Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-12-26

Christmas.

Christmas.
Nearly nineteen centuries have passed
since then, and yet the picture is as divine
ly bright and beautiful as il the Great Ar
list had laid aside his pencils but yester-
day. The sheep nesting in snowy heaps
upon the plain the awe-suuck shepherds
kneeling before the heavenly messenger,
whose radiant garments reflected the glory
from whence he came the sOmbre mid
night sky suddenly spriDging into noon
day luStre before the swiit-beating wings
Of the angelic host; the still air throbbing
with the music Of that celestial hymn
whose echoes will ring through all the
ages, until Times frail bark SIMS in the
ocsan Of Eternity the stable in Bethls
hem, consccrated by the beginning Of the
yrandeSt life that ever blessed this sin ard
Sorrow-staiucd world the Virgin Mother
clinginc 10 the GOd-bOrn child the rude
maneer which Graded Him for whom
Gethsemane and Calvary were waiting
how plainly We see them all Generation
after generation have taken up the fond
tradition Of redeeming love, fingered and
Nept over 1t and transmitted II as the
most precious Of lesacies to those who
came after. Theologians have wrangled
over the mysterious story, philosophers
have smiled az it, sceptics have doubted it;
vet neither the fierce championship Of bigo-
ted friends, nor the foolish SCOTS Of vim
derive foes, have shaken its hold upon the
heart Of mankind. That, story 50 eXquis-
itely simple We, % inefably sublime, PM
sates with 4 life which canneyer die. Since
first IL was told a thousand revolutions
have swept the face Of the earth empires
have risen and fallen; dynasties have
ssruttel their brief hour and vanished
away opinions and usages, once supposed
10 he IS immOyable IS the everlasting
hills, have persisted utterly larger and
uobirr knowledge has dawued upon the
nations the whole Intellectual structure
Ofthe race has assumed another and broad
er phase Of deyelopment-yet amid sll
this wreck and change the sweet legend
survives, and bears no traces OF the fiery
trials through which It has passed Nor
= there the remOteSt possibility that the
future, whatever fate 1t may have in store
Tor the vast majority Of those beliefs that
are now regarded with a piOus generation
which amounts 10 idOlatry. will ever ma
terially diminish, much less dcmolish, the
gentle fascination. the sacred and tender
charm, which make Christina the hottest
and happiest day Of all the year.
Anniversaries, religious AMI secular,
the world has IN abundance but there is
only one which seems TO lift itself and its
associations above and beyond all national
jeslousies, all sectarian prejudicieS, all the
petty interests and passions which mar
the brotherhood Of man and draws 4 spou-
taneous tribute of reyerential affection
from universal Chri>tendon. Like the
star that guided the wise men Of the east.
and "went before them till II came aud
stood over where the young child was.
Christmas shines with such a pure and
Perfect light that all other anniversaries
"pale their Intellectual fires, and every
eye salutes the soft and Silyery rays which
stream from the day hallowed by memo
ries ofthe Saviour's birth. On this Christ
mas day, then, If on no other, we can
afford 20 remember our common origin
and our common destiny lay down the
arms with which we have been waging
iife's bitter battle, call the truce in the
sharp conflict which begins with the era
dle and ends only at the graye-anl clasp
hands aud Join hearts while the white fac
waves. Ga this Christmas day, If on no
Otner, We can afford TO forget the anbiti.
ons and animOsities which vex the soul
despise "the slings and arrows OF outra-
geOus fortune lull to sleep the doubts
and fears which sometimes make existance
burden too heavy 10 be borne, refuse to
take eognikance Of this inevitable to-mor-
row, with lie heritage Of cares and ankle
ties-and drink our Ill Of peace and Joy.
And if there are sad ghosts Of the past,
or grim spectres Of the present, which
will not down at human bidding-surely
on this Christmas day they may wear
Eindlier yisage and speak in mllder ae-
cents. For this day, $50 calm, 50 bright !;
the bridal Of the earth and sky"-is full
Of hope and promise. 1t Is dedicated 70
the best part Of our better nature it APP
peals 10 those institutions Of Immortality
implanted in every human breas, it teach
IS Us that the struggle which We call life
- only 4 prelude to 4 career free from
AL the Instructions and membranes
which impede and annoy Us here it tells
"a that even as from the stable and the
nanger Redeemer rose, so may We, from
the hard and harsh surroundings and In
szOrable discipline Of this lower sphere,
look onward and upward to i dignity and
"a honor which sin and sorrow cnnnOt
touch, or death destroy.