chari.
~ Tor charity shall cover multitude of sins,n and
= blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain
mercy