Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-12-22
Christmas.

Neither Of the evangelists who gave the
brief record Of His life communicates the
date Of His birth, or any description of the
person aud features Of the Son Of Man.
The wisdom of heaven is as manifest in
what it hides from US, as in what il dis
closes. II was doubtless intended that men
should no longer, after His ascension, know
Christ after the flesh. They were to discern
the spiritual features and power Of the Re
deemer and not have their thoughts and i'm
aginations caught and cntangled with His
merely earthly qualities. The incarnation
was not to be perpetuated by the disclosure
of all the miuutip of the sorrowful and
troubled sojourn Of the Divine Stranger.
Therefore the ordinary facts Of a common
human biography are entirely wanting in
the authentic biographies Of Christ.
Elicott, in his life Of Christ, says that the
temporary circumstances connected with the
birth Of our Saviour, such as the large afIlux
Of strangers to Bethlehem, and the fact Of
the shepherds caring for their flocks in the
open pastures at the time, would incline TO
~
less rigorous than midwinter, but when we
Join with this chronological data which APP
pear positively to fix this epoch subsequent
to the beginning Of January, we may lean TO
the opinion that early in February was the
time Of the nativity" But traditions and
they are all we have 10 go by---are by no
means unanimous as TO the day, nor even as
to the year. They vary in their statements
from December to the May following. Far
rar SAYS " that it was winter at the end Of
Il. c. 3, or the beginning Of b. C.. Of our
Diouysian era, is all but certain but neither
the day nor the month can be fixed" 1t
was not till the fourth century that the 25th
of December was fixed upon, by a council Of
theologians called by Pope Julius H.. as the
date Of the nativity. Since then the Chris
tian world, so far as il has observed the festi-
val, has observed this day. 1t is n matter of
much consequence that the exact date is
thus unknown. The human mind is prone
to a superstitious reverence for days and
forms, for things that can be seen and tasted
and handled. 1t is the aim of heaven to dis
lodge our thoughts aud affections from the
things which are seen and temporal and at
tract them to that which is unseen and
eternal Man would adhere 10 the letter
when God would inspire him with the spirit.
And, therefore, it was eXpedient that Christ
should come at time which is not known,
should live without leaving any visible por-
N..f 81 81 g..
and form, aud should 60 from earth in a
manner in harmony with His miraculous
conception, His nativity and His super
natural life.
We now look upon the festival OF Christ
mas with a modified feeling As q church
festival it loses its hold upon us by the con
viction that it does not represent the true
anniversary Of the Sayiour's advent to this
world. II is impossible TO regard it with
the yeneration which an acknowledged and
well known anniversary of such an event
would inspire. II we should be convinced -
If all the world was convinced, that this was
the day. there would be every reason for the
most deyout aud impressive celebration of
when we are satisfied that not only is the
date of this illustrious birth absolutely un.
known, but provdentially hidden for the
wisest and highest reasons, we are entirely
content TO relegate it as an ecclesiastical festi.
val TO the church which first determined the
present date, and has made it the grandest
festival in its calendar. Aud we are conf
dent that in the eye of heaven the birth Of
Jesus Christ into a human heart-into the
faith and love of single human souls an
infinitely grander event celebrated with
higher strains-than His simple birth into
the manger Of the inn at Bethlehem.
And now that this festival is divestod of
its peculiar character as religious annver-
sary by the assurance that it does not repre-
sent the actual time Of the august event of
the birth of Christ, so that ii cannot attract
to itself the strong emotions which are apt
to degenerate into superstition aud usurp
the place of religious principle and duty,
there can BE- no objection to its observance
as one of the memorial days of our Chris
tian civilization. 1t may combine, as il
docs in practice now, religious, social, do
nestle and secular notice aud enjoyments
Christmas belongs rather to all men than to
any particular class of religious men to the
world rather than to the church. It repre-
SCENTS an era and not day an event and
not a solitary natal hour. 1t marks an epocl
in the history of the world and should be
celebrated with more than an ecclesiastical
ceremony In our Protestant countries il
is taking its true rank and place. 1t is be
coming holiday, day of social recreation
and joy Of diversified pastimes and sports
OF domestic reunions aud widespread chart
ties and gifts observed by cessation from
usual employments, by all " classes aud con.
ditions Of men," by state and church, by
family and community, not with distinct
lively religious services but with an universal
mirth and charity. 1t was once a church
festival. Certain churches claimed it and
observed il and repudiated its celebration by
other churches as iucongruous or absurd
Now it has passed beyond the bounds of &c
clesiastieal care and keeping. II loses some
what Of its peculiar flavor as religious OF
church feast, and is accepted by all classe.
aud faiths as the anniversary of an event
which may well inspire the joy of the whole
world.
Christmas no more belongs TO one church
than to another; To one man than 10 another
II belongs to Chrstendom. to all who look
upon the advent Of Christ rs the birth Of q
new order OF stronger aud more generou.
civilization. 1t is shaking itself clear from
the special ceremonies of an ecclesiastical
celebration, and is becoming a day Of uni
yersal observance, not by religious forms
but by such services as touch and kindle til,
hearts of all men by services of social and
domestic delight and exchange Of pleasant
gifts and offerings by a reviyalof memorie.
which stir the hearts of all alike, and by the
kindling of hopes broader and more glorious
than those that are inspired by the narrow
desotions of any sect or fragment of the
kingdom Of Christ or fraction Of its ilustri-
Gus membership. Looking at the day, not
us sectarian festival, but as the common
heritage of Chrstendom, commemorative
of an event and not of a date of uativity