The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-25

wha, chylde this day borne be .v,
CRETE lord shall he be- ~ esl i, u.s.. ,ts~,
Nineteen hundred years ago less thirty, one OF the
Caesars OF the imperial city, fallen since, alas
wished to flnd out how many people ne could tax:
How like the present Tune Among the nations
subjected TO this dictum was the province OF Judea,
then occupying quite prominent position In the
affairs of the world. This edict was promptly re-
sponded to, and the Marshal Shapes Of the day
were instructed to order each community district,
ward, parish, whatever was their name, to report
TO the deputy marshal authorized to take in their
names. occupations and sundres These deputy
marsDals were not subjected TO the inconvenience
OF the present day, for the people came to them in
stead OF their being obliged to interview the people.
Tnere were no chalIengers or repeaters then, and
the magic sign, S. r. @. r., produced
greater effect. whether at the polls or
census tables, than even our own .. s.
Mr.. CG ar appointed as his representative in
Judea, or more probably the gentleman appointed
himself, certain Herod as Tetrarch or what we
you'd call nowadays advising committee for our
'deestrck." Herod was man OF few words, but
more expressive actions IL we take into c0nsldera
ton his unpleasant measures regarding the first
born in Judea. He had waded through blood to
attain his position as Tetrarch very likely with the
nea that he could in the end dispense with Rome,
order TO perpetuae or at least his power. 1t
was Inc OF prophecies and great events were
pending. Judea had passed through her war agony
and the most sceptica had TO acknowledge that the
most important period IN the existence Of the
heavcn-callcd nation had come and that the great
event which was to lift an entire world
from the slough OF despair was at hand
Prophets had promised 1t. the sacred
writings, even in their thousand and one interpre-
tations, all pointed to this particular time; mytho-
logical devotees even paused while from pouring
libatons out before the marble chez d'Guyres OF
Phidas and P.aXitelcs, nations were for the first
time at peace ret IN terra par hontnibuS), and all
nature was eypectant of one grand event which
should prove an epoch In the history OF the world
Then Augustus Caesar, after wading through oceans
Of blood to the first Roman imperial throne, thought
he would reckon up his spos and the number OF
people over whom he reigned. Hence the first CEN
sus and the edict by which the people of obscure
Nazcreth had to repair 10 their repro entatlye
trystng place, what one would now call county
town, Bethlehem. Here
CHILD WAS BORN,
the fulfilment OF promise given by God to man
thousands of years previously Prophets had spoken
about the event. kings had fought over 1t, the race
OF David and Jesse were jealousy watched, and
when the temple Of Janus was closed for the first
their heads ominously Herod was in state OF
excitement, and the F. F. Us drst families OF Judea
were on the gut utpe. A poor Nazarene carpenter
who could not buy or even beg accommodations for
his family, was the last In the world in whom one
would expect the reputed father OF the
LONG EXPECTED MESSIAH.
bleak, exposed stable IL Bethlehem, with an OK
and an ass each stall, was not the place where the
great Redeemer, according to the ideas then ald
now prevalent, should be born, Yet from that
humble spot sprang the grandest revolu-
ton that ever agitated the world. In
that tender shrinking babe was embodied
the worlds civzer, the bond between God and
man, the incarnate Deity, Saviour, and founder of
Christianity. The heavenly hosts were the only
watchers the occasion, and the glad tidings were
spread immediately by these bright messengers.
Not to potentates and princes, but to
POOR SHEPHERDS,
tending their ocks on the hills, who at once came
10 the bleak stable and bent in mute but earnest
alteration before the babe that bodied one Of the
most tremendous mysteries ever displayed to man.
Some days after came Eastern princes to adore the
new born God, led away from their dolized fires
by the CLEAN Of star, miles from their regal
palaces, to the poor manger of Bethlehem Nearly
nineteen hundred years have passed away, and The
tender, snivering babe has grown to be the worlds
To-day, the anniversary OF His BIRTH millions, from
end OF the world to the other exult In this great
event which gave to the world God Redeemer.
CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK,
leaving ont the time honored yule log-we use coal
nowadays eight dollars per ton)-ls truly festival
III the best sense of the word. Despite the yearly
sncers OF those vinegar visaged philosophers, whom
the Maynower i've wish to heaven that she had been
driven to Labrador or KamschatKa) lett on our
Shores the good, Christian spirit of the people of
America has kept the great festival Of Christmas
green each year, and prayers, psalms, plum pud-
ding. turkey ana gttering trees are abundant at
this time.
THE MUSIC IN THE CHURCHES
claims our first attention First comes the magnifi-
cent choir Of st. Francis Xavers, consisting of DR..
William Berge, organist: Miss Teresa WeYneke and
Mrs. Berge, soprano Miss Mary Werneke and
Mrs Jackson, alt Signor Tamaro, tenor and Signor
Bacelll, bass. To-day they present Mozarts Twelfth
Mass, with full chorus and orchestra Figured
vespers. with Christmas oratorio VIII fill up the
afternoon programme.
TRINITY CHIMES.
On Christmas Eve the following chime and carols
were rung on the bells Of Trinity church by James
Aylifre beginning at nafpast two P. Nj
J. Ringing the Changes on Eight Bells.
2 Carol "Hark Burst OF Heavenly Musicr
g. Carol "Chrstma5 Tree"
A. Carol "Glory Be to GOD Most High.r
D. Carol "Ring Out the Bells"
g. Carol, "Christmas Is Come Again.
T. Carol "Christ was Born on Xmas Day."
The following is the programme today beginning
at hafpast ten A. NJ
l. Ringing the Changes on Eight Bells.
O. BY Thy Birth Thou Hottest one
g. Carol angels from the Realms OF Gloryu
f. Carol "Rlng Out the Bells"
g. Carol "See, the Morning Star is DwellinpD
g. Carol "Chrlst was Born on Xmas Day -
ST. AIMS,
Eighteenth street, near Fifth avenue, Myroa ward
organist, has the following programme- '
MORNING, AT HAL-PAST TEN o'CeLOCK.
Professional. Coward, Christian Soldier
Carol by the children ..................
Come, We Lofty, Come, We Lowly,r
Venite. .Gregorian. eighth tone frst ending
First Gloria. From Deus-Jackson In i
second Gloria From DeuS-JackSOn In F
Third Gloria. From Contate-Jackson in
re Deum Laudamus .................. Ward, In
.uoiate peo. King In
Anthem. ReCltatlOn and chorus. from the ,ran