Nebraska advertiser., 1872-12-26
For the Advertiser.


1.-THE days of our appointed time, until
our change comes" This thought
springs from the haunts of memory,
as seat myself for the third or fourth
time, TO write christmas Greeting
| for the ADVERTISER. Again anoth-
es thought appears and carries me
through a series of eventful years, to
New York, where l have many times
seated myself to write a word on
Christmas for the journals of the east.
Oh! how memories come rushing
thick and fast-pleasant and painful |!
Verify, verify, truth is stranger than
fiction.
No day set apart to commemorate
some important event, let it be politi
cal or religious, has contributed more
to the enjoyment of the masses of the
people, than Christmas day. What a
source of pleasure it has been to the
children! How could they get along
without it? 1t is beautiful tradi-
ton, told in many nations to the little
ones, that the Christ-child comes with
gifts to all good children OH Christ
mas night. Ofcourse all children are
good then, and receive gift.
The observance of the day is not
exclusively christian; yet none the
less should it be kept for all that. 1t
need not detract from the enjoyment
of the day, that long before the angels
sang to the shepherds on the plains
of Judea of peace on earth, good
will to men" because the Christ was
born, that the twenty-tifth of Decem-
Der was celebrated with song and reli-
giOus rites by many ancient nations.
It was in honor of the sun. In their
temples were painting and statues OF
Virgin holding i'm her arms child,
which they deitied and placed in the
heavens. Idolatrous! some one ex-
claims. Let us be careful how we
judge, lest we fall into the same con-
demnation. Would it be impossible
to find christian temples in which is
less idolatry than in heathen temples?
There is something beautiful aud ex-
ceedingfy interesting in the mytholo-
gy connected with the religion of the
ancients.
How natural for the soul, when it
reaches up after something purer,
brighter, better than itself, that it
should seize upon the sun in its
brightness and glory, the moon in its
chaste beauty, the stars in their silent
grandeur, as visible objects through
which its aspirations after something
great and holy to adore and worship
can be gratified. All religions-nOt
excepting the christian religion
are connected with mythology, as
tronomy and astrOlOgy. All have
their forms and ceremonies-all have
their "mysteries of godliness." Aud
it proves this: that man is a religious
being, ever looking around for some
higher Intelligence to -imftate and
worship. The idea q man has of God
is an expression of the development
of his spiritual nature.
All kinds of religions are necessity
of the condition which create them.
Would we change the religion, we
must change the condition. All reli-
giOns serve well the time, and place,
and people. All sacred books have
their uses, and abound in wise sayings,
and represent beautiful and holy
characters. Then, while other peO-
pie aud nations have their sacred
books, portraying their lofty and di-
vine character, and worship as they
have been taught the Gods of their
fathers, let us cling to our sacred book, |
the Bible, with its holy inspirations, |
and which has demonstrated immor-
tality as well as taught it i'm a'sublime
faith, in that it teaches tn at Jesus, its |
lovely and lofty and divine character,
and 1.-THE saints in the grave, arose
and appeared unto many"
And while we adore and worship,
let us not forget to initiate the spotless
life of Him whose nativity we cele-
brate on Christmas day. If like him
we have a uRfve rsaf benevolence
which embraces every one, encourag-
ing the saint and entreating the sin
ner, feeding the hungry, clothing the
naked, lifting up the fallen, seeking
and saving the castaways-for He
came ito seek and TO save that which
is lost"-then will we be His disciples
indeed. And when the weary war
fare of earth-life is over, we will have
a right to the tree of Life, and enter
through the gates into the City.
And now, readers mine, as | have
said in other Christmas greetings, you
who like me aud you who dislike me
you who | please and you who d s.
alike, wish you a merry
Chr itmas.
J8NNETTE HARDING.
London, Neb.
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