The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-25
Christmas.

The memory Of eighteen centuries of Chris
tian civilization comes back to us this day.
That civilization has not been all unspotted.
in the name of the Christian religion; nor have
its professors always been as true as the
Apostles, as meek as the confessors and vir-
gins, nor as self-sacrifcing as the martyrs
still we welcome with hallelujahs the annual
return Of the day when the corner stone of that
civilization was laid in the stable at Bethlehem.
In celebrating Christmas in our joyous and
worldly fashion we fear that many people do
not follow In their minds eye the Babe of
Nazareth through the ethical phases of his
career. We do not recall so much as we
ought the teachings in the temple, the won
drous miracles illustrating the power of the
Father, nor the sublime doctrine of the Ser
mon on the Mount. But if we forget these
essential lights of the Christian faith it cannot
be said that the Christmas festivities are not
right royalty kept in this community. Our
market stalls groan with all luscious viands
which the farm, the garden and the poultry
yard can supply. The tables of the ancient
barons in the days Of Bluff Harry, with their
famous boars heads and giant fagons of wine,
did not excel in hospitable show the tables of
our citizens in these less barbarous times.
Jewels from the Orient, pearls from the Indian
seas, gold from our own California and silver
from Nevada sparkle In the Broadway win
dows, books with costly bindings heap the
uhalv NJ tho nj ~
season these gifts find their way into thousands
Of households to make glad the hearts of
mothers, wives and children-dutifll and
loving reminders that Christmas has come
again, and that home is not forgotten in the
general joy.
There may be a reverse to this picture, and
we know that, in large community like ours,
there must be dark side to every picture.
''The poor always ye have with you, said He
who preached charity to all men. Let those
whose households are Illuminated with happi-
ness to-day forget not, when the church bells
call them to worship-to join in the glorious
anthem which belongs to this great festival
that there are many homes around them where
but little Christmas festivity will enter. Let
them remember, also, that all the duties of the
day are not limited to prayers and preachings.
God help the poor little ones whose fathers
went home last night with diminished purses
No joyful jingle of Santa Claus merry bells
for them. No comfort for their sad young
hearts but the smiles and whispers of the
angels who minister to Him who said ''Suffer
little children to come unto me- Be ye who
revel in the exuberance of this Christmas fes-
tival, welcome its bright, suspicious Skies who
share the pleasures of its matin6es in dozen
theatres, who gather around the domestic
affairs where thousands of turkeys are sacri-
feed, who recall old memories beside the yule
log, and smile beneath the Christmas holly
be ye the angels to these little ones-remember-
ing the memorable words, 'Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these my
brethren, ye have done it unto me-"
Thus we finish our Christmas sermon with
the benediction-a happy Christmas and a
prosperous New Year to all the world