American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-12-27


The LORD OF all good Christians was OF a
woman born.
Before this issue of the CITIZEN
is put to press, Christmas will have
come and gone. Christmas, consId
cred merely from realistic or ma.
terislistlc standpoint, differs in no
essential element from other days
that go to make up the cycle OF
the ages. There is no especial
hitch IN the earth's axis, no stands
Jug still of the sun, no reversal oi
the water courses, or other great
natural phenomenon, to denote that
any unusual event is progressing.
Nevertheless, by reason of associa-
ton with the nativity of JESUS OF
Nazareth, this day is commemorate
ed by more members of the human
race than any other that cutters in
to the calendar OF time. From fro
Zen Lapland, where the breath of
man is concealed AZ it leaves the
uostrils, to the lands beneath the
great Southern Cross, where the
blazing sun is now ripeniDg grain
and grass for the harvest, aud men
seek refuge from it's fiery glance in
deepest shade and cooling draughts
from free and enlightened Ameri-
ca to the dark dominions of be-
n;ghted Neutrality-suspicious., in
every inhabitable parallel OF lati
tude and Iongitude-in crowded
cities and amid remotest wil;!s, (for
the missionary and the evangelist
have penetrated into all the regions
of the EARTH there will be some to
take note Of and observe this bright
est of red letter days III the Chris
tian calendar;-and all because a
Child was born in n manger in
village among the mountains OF
Judea 1879 years ago; and because
that lowly born Babe WAS the Son
of the Everything GOD, and the
sacrifice that He made to redeem
tie sins of the fallen children Of
Adam has ameliorated the condi>
ton of man in every succeeding
age, in all lands and on every sea-
for where the divine truths of His
benefcent religion have failed to
supplant other creeds they have at
least influenced and modified them,
and thus the sufferings and sOr-
rows of humanity have been les.
sened.
This. then, is why we make special
note of Christmas-to commemorate
the birth of the Saviour of man.
kind-the most momentous event
in the annals of the world, next tC
that which took place on Calvary
amid the rolling of the earth, the
darkening of the sun, aud the rend
ing of the holy vail in Gods chief
temple. 1t is not for us-a sinner
of sInpers-to pursue further the
train of thought which the subject
brings up that is the province OF
the preacher.
Christmas is properly the occa'
sion of much mirih and merry max
ing. In Europe tho day is usheret
in by Christmas carols and psaIms
of praise the morning is spent in
the churches, which are decorate d
with flowers and...evergreens; and
the evening is given up to sports
and games, singing, dancing and
drinking. In our Own country. the
forepart of this programme is toe
much overlooked, and too often the
day is marked by drunkenness
rOwdyism, and a general license o.
conduct unbecoming TO men who
have been reared beneath tho
:.sounds of the church going bell
Let every body have eggnogg-le'
the boys have their toddies in mod
eration-let the girls have their mis-
tletoes, and shake their toes, and
the merry dance go on. But on
this holy day all things should be
done decently and in order-tO the
end that there may be "peace and
good will on earth, and glory to
God in the highest"
The holidays now passing are
the happiest that our people have
seen in many long years. In fact
those years have been SO burdens
some the expressions of the South
have been 80 bitter and uDrelenting;
our people have been SO weary and
heavy laden ; that the present seas
son of partial prosperity is as sill
yer lining to the great cloud OF
gloom that has SO long hung over
us, The labors of the husbandman
have brought forth q rich harvest ;
the business of the merchant is in
creased and remuneratiee; the taxes
of government have been lightened /;
there ia no political agitation now
pending to work bitterness aud. un>
kindness from one to another, our
country is at peace with all man
Kind and 1avOrflv MIGHT tho man