The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-12-22
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Christmas VS.. Temperance and Religion.

There is no certainty, to say the least, that the
birth of Christ took place on the day commonly
called Christmas. And Presbyterians, as not
adopting the system of observing any stated com
memorative ecclesiastical festivals, have no pre-
scription for observing the day referred to- BUTT
has grown into general custom of the country to
make the so-called Christmas day and week holy
day time, in the common accceptation of this
term. And who can say that it is not innocent,
and even positively good, to have al least some one
season in the course of every twelve. month, when
families, connections, friends shall greet each
other and enjoy some pleasant entertainments
around the table and the fre.sidc 'Sancti6ed by
prayer and the Word of God," as everything in
which the Christian may properly engage may and
ought to be- they would not hinder but rather pro-
mote piety. But the great enemy makes use
even of things in name religious, to further his
ends; and Christmas has too generally BEEN above
all the year beside, time not only of idling and
time-w wasting, but of positive dissipation. So
much SO, that the use of certain intoxicating mix
lures has become connected. by kind OF saDctif-
cation, so to speak, with Christmas day.
~
and among protesting Christians and a large part
of our best citizens it had come to be considered
that this custom was far more honorable Sin its
breach than in its observance. But the Devil
has his revivals. 1t is one of the most baneful
and accursed fruits of the late war and its upheav-
ings that things have turned backward, in this and
some. other matters of morals and religion. 1t is
not enough that protesting Christians expend, in
extravagant entertainments in these "hard times"
when they plead that they cannot support their
ministers or aid in sending the Gospel abroad
what they might give for the cause of Christ and
the salvation of the world 1t is not enough that
our professedly religious people get together, as if
the country and the Church were not in any ago.
MES, and if they do not dance, spend the ivelong
hours of night in scenes Of giddy levity. No! the
bowl must go around alas tell it not of those
who are called to be 1.-THE light of the world the
salt of the earth, those who are, in name, the
holy and separate people of God, the self deny.
ing" the 'cross bearing ones,-even these are
found giving and taking the draught which Satan
has so often used to entice men into the path of
ruin Gentlemen protesting goodness smack their
lips complacently over the Christmas bowl while
they declaim against the temperance societies and
temperance men of former days. as productive of
great evil, themselves doubtless some of the I'm
happy victims Of temperance excuses
Let me now, in the approach of another Christ
mas, ask our Christian people to look at this mat
ter If we help to open the food gates, what is to
become of our country and our children? 1t is
sometimes said that little "egg-nog" of Christ
mas time, will do no harm. Yes almost every
evil begins with 'littes" Satan probably per-
suaded our first mother to take but "a little at
first. And can you, professed servant of God,
pray over that owl,-kneel down with your COM
pany and pray over it; and then drink it Sin the
name of Christ" and ito the glory of God, ~ as
we are required to do "all things?" If you can,
7 should Judge you to have conscience of whit
leather.
But no one who knows the history of the Christ
mas of many years ago can fail to remember
facts point blank to the contrary,-how the Christ
mas convivaities of those former days often wound
up in the most disgusting and disgraceful scenes.
And certainly the writer Of this has known one in
stance, at least. where the persuasion to drink
ssiust one glass from the Christmas bowl was the
means of plunging into ruin and bringing to an un-
timely grave man who had been, for years, re-
deemed from the slavery of the cup.
Are such ways as these of which have now been
speaking,-Q put the question to any Christian
conscience and heart, 1.-THE proper ways of honor
II
song of the drunkard, or the sound of the revel
around an egg-nog bowl, fit and pious response
to the sweet strains sounded forth by angel voices
over the Bethlehem hills, on the morn of the great
b;rtb. dav? CHRISTMAS VS.. BACcHUs.