Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-24
SUNDAY BEADING.

Of anatomy. physiology. and hygiene.
The essentials are the good government
itself. and the healthful condition OF
body and OF parts. The causes of q
genial and healthful tone and temper OF
the popular mind, the reasons for habit
Of cheerfuiness and contentment, these
need not to be profoundly compreheuded
in order that their existence may be felt
and their influence exerted. The his
tory and traditions Of the Christmas tide
are very beautiful, very deeply rooted in
religious faith and zeal and knowledge,
very ultimately related to creed and the
vital fabrics of Christianity; bu. they
need not be thoroughly apprehended,
need not to have been made the subject
of study or clear apprehension, even. to
produce and sustain tkei. rightful. bene-
icent effects. 1t is not essential that
one should be believer in the assuring
belief Of Ch-ist's divine origin and super
human attributes to enter into the spirit
Of this love!iest and most welcome of
holidays. The stern Prritans, whose
upgrowth was the natural result Of such
excuses as found horrid elimination in
the beheading of Charles. bringing with
them to the. bleak shores Of New Eng
land their radical disregard of "the
ido!atr;es" of mother church, and going
to the natural excess of condemning the
innocent With the wicked. (the two being
found associated together), prescribed
the Cross from their church tops and
Christmas from their calendars. 1t was
under their infexibls and self-denying
minis!rctions that all the loneliness and
joy and cheer were cast out of religious
habits, and holiness became a burden,
and amusement q crime. These hard
and hardening customs and teachings
made Sunday a day of depression and
gloom, reinstated the bitter and cruel
old Jewish God. forced away from the
character Of Christ the gentle and sweet
qualities with which pious monks and
prayerful INNS had invested his char
acter. and stopped all popular reioicings
upon the annual recurrence of the birth.
day of the Redeemer. But the age has
grown broader and the hard shell of
Puritanism has been broken. Not
so much from love Of
Christ as from q Christian cheerfuluess;
not so much because Of q willingness to
accept as valid tradition of the Church,
as out of sympathy with one OF its
most humaniziDg effects; and, indeed.
more out Of an instinct which finds its
origin in the better and gentler side of
human nature, have our people come,
within the past half century. to celebrate
Christmas with a universal sense Of
genuine and joyous heartiness and zest.
Under our broad and benefcent laws
the Republic has been led out Of its
,ramped and narrowing whims and ig-
noble prejudices. The world is the
school which has taught US what we
know and is teaching Us what We are
acquiring. Out Of the customs brought |
10 our shores by the constant tides Of |
people from the countries Of the old |
world, We are calling tho best and re-
Getting the least profitable and the least
adaptive. Rudy checked Britain brings
is Christmas holly and its heartful
'heer; stout Germany hangs our Christ.
mas trees with toys and fills our halls
With Christmas melody; Scandinavia
'urrounds our fresides with fascinating
egends and charms the ear with the re-
alton of enhancing passages from an
endless fund of mysterious lore; sunny
France and songful Italy, Switzer and
'c!ave, all bring with them the atmos-
,here and traditions Of the far-off home,
md in each home-life is q Christmas
which is tie years expression of hope
md human love and kindly cheer. And
IL these, mellowed and harmonized,
ach made better ty its transplanting,
nd all blended into a beautiful whole,
onstitute the Christmas we ell so much
njoy. It is a lesson unto itself and
reeds no profundity Ct Bible lore to in
erpret it or give it the basis Of an in.
elligent comprehension. It is an ex-
'ression of humanity's better self, just
s the Spring time is the season for the
of the grass, the mating of
he birds and the precious incense Of
weet wild flowers. It is the culmina-
ion and joyful emphasis Of our civiliza-
ion, purer and nobler grown, because
enderer and more tolerant, lof.ier and
carer to the graciousness of a season
abundant with holy thoughts and holy
spirations. End out of this prevailing
rGrit coneth that unconscious worship
.hich shames the Phslisee and con.
,unS the scoffer.
..&mor.al Love. forever full.
TNever flowing free.
raAer shared, forever whole.
gsr-ebbing sea!