The Newtown bee., 1879-12-24
Christmas.

The thought that most impresses one
when the bells ring cut upon the frosty
air of Christmas morn is the strength of
that influence, which, starting almost
nineteen centuries ago with an unknown
band of enthusiasts in an obscure and
insignificant region, has expanded until
il includes the world within it's domino
ton. The heavenly light that rose upon
the Judean hills, when the angelic chorus
sang the gospel of "Peace on earth,
goodwill to men," is now q cireumam-
bient radiance. The nations where its
fuller splendor rests are those whose
progress is the greatest, whose civiliza-
ton is the most enlightened, and in
lands where it's rays are still dimmed by
ignorance and superstition chill OBJ
struction seems to press upon the intel
lect and energies of the people. That
the atmosphere of Christianity is essen
| tial to the development of civilization,
is common fact of history. And yet
how incredible and impossible such re-
suits would have appeared to human
| comprehension at the time of the Sa-
vior's ministry. The philosophers of
Greece and Rome-wise men, and many
| of them devout seekers after God-were
pursuing their unavailing speculations
upon the nature and destiny of man at
the time when God was revealing the
heavenly solution of the inscrutable
problem. The mighty genius of the
Roman empire gave direction to the
development of man. A fexile and
adaptive religion was interviewer with
all the social relations and activities.
Gould any reasonable man OF that day
have believed that the doctrines preached
by member of subject people in q
small pro- consulate of the great empire
would have overthrown the gods Of
Rome. and gone conquering all over the
world2
The very observances OF the day show
the power of Christianity to penetrate
and fuse together all the social customs
We do not know with exac 'ness the year
nor the month, nor the day of the Sa
vior's birth; indeed, the day which
usage has fixed upon is the most impro
bable Of all. The observance of Christ
mas as church festival dates from abou
the middle of the fourth century, and i
was long before there was an agreement
upon the matter among the differen
branches of the church. But from tai
most ancient times the winter solstic'
has been period Of popular rejoicing
l AA0 Latlu3 OOlbIC BLU 0CIultbA lhCCo u
that time celebrated their great feasts
The mistletoe, the holly and the iv.
come down to us from the rites of tn
Druids. The custom of making gift
was peculiar to the Roman Saturnalia
which for O time restored the equalit.
and brotherhood of man, which wa
tabled to have existed in the golden age
When Christianity became controlling
influence in the progress of civilization
it transmitted these popular holiday
into church festivals. It was nature
, that the period of great popular rejoic
| ing should be turned to the commemora
tion of that event for whicn mankind ha
it's greatest reason for happiness, and s
, we have our Christmas Day inextricabl
, interviewer with Christian traditions
/ And in like manner our civilization, on
morality, and our civil polity are firml
, imbedded in Christianity. Strive to tea
,, away the one, and you drag down til
other .-Bnltinaore american.