Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-12-25
CHRISTMAS.

To-day (Thursday,) is Christmas,
and the anniversary of the birth of
Christi day celebrated throughout
the Christian world in commemora-
ton of that g-andcst event i'll the his
tory of the human race. What an
era it hast How do the greatest of
all other events in the history of the
world sink into insigniflcance by COM
parison with that! Since His advent,
eighteen hundred and seventy-three
years have glided away into the eter-
nifty of the pastl During that period
of time what mighty changes have
been wrought in the worldl What
do not art and science and civiliza-
ton w to the incubation of the
great law of love, which was the cor
ner stone upon which he built? "Love
YOUR enemies GA new command
ment I give unto you, that We love
one another" Such were the simple
precepts upon which is reared a sys-
tenn grander than all philosophy,
more enduring than the Kingdoms of
earth, more perfect than human
codes, more ennobling than science
and art, and III conducive to the
welfare of humanity than all other
agencies combined. The birth of
Christ not only opened to the world
a new era in which the arts of civil
lied life have grown and multiplied,
bat it gave and added value to the
life of every individual within the
scope of Christendom. His teaching
gave a grandeur and dignity to every
unit in the great sum of humanity,
never felt or known before. A hui
maj life dedicated to the pursuits,
which he enjoined, carries about it a
halo of glory from the cradle to the
grave. 1t has the promise of an i'm
mortality beyond the tomb.
"He went about doing good
Through the mist and shadows of
more than eighteen centuries, that
simple record of his illustrious life
survives and inspires his true follow
to emulate his example. A pillar
of humanity, he towers as much above
all other men as his simple religion
love towers above the@systems of
human philosophy and wisdom, and
to him the world pays its homage.
With his eye of faith turned TO his
Great Prototype, the dying christian
exhorts his felIowsto
"Keep the faith and fight the battle,
For a crown awaits you. Lo!
l behold the glory breaking!
Do not hold me. Let ME co.
That the Christian worldcommem-
crates the day of His birth, is no
of wonder. It owes it to his
memory a debt of gratitude that can
never be paid. The self-abregation,
the meekness, the spotless virtue
which ennobled his life can never be
equalled among the children of men.
code of laws is a priceless legacy
to the world. Then let the world
bow in adoring homage to his memo
ry on this, his natal day. Let it emu
late his virtues. Let a new resolve
fill the hearts of all who share the
light he shed upon the world, to fol-
low his example in works charity
and love. Remembering that he liv-
ed for all men and all ages, let every
follower ofshis renew his resolution
not to live for himself alone, but to
brighten his pathway to eternity by
relieving the sufferings of others-by
thinking charitably of his neighbors
by kind words and christian deeds,
and by honoring it as a fit occasion to
make glad the hearts of all connected
with them by the ties of love and
so that impressions may
be made upon the hearts of the young
that the trials and difficulties of a
stormy life can never efface.