Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-12-18
CHRISTMAS COMING.
rnE BELLS BEGIN no JINGLE.
" Peace on Earth, TO ncn GOOD wni'-Tno
Christmas Letter MiFsion--A Charity
That Deserves ApproD<ttpn.


" Peace on Earth, TO mcn GOOD wln'-Tno
Christmas Letter Mtrsion--A charity
That Deserves Appreciation.
Tho cold snap OF last week, followed by
the only snow fall Of any consequences this
season the collection Of winter green's
and Christmas trees IN Coutro Square
tho crowded thoroughfarcs during shop
ping hours aud tho briskCr scenes aud
signs In centres of trade aud In tho toy
marts, all tell of tho approach of Christ
mas. With tho indications that bespoak
merry times for happy households and the
gift giving aud gilt Cotting that mark the
observance of tho season among the well
to do, 1t Is to DO hoped that common
charity, which is thrice blessed, will in
spirc each one TO remember those ~
greatest need Of attention. Their number
is large but IL Is not nearly as great rs
OF them who can bo helpers it they will.
The poor aud sick, the suffering and sor.
rowing, the inmates of hospitals and
almshouses, and cvon Of the jails, merit
charitable attention in this gIadsomo
season.
4 PIRisowotlhy Mission.
Ono of tho most beuehccut agencies for
such work that has yet been established
is tho Christmas letter mission of the {.
l.. NJ, "a It is usually called, which was
started about eight years ago in England.
| 1t was begun and has beon carried out
entirely by ladies' in n thoroughly syste'
matic way. Its object was to distribute
on Christmas morning a Christmas letter
aud card to each one of the inmates OF tho
| hospitals, almShouscs. orphans homes aud
prisons of England. Tho success
OF the mission was wonderful, the
English people responding so willingly
and gladly that no difiSulty was found in
collecting the small amount OF money
necessary Efforts wero then made &c
| establish branch missions in other coun-
tries. Last years report speaks for itself
In addition 70 the distribution throughout
Great Britain tho letters were generally
distributed in France, Germany, Italy
| Belgium, Spain, aud even IN India anC
China, and Of course translated into al
these different languages. Last Christina
the mission was organized 10 the United
States aud met with a cordial reception
The letters are simply and prcttily writer
50 that even the most ignorant can under
stand them. They tell the Christina
story to these poor, sick aud suffering
people, aud try to show them why the,
too should rejoice on the SaviOur's birth
day, inasmuch as tho glad tidings wcr
for all mankind. The cards arc brigh
and pretty and much moro suitable for tn
day than the more elaborate ones We Oftc
see. That the letters and cards Civ
pleasure has boen Gbuudlntly proved b.
the notes received by the ladies from som
Of the recipients.
Tho Lancaster Branch,
Those who distribute thom in our p10i
house, hospital aud prison say that it wa
touching to SEQ with what eager dcllgb
the inmates received tho letters, read theI
TO each other, compared tho bright card
aud expressed in their own way their al
probation OF tho fact that some one I'D
remembered them at Christmas time, an
Ia the hospital, how the wan pale face
grew little brighter as they drew th
, letters from uGder their pillows, and ho'
the sad hearts seemed cheered and con
forted by the loving words Of interest an
sympathy.
. If this were all, surely it would
enough, but somo of tho seed must IA
{ on good ground aud will bring forth fru
> in due season, aud it was lie whose birtt
day We would fitly celebrate who said
"Iuasmuch as 30 did it unto one Of tl
r least of these My brethren, yo did 1t unt
i. Me- 10 the Eastern country there a
r certain times when, ata signal given frOt
( the mosques, the pIOus Moslems, wheTey
they may DO, pause in their work, fall c
: their knees and deVoutly offer up the
! | prayers to Allah. There IL something vel
: | beautiful in this idea Of united prayers, b
D I equally beautiful is the thought that {
t the glad morning of Christmas Day, OF
2 wishes for happiness and peace should
spoken not only IN our own bright hOm
Il and TO our own dear friends, but that q
? echo should be heard through tho lCnG
n and breadth of our land, and reach &
r ears and touch the hearts Of the homele'
Y the sick and tho sOTrOwfll.