The Washington critic., 1886-12-24
CHRISTMAS.

CHRISTMAS.
The great religious festival of the
year is again at hand. II was first eel
ebrated at Bethlehem upon the plains
of Judea, nearly twenty centuries ago,
and with each recurrence of the sacred
anniversary, the orthodox believer re.
verts to that wondrous night of grace,
which, amidst the songs of angels, the
worship Of the wise men and the reso-
nant acclaim Of the astOuishod shep-
herds, witnessed the nativity of the
Founder of his Faith.
To those who feel the full spiritual
force and significance of the event
about to be commcmorated in thou
sands of churches and millions of
happy homes, and realize that herein
was wrought miracle involving the
eternal welfare of the human family,
the occasion is fraught, Of course, with
an intensity of interest that attaches to
no other feast day; while in the very
nature of things the observance of
festival that appeals to the best and
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the characteristics Of secular rs well
as religious celebration, and has made
this of all others peculiarly the holiday
season of the year in many countries
and for many generations.
And we'll 1t Is that the throbbing
energies of our worll-day world should
take restful pause upon this great fes-
tival and invoke fresh inspiration for
the duties of life from the unkempt
cradle of the Lord.
In presence so humble, yet of such
sublime import-amid surroundings so
ignoble, yet gilded with the lustre of
oriental stars even the uubeliever may
drink to his souls rcfreshment from
the fountains of peace and good will
that were there unsealed and be
prompted to eXemplify, in broader
and more unseliish spirit, the virtues
that not only fit us for the contingen.
cies of the unknown future, but go so
far towards making better and brighter
The rough pathways of the present.
Therefore while duly honoring a day
so hallowed by old and unfading asso.
Citations, and improving to the utter
most all opportunities which it presents
for rational enjoyment and the ex-
change of kindly remembrances, let us
bear in mind that among our fellow
creatures there are many to whom the
happy Christmas chimes make molan-
choly music and about whose hearts
the evergreens are withered. We have
not far to go-only around the corner,
perhaps, or down you cherries alley
TO find little children whose eyes look
wistfuily out upon the winter for gifts
that rarely come, and worn mothers,
shiyering by the dead embers, with the
awful thought that the Babe of Bethle-
hem was not born for tLem
This, too, in Christian land and
among Christian people, within a
stones throw of palatial churches, pos.
sibly within the sound of the preacher i
voice, dwelling upon the boundless
measure Of the Suvior's love and ap.
pealing to his congregation for money
to save the heathen of Borrioboola. Cha
This is not as it should be; and all
honor to the noble efforts now being
made in Washington through individ
ual and organized effort that ii shall mo-
be so tomorrow.
Best blessed are they who out OF theii
abundance, or even modest superlluity
rekindle the fires that have gone out
upon the poor woman's hearth and re
plenish her desolate larder with gener
Gus cheer, causing her wan-faced chill.
dren to be glad that Christmas come
and that Gods poor are not always t.
be forgotten. 1t is benevolence lik,
this that BELTS the day and Furnishes /
with glory.
Better than gold, or frankincense o.
myrrb, the sweet charity that wreathe
despair with hope and plants roses IL
the desert.
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