Daily Republican., 1884-12-24

nntared u the Post-o fice ut Whining
n, Del, - sscond class mail matter
UEDHEsDAY. DECEMBEk "a. -.
Ins iss4sh Uhrss,Wss.
Christmas is here again, rs bright,
~ fresh and a. new as ever. 1t came
lss, times before, but somehow 10 never
vearies us with its continual coming
1t il old and yet 1t is.ever young. OF
IA anniversaries, it 10 the one that
brings ms ths greatest smount OF good
cheer and pleasure. Aliover the wide
Christian world Christmas " honored
and celebrated. 1t v one of the amir
yorzarics that knows no nationality, no
srssd, no sslgr, no condition of sonlety.
Thru b sninent1y proper and right /;
srst becsuso ~ MI have 3 personal in
ssross In the occasion, and because the
sreat eohe csuss Of christmas festivities
Is moi only sths Saviour jof the world,
but ne personAr Saviour Of each indi-
yidusi ID tha world, .4,
Then, fo5 thi4 cause, We, for the time.
- AmaIieaaS, lose sight of our Fourth
u gAy, oqsl twenty second Of February,
sur New NeAc, onr Thanksgiving, and
sven our Decor Atnn, day, sacred as are
ffs msnYogiss, and turn TO the observ-
,sncS Sf ths great Christmas anniversary.
Hero "a bo1mon ground upon which
Pagan and .UhrissiaH, MAhommed2n
and Jew; sUrange,hAh and freshman,
Catholic and Protestant, Dsmocrat aud
ESpubfcAn, can nj meet, 1t is An an
nfsersary, Dot Of tie birth of Washing
hon, but Of ,tha Saviour of mankind
The long mutations Of time and mist of
ages may have cast a shadow over the
-sxact time OF the birth Of Christ. but OF
one thing W. araasuured, and that Is
ahat he WAS born. The time u not
material, nsishes Is the place, but upon
tho latter poiot We grope not in the
ARK. It was less difficult to liz and
keep IN mind the place, the surrounding
and the incidents connected with the
great event than the exact day OF the
year whsn II occurred. Imperial de-
efees have changed the commen cement
Of the year, but no princely mandate
has eve. yet stopped the evolutions OF
the earth, that make day and its annual
orbit around The sun that marks spring,
summer, autumn and winter. Angus
tus CD,ar could say that the year
shoald commence in spring or autumn
nmmmcr Or winter, a. he saw proper, but
he had not the power TO either shorten
on lengthen the year. We neel not
wonder, then, that the exact day Of our
Saviouf's birth has been lost 81 Eht OF,
though 1t wa known to have occurred
very close tn the time we celebrate
FOR the Occasi N.
The grand theme above all others,
The circu n stances Of his birth are not
lnft TO conjecture. Il was in the little
town OF Bethlehem here all the people
had gathered TO be taxed. There was
no room for poor, humble parents in the
inn, and they were sho,el aside and
forced to occupy the stall where the
horned oxen fed This Is condition
of society that r, mains unchanged until
she present day. The humble places OF
earth contain Christ's chosen people.
Tbere il no dispute thar the birth Of
oar Saviour occurred in the night fol-
1t was
While Shepherds vat. he'd their flock by
All seated the roua
The ange "a Vi the Lord { ..l.e Gown,
AMI lorJ enc arOuni."
Ii was in the night when the angel
voices broke forth into gladness singing
Glory TO Cod IN the Highest, and OF
earth, peace, good will toward men,"
1t was AT Bethlehem where the wis.
men, guide. BY mysterious star tina
never ceased TO shine day and night
found the infant Saviour, sand around
his infant form they spread their gift,
OF gold, frankincense and myrrh, en-
bIematic Of the bestowal of Christina,
gifts OF the present day, As these wis,
men OF the Fast showed the generosit
N their natures and the kindness O
their hearts, in the bestowal of gifts IL
honor Of that first Christmas morning
1t is mete and proper that a custom
frangbt with so much joy and pleasur
should be continued.
In the l8Sith Christmas anniversar,
There is no bethlehem nor an oxen
ai2u containing an infant Christ a
whose shrine the people can bow n
Ehristlike fora around which the chris
1an world Can gather and spread thei
treasures, bot there is risen Sayiou
who is always ready 70 accept the CRATE
fnl tribute OF loyal christian hearts 4
Hnn let all hearts be offered upon thi
glad Christmas occasion, and in the b,
stowal Of our Christmas offerings let Il
remember that our Saviour while o
narth said Of those who visited the Sit
and needy that lnasmueh az J
afd 1t unto one Of the least of these, IN
ssssthern, ye did unto me. "