Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-12-24
aanraster :9ntellige11rer.
SATURDAY EVENING, DEC. "a. 1881.
CHRISTMAS:


CRRISTNIAS:
Tonight the world hears again the story
of the events which ushered in this
Christian era Of its life. Down nearly
nineteen centuries this story has come and
it has not grown old. Nor have the genera
tions OF men tired relating it, listening to
it and repeating it. The same joyful song
fills the land tonight as when to fright
ened shepherds angel choirs sang "Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good will to men,
Such music, as It's said,
Before was never made.
But when of old the sons of morning sung,
While the Creator great,
HIS consultations set,
And the well balanced world on hinges hung
And cast the dark foundations deep,
And bid the weltering worlds theiroozy chan
ncls keep.
The Same stars look calmly down upon
a troubled world and point the Way, as
shone above the procession of the wise
men, who journeyins from the East to
Jerusalem, rejoiced with exceeding great
joy when their celestial guide stood over
where the child Jesus lay. In that manger
were Graded all the hopes and all the de-
velopment of this new age and the pro.
cession of all these later centuries, SO big
with history, has been led by the Star of
Bethlehem. The light of the world is the
light which flooded Judca's hills.
1t would be useless to deny and it is
needless to repeat the proofs of the verify
of the events upon which this celebration
is founded. Tho civilized world testifies
its acceptance by the general festivities OF
Christmas. In every land where the tidings
and tho blessings of the gospel have
reached tho anniversary of tho Redecmer's
birth is kept by an outburst of joyousncss
and 10y the exercise of those virtues which
make happy homcs and hence strong
nations. The people who believe in Chris
tianity are in the vanguard of civilization.
We are yet far from the millennium, but tho
world is getting better; and to the birth,
the life and death of Christ it owes what
makes for its civilization to day. The
Christian era is it's golden age. Those
who dispute this arc a small minority OF
the worlds thinkers or of the figures i'll its
great events. We cannot stop in this
Christmastidc to poll those who would
gainsay it. They arc numerous, to be
sure, but no man who apprehcDds the
philosophy Of history will thus ignore the
logic of events.
Christmas is essentially tho holiday fol
the cOmmemoratiOn of charity, that cardi.
nal virtue of the Christian faith. This is
the holy impulse which it calls out every
where, and this tho feeling of those who
keep Christmas as it merits keeping. Its
gracious memories stir this feeling and al
its tender observances nave their root ir
love. Its feast;ns and home gatherings
its gift-siving and the gay trees, blazing
with lights and toys, arc emblematic O
the principle which is the life OF Christi
anity.
Hence it is that wherever he goes the
man born in Christendom carries. Christ
mas with him in his heart, and, as is else
where furcibly recalled, DR.. Kane at tLt
North pole, and Dr. Prime on the Equator
were alike mindful of the holy season.
Our own Christmas, like our nationalit,
is composite. We borrow the principa
features Of its celebration from those two
nations which, sprung from common stock
have most deeply impressed thcmselvc:
upon our social institutions. The feast
ing Of the Christmas season, and mucl
that is bright and joyful, come to us b.
inheritance from England. The Christmas
tree and "a!l that are transplanted from
German soil. But it grows most luxuri
antly here. Tho American Christmas !:
original in its entirety if not in it's parts
and after all the feature of the Christma
dinner, the Turkcy-to day we spell i
with biz T-is an American bird.
The INTELLIGENCER feels the spirit o
the season. To all its patrons, its advcr
tisers and its readers, with all that th,
term implies, it wishes MERRY CHRIST
MAS.