Delta chief., 1884-12-24
On Earth. Peace.
the Denver Inter-ocean.

From the Denver lnter-Ocean.
The mellow light of the Orient, shifting
vet chaDgeess through the nineteen centur-
les, falls with Christmas greeting on the
SHOWS of the Northland. In the depths of
Northern forests, where no Christmas chimes
ever sound except the whistle of the Decem-
Der wind and in the winding gulches of the
mountains. where no Christmas bell ever
rings excepting the clicking of the miners
pick, there is yet Ginning and a ringing as
the bright pine log blazes with the Yulc
burning-a Ginning and ringing through
memory of old-time frOlics and old-time
praise.
On earth, peace. The sneering materialism
of the age strides by with withering sarcasms,
and the encumbered knight OF anarchy rides
roughshod over the meek doctrines of the
Christ yet rising above all, firm in its ever
lasting love, that old blessing is heard year
after year, growing rather than waning
ION earth, peace" IL began in the humility
of the rnanger, began in the hearing of sim
pie shepherds, aud il has come through the
centuries with swelling tones. until the rails
and the wires echo the praise Of n universe.
echo the beneliction Of Infinite Loye-"On
earth, peace"
IL began in martyrdom. and thriyed in the
rhastly darkness of the Chtacombs. II went
with the sufferers rs they were cast to torture,
and it gained power with every quiver that
cruelty put into the flesh of faith. What
history of firmness is that of the first ceniur-
les of Christianity Yet there was no wavcr-
ing in the devotion to the Doctrine oi Peace; /;
and so it struggled through martyr,lon and
contempt until Constantine made IL the relig
ion Of the Empire.
Ii was then that the Christmas celebration
began. The early Christians had commem-
Grated tn. birth of the Savior on the 6sh Of
January; but yielding to existing festivals,
the Christian annual became a substitute for
the Roman Saturnalia in Italy, and for the
Twelve Sights.in the land of the Germanc
nations. The Sntrrnalia began on the l7th
Of December. and usually continued for sew
eral DAYS. IL was the season of leisure aud
equality, when master aud slave sat down 1t
the same table, for the nonce equal in human
rights. Thai the mass of Christ should be-
come Incorporated in this pagan festival was
natural sequence Of til. adoption OF Christ
ianity in Rome. In the Gernianic countries
the Twelve Nights began December 25, and
celebrated the conflict between the elements,
the season being supposed To mark the peri, d
when the forces of nature were battling for
mastery.
From the celebration of the Twelve Nights
IN Germany COMES the Christmas tree, it,
forerunner being the yy3rasl the tree Of the
bNIN'N, " SplluSr ait hHp VI NHach set7hra
tn ~alhaila. The evergreen decorations date
from the Druids, while the custom OF giving
presents was transferred from the day OF st.
Sicholas-the fifth OF Decembcr-tO Christ
mas day.
SO the Christmas of to-day Is n clcft-raft.
ing of pagan customs on the festival of Beth.
lehcin; but be the custom of celebration
what it may, the ruling spirit of the day is
that message which came TO the shepherds
and the wise men: Christ is born; there.
fcre, ON Garth, peace"