Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-23
THE CHRIsTMAs SEASON.

The Christmas season is near at hand,
and such sermons as are to be preached
from that text are timely now The sea-
son itself, as holiday event, has grown
out of and beyond the doctrinal environ
ment that once hedged it about. Yet it is
not to be said that it has lost the Christian
character in which it had its genesis That
which it now typifes is that which, from
the first of its observances, marked it with
peculiar characteristics. 1t is, perhaps as
strong proof of the lofty principles and
the sublimity of character which distin-
guish pure religion now as it ever was
The enduring quality of the festival itself
testiHes to the need for it on the part Of
mankind. That its infu nee is felt
and acknowledged by men and women
who do not accord to the doctrines of
Christianity the verify claimed for them,
is powerful Endorsement Of the sublime
code that breaches only good well to men,
peace upon the earth and charity to all.
As 4 people, it comes to us with much of
promise, and bengnant features smiling
down upon us in all kindness, and with
hopeful auguries that cheer the hearts of
men and lift up the dropping spirits Of the
weary and unfortunate. In this week the
whole Christian world bends the knee and
does homage at the shrine of human
charity, and does service at 1.-THE
altar Of the loftiest of all the virtues.
With all its early portents of i'll, and all
Its discouragements and dependency, the
year that the festival season closes has not
been one to be regretted. That greater i'll
has not befaIlen us is cause for rejoicing.
F. Other nations sit in sackcloth and ashes.
In other lands the political sky is all over
cast, and the social life of the people is
one of unrest and trouble. The pestilence
elsewhere has stalked at MONDAY, and
printed upon hundreds of thousands of
wan checks the tale of its fearful woes
With rs, while there has not been abund-
ance, there has not been biting want. Our
scrip may be meager, but neither the visi-
tations Of plague nor awful commissions of
nature have been ours. The Christmas
time is with us, spans our sky with a
bow of bright promise, and wears the
sheen of JOY on all its robes. II invites the
American people to thankfulness, to kindly
remembrance, to rejoicing and to merry
making. 1t comes to draw closer hearts
that may have been drifting apart. 1t
comes to bid us to forgive and seek for
giveneSs; to extend and to expect mercy
to hear the cry of distress and reach forth
helping handi to listen to the plant of
the needy, only to asSuage it; to minister
with gentle palms and secret charity; to
lift the dropping and uphold the faint and
discouraged. 1t comes TO us as a
reminder of our duties to God and
our fellow men. 1t tells us to re-
new old loves, and more tenderly than ever
cherish the priceless treasure of the hearts
tAat cling to ours. 1t is peculiarly the
children's season, one that gladdens their
hearts. fills their faces with the sunshine
o. pure love, and glorifrs their innocent
ntures with a reflection of the very light
OF heaven itself He is more than wan
tonly cruel who at this season viii do
aught to cloud the brow of youth, or cause
single heartache among the little ones.
They may not sit at grooming boards, or
revel in the luxuries of wealth; they may
taste biting poverty and sip of the bitter
cup Of want, bat among them all there is
not one who will not find and revel in its
ray Of sunshine, or fix upon some cause for
joyfulness in this season of peace and love.
Over all the land there is heard the note
of preparation for the hour when the chill
dren shall raise the glad shout Of rejoicing
that ushers in day breathing, be it in
storm or from smiling skies, JOY and peace
and blessedneSs and love. Let us all do
what we may to swell the carol that hangs
even now trembling in expectation upon
millions of childish lips In that pure
song of child-lovewe may hear note from
the choir Of heaven itself, and in the CLEAN
,of these innocent conferences catch a
GLIMPSE of the resplendent radiance that