New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-26
THE CHRLSTMAS DAYS.

THE CHRISTMAS DAYS.
On one occasion, when Christmas fell upon
Sunday, tho Directors of the India House re-
fused an additional holiday to their clerks.
Charles Lamb who was one OF the sufferers
by this strict construction, denounced 1t as
San economy unworthy Of the disDensation,'
We are entirely of his opinion. When these
two sacred days coincide, there Is an abund-
| ance of blesscdness, which OveTtiows and
| sanctifes the preceding Sabbath and the fol-
! lowing Monday. This year, our three days OF
| Christmas have been most fifty introduced by
other three of the Pilgrim COmmemoration.
The old antagOnsm of the Puritans and the
Churchmen has melted away. and every pine
wood and cedar-clump in New-England was
ransacked last week for Christmas-tTees
! There could be no more appropriate prepare
ton for the full enjoyment of the highest
Christian festival of the year than the con-
| temptation Of the most spOtless Christian So
ciety of history. The time-hallowcd prayer
of the Winter sostce-Sicm patribas SIT Deus
noJiScum-fnds its prompt fultillmcnt to all
believing hearts in the mystic ObseTvances of
| that hottest season, when the God of our
| fathers came to us-Emmanuel-tO abide for
! ever.
| This cherished festival, established by the
| early Popes, on grounds of piOus research
| which we do not care rudely TO examine, has
| spread over the earth with increasing civiliza-
| ton, until to-day the whole world IS girdled
with the holiday decorations, and surrounded
by an atmosphere favored with Christmas
cheer and vibrating with Christmas carols.
Whatever differences of life and customs
| exist in our own land, we are at least bound
together by one common impulse of innocent
mirth on days like these. Christmas Eve was
celebrated alike in Maine and Texas. The
young people trOoped to social parties over
the crunching SHOWS OF Vermont and the dried
leaves Of Louisiana. The pulse of warmer
life reached the most distant members of the
national organization. We may be sure there
was dancing in Cheyenne, and that the short
day in Sitka vas devoted to decking the gar
rison rooms with evergreens and abundant
candles. The warning and discOrdant people
of all lands are one in these harmonious
obseryances. The children Of the North wei
come the bright image of the Christ Kindche'
rs a diviner cOmrade, and in the hamlets Of
Andalusia the tawny infants survey with
perennial delight and wonder the mimic land
of Life is called by many names in various
accents-but in all tongues he is lauded and
magnifed as the symbol of infinite goodness
and infinite sacrifice, and the world is better
and gladder that He came.
The enormous breadth and elasticity Of the
spirit of Christianity is shown in its perfect
assimilation and use of the ceremonies ana
beliefs of the past. We celebrate together the
Jewish Feast of the Tabernacles, the welcome
truce of labor which the Romans accorded in
the Saturnalia, the Yuletidc ceremonies of the
NOIsemen, and the Druid rites of Britain
These varying manifestations of WORKOUT
creeds were caught up by the new and expand
ing religion, and fashioned uncOnsciously into
means of joy and consolation to the millions
of men who would need them. Cessation from
Obdurate toll, enjoyment of the fruits of the
earth, lifting up of hearts to the Creator
and kindling anew Of love and charity IL
our fellow-men, are the features, always pres
ent and forever modified, of this annual mys-
terry, first founded by the miraculous starlight
of Bethlehem. and consecrated to peace and
good will by the voices of curing angels.
In hundreds of thousands of pulpits, yester-
day, the story of Christmas was told and its
| ltSSOU WIS DIcdtuCus lut uldhu WIZ
always the same, and yet it can never grow
stale. For it teaches the duty most evident to
be seen, and most difficult TO leaIn-charity
We can see in this very institution of Christ
mas proof of the eternal cOntagiOn of an ex-
ample of signal goodness. AS Christ pardOned
his enemies, so Christianity blesses its deniers
and reviers. There is no man living to-day
but profits by the general advance the world
has made since the coming of the Judean
prophet. The sunshine Of this Advent season
falls alike on the just and the unjust Shall we
claim to be more discriminating than the Su-
preme WisdOm1 The teaching of the day is
wasted, the lesson of the time is lost, unless il
lead us somewhat in the direction Of o wider
and calmer consideration for adversaries, Of a
fuller and more generous amnesty and oblivion
| of old wrongs, of more earnest aud self-sacri-
fcing efforts 10 relieve as far rs in us lies, the
weight of human misery The circle of home
and friends is plcntcously iTadiated in these
golden hours by the light Of love and mirth.
Let IA 20 beyond and seek to shed some
CLEANS of happiness or comfort on the souls
that sit in darkness.
But whatever may he the utmost cndeavors
Of charity, the best aud the richest blessings
will come to them who deserve them. II was
70 the men Of good will that the angelic
. choriatIh brought the promise Of peace, on