The New York herald., 1872-12-26


associations and images Of the past that 1t is a.
s,,ost impossible for the mind to grasp Its full
solemnity, grandeur and tenderness In single
thOught. Over and over again has Its history
been recounted by great men and little, and never
mus that wonderful story OF the event which 1t
commemorates 30 quantity told in the New Testa-
snent, been treated of with ridiculs, even by the
profahest OF the schools OF modern iAndelty This
UNIVERSAL RESPECT AND AWE
regarding the mystery Of the birth OF Christ have
mad much to do with distinguishing the day above
Ill others that come and 60. But farther back
even than the time >; Constantine similar festi-
Sal had been celebrated by various nations. in
various and peculiar ways. Tho ceremonies
were almost oil different, but had nearly the
same signfncanoe-that OF Joy ana graduation.
Some OF them also expressed thankfulness and
praise to some higher Power accepted % omnipo-
tent. At last, however, when the CHRISTIAN Church
grew rapidly IN strength snd vigor the heathenish
rites were transferred to the cOmmemoration Of
4he modern redemption, and the traces OF many
OF them can still be discovered in the ceremonies
practised In different portions OF the civilized
globe. This establishes the fact that the day ts
Aallowed by TWO kinds Of assoctations-those which
date back 10 the infancy Of she race and those
which have clustered around that one most ro-
mantle and tragical career In ell human annals
chat Includes the birth and death OF Jesus OF
Nazareth The 1rst have their source In al that is
genial generous, tender and noble In the human
heart-the qualities Of good fellowship and man.
mood. The second appeal strongly to our spirit
Gal and sympathetie natures, and awe us In the
manner that children are awed by realistic and
appalling representation OF Shakspear1an tragedy
upon the stage, subduing the shock Of the bitter
sorrows and calarnities OF the play with the soft
aud gentle tenderness OF other incidents, and In
Apiring these millions OF people, of the modern
world, living AMI thinking eighteen centuries
aiterward, with pious love and reverence surpas-
sing the highest dreams OF heroism ever formed
by poet or fanatic.
1t is more fully, however that Christmas Is cele-
brated in It's jova and fraterna sense than In its
religious It's memories OF that character appeal
more warmly to the heart than the inspired chron-
icies handed down to US, which mighty host OF
savans have succeeded in investing In sort OF
shadow OF inndeuty by their cavillings over their
mysteries and miracles.
THE MODERN CHRISTMAS,
therefore, Ia more season OF merrymaking than
OF praise sounding But 1t would not do, OF course,
for the priesthood to acknowledge or to remark
this. The churches on this holiday, as they were
yesterday, are always ornate with giistening green
leaves and glowing red nowers and brilliAntfapers
Yet joity always seems to oyerreach piety. In
the jingling words OF an old song which is quoted
Hom some remote source by Chambers,
FIT 80 now is come joyful'st feast;
- Let every be Jolly;
Each room with ivy leaves s drcst
,r,. AND every post with holly.
.Uou1n some churs at our mirh repine,
y h1uhn your ioreheads garlands twine;
Drown SORROW In cup Of wine,
Ana YET US all be merry.
ct all the streets with echoes ring:
Woods and hills and everything
Bear witness merry
The Eombre pews are always thronged the SER
vices always grand, the music always magnificent
and mellow and the disc0urses from the pnpts are
always marked by lab0red eloquence. So the reli.
&1ols rites Of the festival beginning N the mid.