The New York herald., 1876-12-25
MASONIC TEMPLE.
FESTIVALS OF JoY-sERMoN BIZ REV. o. b
rROTHINGHAM.

FESTIVALS OF JoY-sERMoN BIZ REV. o. B.
fRoTHINGHAM.
Mr. Frothin CHAM delivered Christmas sermon yes
terday morning to large congregation. There is, he
said but one festival justly SO described
and that Is Christmas There other festivals that
claim to be joyous-Thanksgiving the harvest festl-
val is so called. But tho latter the autumn
OF the year and the JOY is confined those who have
light hearts, and only the very young have hearts
that are always light Thanksgiving reminds US Of
the broken family circlc-of dear that are gone.
The bitter sorrows from which the heart has learned
no lesson praise for defeats that have repairing
on this side Of the grave.
The festival OF New Years is festival OF joy; but on
New Yoar's Day think OF how many years that arc
past Of the uncertainty of the that before
Matters OF business press heavily upon us, gains
and losses continual thought Tho festival Of
Easter sjoyous; but the 10y OF Easter is Joy OF the
spring season. when The eartn is warm and the air
is soIt aud balmy, aud we are throwing on the gar
mcnts OF heavness and putting garments OF praise
But me Joy o. onr's.mas s entirely different II
and the IS at Its weakest when existence runs
low planc when suffering and sorrow pouring
thor ompiants into the ear when feel
that life precarious that IL is battle, aud creep
into our corners and keep ourselves warm as we
may in expectation Of the spring time and tho sum.
mer that is The festival has always been ono
OF JOY 1t IS SO ancient so remote, that It's origin
lost in the Western World, aud III the Eastern we
1t originated Those in Persia, We read, in the
motest time celebrated II. Tho high priest clothed
himself his Official robes of spendor led long
procession toward the molly mount Behind hun came
the men, tho magis all rohcd in mag locnt ut.
tire and carrying firc IN golden censor Behind them
were men, 365 in number, according TO the days Of
the year; behind them came the vast multitude OF the
people, all solemn march, making their way toward
the holy hill TO walt Tor the coming dawn When the
first beam OF light gladdencd the hltops great peon
praise broke forth IRON the assembled thousands.
An ancient feast oil Itaiy observed
eIa ntna rIlgn "A
England borrowed from Northern Europe Its Christ
mas ceremonies and in every respect the ceremony
performed Persia ana the other places
repeated there. We do the same thing to.day--lhe
same gathering, the carols the same delicious
atmosphere OF merrmcnt the same interchange OF
gifts anu congratulations. In the seventh century
thore was council in France IN which decree was
passed forbddng Christians decorate their churches
with ivy and evergreen. In the seventeenth century
in Canterbury, England, the town crer, BY the d.
rcctlon OF the authorities told The people they TO
put down Christmas and supcrsttions obscrvances.
II of no effect No act OF Parliament, no decision
OF counc, could bring TO nothing what dear 10
the heart the old festival OF nature Ii
human and social. Ii a festival Tor children. The
revival oil Christmas in these times Of hea
thcnism. l rccollcct q time when Christmas DIS
liked by religious people. The Puritans tried 70 put u