The New York herald., 1871-12-25
NEW YORK HERALD MONDAY. DECEMBER rs 1871.

UArsssnas-Prssress and Power Of Caris-
tissisy-Ths Missies sf Americas.
At no other season Of the year are all the
sweet and sacred sentiments of the human
heart so universally awakened as at Christ
mas. This is because the immortal system
founded by Him whose birth the season ceie-
brates is so perfectly adapted TO the nature
and necessities Of mortals. When the reign
OF perfect peace and universal brotherhood
shall have been established Christmas will
have then become the day of days, the univer-
sal holy day among all the nations. Though
that promised period, ''which kings and
prophets waited for" has not yet arrived,
chimes ofcousecrated bells in Christian coun-
tries will this morning summon mnltitudes to
celebrate the anniversary Of the nativity Of
Jesus. Aud In response TO the sum-
mons Of the chimes and their own convic-
tions millions Of worshippsrs will assemble for
that purpose in churches and cathedrals. To
those who are less Impressed by simple SER
vices than by imposing religious ceremonials
the effect of songs Of alteration and of praise
will be increased by the aid Of magnificent
instrumental music, and the solemnity of the
scene will be augmented by the ''dm religious
light" that shines through the crimson and
purple OF the painted windows. The Christ
mas carols, songs and symphonies that will be
chanted by choirs and congregations are but
the echoes Of the celestial voices OF that
heavenly host which accompanied the angel
who announced to the astonished shepherds
the advent Of the Messiah whose appearance
had been prophesied for ages. They are but
the echoes, also, Of the songs Of faith and
praise that have subsequently fingered on the
! lips and immortalized the memories of mar
| tyrs. ...s,....'..
Viewed in whatever light it may be, the
| mission Of Jesus Christ to humanity is supreme
in Its importance. We need mol. enter into a
discussion of the character Of Christ or Of the
system which He founded. Rival religionists
who exclaim ssEcce Hom0!" and "Ecce Deas!"
may rejoice respectively in their opinions
Whatever peculiar forms Of faith sects Of mod
ern Christians may adhere to, 1t is enough to
know that all concur in acknowledging that
! Christ was the most perfect character that
ever trod the earth, and that the safest and
sublimest rules of human conduct are those
which He expounded. Though faith, sublime in
it's simplicity, questions not but justifes 'sths1
| ways of God to man." those ways are only
known to us as mysteries. And among the
most marvellous Of these is the manner in which
the Creator has at different times revealed
Himself unto His creatures In the Old Testa-l
ment BE assumes the character Of awful ma
jesty to whom burnt offerings and sacrifices
were essential in order to appeaseo His
wrath and stay the avenging hand Of Justice.
In the New TESTAMENT He assumes the
character Of wonderful humility, combined
With infinite love, b gentleness AID mercy.
This is the character IN which He appears
the dearest to human beings. \ is more
In harmony with, as we have said, the
nature and necessities Of mortals, and with the
intelligence which has superseded the ignor-T
ance Of departed ages. Hence we gladly turn
from the thunders of Sinai to the Sermon on
the Mount, and from the majesty Of Jehovah
to the simplicity Of Jesns. ,a.S1ogs.isS2 isof
Without following the fortunes of Christianity
through all its eventfnl epochs we may remark
that though its march has been attended with
wonderful vicissitudes, and has been tempo
rarily impeded at various intervals, It's career
has been one of progress from its foundation to
the present period. The history Of the Church
is the most remarkable in human annals.
Judaism had Aourished End failed, the civiliza-
tion of Greece was on the wane, the
- he
sinking under the power Of paganism,
when there arose from the most humble
origin system which. soon spreading
along the shores Of the Mediterranean, has
since fought and won its way over the whole
Of what is now denominated Christendom. For
centuries prosecutions followed 1t into Asia
Minor, Greece, Italy and Africa, until they were
In measure arrested under Constantine. But
while paganism was extingnished and Chris
tianity extended the Church became corrupt
and continued to become corrupted. The most
serious assault that Christianity has sustained
came from the system founded by Mohammed,
| who claimed to be commissioned to restore the
true religion revealed by God to Abraham. By
the power Of conquest his system was carried
triumphantly from Arabia over countries
where Christianity still. fourished; it spread
into Spain, even France was threatened, aud
for time the cause Of Christ seemed to %
seriously endangered. But Christianity
had not lost It's vitality, though the
| Church was weak and its ansinS
were improperly administered The Refor-
nation inspired by Luther came when refcr-
nation was most needed. Luther understood
the true ides Of Christianity, and he, more
than all his coadjutors, labored successfully
to restore 1t in its spirit. Though 1t has
passed through seas Of blood, the system Of
| salvation born with the Babe Of Bethlehem has
L IL -. oc axad hoo