The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-12-22
hriStMaS.

The anniversary of another Christmas is
athand. Therefore let there he a truce, fol-
one day at least, to the strife of politics, and
q respite to the "Carcs that inGrs' other
days of the year.
All Christian nations hail with delight
been observed for nearly two thousand years
as festival Ivy the Christian Church, in
memory Of the birth of the Redeemer. AS
TO its antiquity, says an eminent author, the
first footsteps We find Of il are in the second
century, about the time Of the emperor Com.
modus The decreta letters, indeed, carry
it a little higher, and say that Pope Teles.
phorus, who did A. D. 1873, ordered divine
service to be celebrated, and an angeical
hymn to be sung, the nigat before the ma.
tyity of our Saviour. However, that it was
kept before the time of nstantine, we have
n melancholy proof for whilst the pcrsecu-
tons ragged under Diocletian, who then kept
his court at Nicomcda, that prince, among
other acts Of cruelty, finding that mullitudes
OF Christians assembled together to celeb. ate
Christs nativity, commanded the church.
DOORS where they were met, to be shut, and
fire put to it, which, in short time, reduced
them and it to ashes.
Eighteen hundred and scycnly-sX years
have passed, since the same stars which will
look out upon the world on Sunday night wit.
messed on the plains of Judca the astonish-
Will oil tl,, o., l.,
ceived the annuncialon of the heavenly mes.
senger Of good tidings Of great joy" "lor
unto you is born this day in the city of David
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord"
1t is rot to the Christian alone that the
advent of Christmas brings joy and glndness;
but the grave, the gay, the old and young
alike hail with emotions of delight and sat
isfacton the yearly return of this festive
season. What hopes swell the kosom OF
childhood, as at each Christmas eve the little
one hangs his or her stocking beside the
fireplace, there to await the coming Of Santa
Claus; with what eager anxiety is th2 couch
vacated at early dawn, to examine the gifts
of the bounteous patron of childhood, and
with what pleasure and hurried motion does
the recipient trip away with the well filled
stocking, to exhibit to all who desire to see
the generosity of the good old Saint, who
on that night left his far-of home in the
North Star to gladden. the hearts of his little
friends
This theme is replete with marvellous in
terest, and yet we enjoy the millions of
blessings with which we are surrounded,
with scarcely thought of the source from
whence they come. Let those who on this
occasion are surrounded with an abundance
of the good things of this world, in their
eageness and anxiety to enjoy themselves
and render happy their immedirte friends
nor forget that the naked need raiment, and
the hungry wherewith to sustain life, and
that there are hundreds of thousands on this
very day of general festival, that misfortune
has driven forth TO seek from the cold chari-
ties Of the world the means of Il scanly sub
sistence. Let us hope and believe that the
radiant light of Christmas morn will beam
upon all htarts with the keen reality of q
Saviour born" and that the lamp Of be-
nevolence will be carried into many of the
dark and cheerless abodes, where the sum
light of bounty has never entered
To all its readers The Agis wishes a Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year!