Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-12-27

A Chrisanaaa Talk.
Before this paper reaches ou
readers they win have engaged il
the celebration, one way or another
of the Christmas festival, an obsery
ance which, in an infinite variety
Of modes, is retained by a Target
/ number Of. the human race perhaps
than any other known periodical fes
tival, and the human race is much
to be congratulated that the observ.
ance has become so universal. Not
only wherever the European race
are scattered in the four quarters Of
the globe, but among the HISTORIAN
Christians of Syria and Asia Minor,
among the Armenians at the very
! foot of Ararat, the cradle of the post
diluvian race of man among the
half-savage Abysinnians, a race of
Christians whose very existence as
Christian people seems to have
been forgotten by the rest of Christ
endom for centuries-everywhere
by some festal rite, by some amen
ity of socialintercourse, the nativity
of the Messiah, the infancy of the
holy babe of Bethlehem, is recOg-
nized with joy and thankfulness as
the greatest boon and mercy to the
hnman race.
Nor does it matter to US pins
difference whether it be really the
anniversary of the birth Of Jesus.
We have very great doubts whether
at its first institution it was even
intended as an anniversary; a cele-
bration is not necessarily an ami
versary. The festival of Easter, for
instance, is certainly not an ami
versary. Its date varies within a
range of several weeks every year,
depending upon the phase of the
moon at the vernal equinox. Nor
does the allegation trouble us that
the dates of these festivals are those
of certain pagan festivals, which we
have no doubt to be true; it only
inspires us with an admiration of
the wisdom of those early Chris
tians, who, finding that they could
not wean the simple villagers from
their annual festival and sports,
kept them up, but taught them.
truer and more beautiful legends to
associate them with and purer and
happier observances wherewith to
celebrate them.
TO us the piOus thought which
stamped upon the year for
nearly half its course the remem-
brance of the leading events of that
wOndrous life passed through by
Jesus the Son of Mary, which has
been left as the ideal life for all hui
manity in all ages of the world-to
us, we say, the holy thought,
whenever it may have originated,
seems closely akin with the idea of
the apostolic writers, which identi-
fies the Christian life with the same
series of events, where, for instance,
they speak of the new life as a being
born anew in the likeness of his
BIRTH of the eXtirpation of vicious
lusts is a crucifying of the old man,
and ofthe revival of spiritual life as
associated with his resurrection. 1t
will besaid of course that the one is
the other uninspired. We
recognize the distinction and bow
to it; but in one sense every good /
thing is Inspired, and we look upon /
it as happy inspiration which has /
upon the Christian year |
the same series of events which to |
the apostles were the. symbols and /
Of the Christina DE.
And now how should We keep |
Christmas Certainly not sas a /
gloomy and aseetic obserSsnee. 1t /
is festival! If we don't enjoy il we /
don't keep it at all. StilIlsOss should
we keep it as spell of drunken
revelry. That Is a return to the dis
solute pagan rites which the Christ
ian festival had so happily super
,eded. If we had to select a conn
pendious rule for true Christmas
enjoyment we should seek it in the
words of one who said, Become
even as one of these little ones"
Return to the simplicity and facile
of childhood, and, to
earn how to do this, go and learn
Of its appropriate teachers, the chill
lren themselves; help them with
heir Christmas tree, fill the stock
ng, learn to rejoice with their glad
less, to sympathyze with their
happiness. Break of at least for a
lay with the sOrdid pursuit of gain,
he angry rivalries, the bitter ami
nOsities in which the ceaseless avoca-
ions of this restless and feverish
BE forever involve us. Be a child
With the children once again, and
rour life will be the purer and better
OF it for many days thereafter.