Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-12-25
MERRY CHRISTMAS.


MERRY CHRISTMAS.
.IE ttt - t
The celebration of the nativity of the
Savior of the world, in its annual reeur-
renee for nearly nineteen centuries, has
lost, with the generality of Christian
people, much of its original significance,
and fails to convey the full idea of the
Importance and effect of the mission of
our Lord Jesus Christ in His grand eff
fort to save a shining world from the
lust punishment of transgression by the
atoning power of His own blood. But
still the church regards this as the
greatest day in the whole calendar of its
feasts and sacred ceremonies, and the
merry Christmas bells that call the
worshippers to their accustomed place
in the sanctuary still warns many a
heart to a feeling of grateful joy in con-
temptation of the sweet privileges of
Grace that are possible to MIN by reason
of the dispensation that this day cele-
brates. To all such followers OF the
Savior of men, nothing can prevent this
being a. merry Christmas, the JOY of the
Christians hope being sufficient to over
come and destroy all the sorrows and
annoyances of a life of affliction and
trouble.
TO the great body of the people the
sacred character of the festival is lost
sight of in the countless attractions and
high social reunions of the day but
while the thoughts are crowded with
the teeming affections of kindred and
friends, the spirit of the blessed Re-
deemer is perhaps best commem-
GRATED by the material tokens of love
and good will to men, which upon this
day of all the year is exhibited in the
beautiful and elaborate presents that
come to gladden. the heart and soften
the temper of every giyer as well as
every recipient. The heavily laden
Christmas tree in the church parlor,
sends home many scholar of the Sab
bath school with happier hearts than
they ever knew before. To the family
circle, Merry Christmas carries its full
measure of cheer. On this day parental
affection and brotherly and sisterly re-
gard rise above all disagreements, and
the letters of love bind closer together
the hearts of the family. The children,
who in the silent watches of the night
lay waiting for Santa Claus, until sleep
waited them to unconsciousness, carry
bounding hearts to-day in contemplation
of the pretty toys with which the sly
old dog filed all their stockings while
they slept.
Perhaps the most beautiful features
connected with this day of beauty and
love, is the growing custom of making it
an occasion when the wealthy and those
in comfortable circumstances, shall bear
messages of benevolence and substantial
comforts to the homes of want and to
the Lords poor. 1t must be q source of
the greatest JOY to be able to bring a
smile to the face of suffering, and to feel
the truth of the words of the blessed
Son of God that sit is better to give than
to receive" To rich and poor, to the
learned and the unlearned, the proud
and the humble, this day brings more
glad memories, more pleasant incidents,
more holy feelings than any other of the
year. The natal day of aworld's Savior
cannot be more proftably celebrated
than by exemplifying the attributes of
his character. If any have disagreed and
quarrelled with his kindred, now of all
times, he should exercise a spirit of re-
Cancellation. If any has wronged his
neighbor, let him ask to be forgiven, and
if any feels himself agrieved he can now
disarm malice and hatred by the sweet
power OF forgiveness and kindness.
Good wishes, kindly sentiments and
friendly tributes of regard, are rendered
more worthy and precious gifts on ac-
count of their symbolic illusions to the
teachings of Christ. 1t is a holy day, a
happy day that no one can afford to
lose. We rejoice at the evidences of
preparation we have seen for appropri-
ate enjoyments of the feast of love, that
flows so freely. The. active jostling
crowd that has filled the streets and
stores for the last few days selecting the
presents to be sent out on their holy
mission, has told tale that carried a
conviction that to all classes this day
would be made a Merry Christmas in
deed. We rejoice with every citizen of
this free land that the blessings and pri-
yfleges of Christian faith, are so strong,
that the country is so prosperous and
the people so happy. Let US thank God
devoutly for our causes of happiness and
particularly for the supreme gift of His
Son, the Savior of the world, and join
in the gleeful hope that all will to-day
enjoy Merry Christmas, happy in its
present pleasures and profitable in its
memories.