The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-12-03
THE SEASON OF ApvESr.-on Sunday

last, according to the Catholic and
Episcopal churches, commenced new
ecclesiastical year. The season con-
tinues until Christmas week. Institu-
ted for the purpose of lifting up the
thoughts and aspirations Of man to his
supernatural end-the enjoyment Of
God in eternity-the Christian church
brings TO his attention, at every step OF
his progress amid the revolutions Of
time, the more prominent facts and
events which have been evolved from
the mystery of redemption, and the
consideration of which must naturally
tend to strengthen his faith, to animate
his hopes and to enkindle in his heart
a disposition to avail himself OF the
divine blessings. The Sabbath, or the
seventh day of the week, was set apart
by the Almighty, from the very begin
ming OF the world, as day of rest, and
commemorative Of the great work Of
creation. The precept Of observing 1t
was renewed and confirmed under the
Mosaic dispensation, which also pre-
scribed various other festivals in men,
ory of the wonders which God had
wrought in behalf of His chosen people.
The most important among them were
the feast of the Passover, Pentecost and
Tabernacles or Tents, which were de-
signed to perpetuate respectively the
memory of the exodus from Egypt, the
PRONUNCIATION ofthe law on Mount Sinai,
and the journey through the desert. All
that is in accordance with the deepest
instincts of humanity. Man, whose ma
ture is the union of a material and sp:f-
itual clement, requires some outward
demonstration to impress his mind WV
idly and effectively with the realities of
the invisible world. Hence, the Chris
tan church, in the course of the astro-
nomical or civil year, has complete
cycle of festivals or celebrations, by
which the whole history of the creation
and redemption of mankind is recalled
to our attention. The object ofall these
festivals is the honor and worship Of
God. Whether we commemorate the
temporal birth OF the Son of God, His
crucifxion on Mount Calvary, or His
resurrection from the grave, or recall
the memory of the martyrs or other
heroes of the Christian faith God is al
ways the ultimate object Of our wor-
ship. His power and mercy are equally
adorable, whether exhibited in the per
son OF His incarnate Son, or through
the agency Of His devoted follow.
ers. Advent is a period Of about four
weeks, intended as preparation OF
the mind and heart for the worthy Gel
ebration OF the great festival of Christ
mas, or the birth Of the Man-God, and
for this rerson it is to certain extent
time of penance. Every Friday dur,
ing this season is fast day, and in the
third week fall the Ember days, or the
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday,
which are also days of fasting. The
observance Of Advent, at least in its
general spirit and significance, is coeval
with the earliest period Of the Christian
era, though the manner Of its observance
has not been the same in all times and
places. On the first Sunday Of Advent
the beginning of the ecclesiastical
year-as well as at its close, the church
places before us the impressive scene OF
the final judgment of mankind that we
may be animated by this consideration
SO to commemorate and appreciate the
mystery OF the first coming Of the Lord
as to be prepared for His second COM
ing, when He will appear as the Judge
of the living and the dead.
EVERYTHING in the millinery line