Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-12-25
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The season of Peace and Good Will is
with us; the festival peculiarly that of
the children by virtue Of the Event it
commentaries comes to US with the re-
curing years, bereft Of none of its at
fractions and it finds our regard for it
increased, as though distance of time
lends it enchantment. Habit and
desire for relief from toll lead lis up
to the observance Of many holidays,
but we believe that there is more gen.
uine feeling; deeper appreciation
and less of habit and desire for relaya-
ton in the observance of Christmas,
than in all others combined.
There is much significance in these
f;acts, if facts they are as we believe,and
it contradicts nothing but the atheistic
modern philosophy, to assert belief in
Divine influence that exerts itself
1nysteriously on the human heart (o1
mind) warming it, in spite of itself, TO-
wards the Natal day Of the Son of God.
We have said that it contradicts
nothing, save some of our modern phil
osophies, to believe that such an infu-
ence is exerted now we go further and
say that such belief becomes almost me-
cessary, if not decidly so.
Patriotism wanes and the celebration
OF the Fourth of July, except as mat
ter Of form, is now next to being obso-
lete; reverence Of Washington as mark
ed ty the observance of February 22nd
fails decidedly by comparison with for
mer Years; Thanksgiving day. which
should be one decidIy marked in re-
cosnition of present benefits, Is observ-
ed principally by the Proclamation
New Years Dayssecures all that is Civ
en- it, by the accident of its birth, seven
days after Christmas; all, every one of
them, fail in having the moving i'm
pulse towards a hearty observance that
Christmas inherlts and patriotism and
other faiths than religion seem at
times to us to take the deepest hold on
men, stirring them to more brilliant
deeds, melting them smore decided
views and more etiectually controlling
their minds and actions. Such being
the case, as we believe it to be, We
again revert to the view that it contra
diets nothing and that it is necessary
to believe that the affection shown for
Christmas by men of all creeds and
many of no creed at all, shall be ex-
planned by an agreement that this Fes
tival has charm given it that comes
not of habit, nor desire for relaxa-
ton, nor by any trait of the human
mind as we see it exercised under kin
dred circumstances, but that it has
been set apart and blessed as day of
Good VIII and rejoicing by that Being
whose nativity it celebrates.
We have been lead into the consid-
GRAFTON Of this subject principally be-
cause we believe that few recognize the
great difference that has come upon us
as Il people in the matter of our obser-
vance Of all other holidays and that
they fail to contrast that fact with the
fact that if there has come any differ
ence in the observance Of Christmas, it
is in its being more hearty and more
general. If by such consideration we
are able to add to the love for Christ
mas by proving it due, We will be more
than content, we shall be rejoiced for
we do love Christmas and deny it as in
any measure lessening our dignity OF
manhood to say that we await it with
something Of our old boyish feeling and
would that the feeling We're deeper.
Glorious old Festival
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