The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-12-25

at the foot OF the bed and the christmas
trce--at an early period into that State,
while Santa Claus came with the Hollan-
ders into New York. New England, for
a long time, gave but little quarter to any
Of the English Church festivals. They
had felt too severely the heavy hand Of
the English Church, aud their purltanic
prejudices would not permit them to re-
tain single yestige of any thing that be.
longed to it. In fact, it has only been
within the present century that this festi
val has been much observed by them.
Within the last twenty years, however,
great change has been wrought, and the
day is now very generally observed in all
the New England States. Many Of the
observances Of the olden time, grotesque
in their nature, have well passed away.
with others that are lost with regret
Among those which have happily been re-
tanned, and which We hope may long con-
tinue, are the evergreen decorations, the
budget Of Santa Claus and Krish Kinkle,
the Christmas tree, and their pleasant ae-
eessories. These pleasant observanees are
one after another dropping away, and We
fear in this age without sentiment, they
will soon all become things Of memory,
like the strains of distant and regretful
music
Whilst the practice Of these ancient
customs serves to make glad the little
hearts, and to make merry the childish
voice, they also serve, when properly ad-
ministered, to carry us back to the man.
ger at Bethlehem. Methinks | sec the
shouting shepherds flying to and fro with
the glad tidings that child is born
whose virtues shall bcqueath to them the
rich inheritance ola hereafter Methinks
see the admiring multitude crowding
round the manager to catch glimpse Of
that glorious Being who had come into the
world not to propagate His gospel like
Mahomet, with the sword, but with His
blood to baptizo all nations. Magnani
nous amid the ruin that surrounded Him,
He stood the hope of this world, and the
harbinger of better, welcoming the bitter
cup that contained the price of universal
emancipation He sought not to dazzle
the imaginations of men with the splen-
doris of eloquence, or the pomp Of philoso-
ply he drew not his morality from the
temples of Grecian genius, or his inspira.
ton from the tombs Of Roman learning
superior to all, and opposed to that system
from whence the Kantian philosophy
sprung, He breathed but the inspired spirit
of His Father. With the light Of faith
He dissipated the Elusive landscape of
human error, and with the power Of truth
He trampled to the dust the splendid Pan.
theou of Pagan idolatry. The darkness
which surrounded their golden Gods and
their gospel, was dissipated by the dawn
of that day which shed brilliancy and
beauty on the purity and practice Of piety
In the urbanity of His benevolenee, He
led the van Of victorius emancipation, He
decked His brow with the wreath Of every
religion, and filled His army with the sol.
dicrs Of every sect and every cline. The
hideous heart of Judas, actuated by the
gluttony of gold, betrayed the Redeemer
Of mankind. How short was the transi.
ton from the cradle to the cross He
was indeed the great Martyr of Mankind,
for the first drop Of gore that gushed from
His wounds sealed that redemption which
the Prophets had foretold. The mighty
multitude grow giddy while they gaze and
glut their senses on the suferings Of an
expiring Saviour There are none but ,
few followers to vindicate His violated
honor Behold His blanched, disguised
brow Behold His sunkcn sockets and
his visage pale No vile passion is depic-
ted there-revenge sits not enthroued on
the martyred brow it has butchered--an.
ger lights not the eye, nor curls the lip
which once beamed with moderation and
love. Oh, no, the angel dove-lke peace
sits there the herald of the happiness He
came to bestow on degenerated man. Alb,
see He has bowed His head and died
With the word of life upon his lips, and |
with the blessings of Heaven 10 His heart, |
He has met death from the dart Of the |
assassin and persisted, to perpetuate the
boon He bequeathed. The prophecies are |
fulfilled and mau redeemed. The moment
He became conquerer He became !!
corse. No sooner had the spirit of the
glorious victim vanished than the great
triumph was announced The Sun blush
ed and buried his face 10 the gloom Of
midnight, while the marble jaws Of the
tomb were rent asunder, and rolled forth
the dead, who had slumbcrcd for ages on
the pillow of their repOse, to walk the
earth, startled from their deep damp vaults
BY the agOnies Of an expiring God. In
that awful hour the Key of Heavens hap
py portal, and Of Hell's memorable doors,
was placed in the hand of man. In that
awful hour man became the arbitcr Of his
own choice, whether to be doomed TO the
dark dungeons Of the lower world, or rise
10 the sublime palaces and goodness Of
God--whether to be emtombed amid the
burning wreck Of human crime, or wander
in the aowery fields and plains Of Para
disc. No gnrlands adorned His grave,
and no tears, save those Of pious women,
ha1a.w.I al