Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-01-05
St. Louis Correspondence.

81 ioulS correspondence.
Ed. Register-A most deligh tful hol-
iday season has been enioyeh by the
people of St. L2uis-od and young,
high and low, rich and poor. The
churchs are quite active in the promo
ton of these festive occasions, through
their Sabbath schools. They com
menced last week to celebrate Christ
mas in various ways and novel devises
Children by the hundreds love to as
semble for a literary exercise and music,
followed by bountiful distribution of
candies. nuts and presents of numerous
characlers. Many of the school author
tiles not only remembered their own
children, but brought large gifts for
the poor and afflicted. Bags of flour,
sacks of potatoes, loads of coal, gar
mants of clothing. made hundreds
happy, who usually only know sorrow
and scaldirg tears. Our superintend-
ent sent out some $50 market baskets
among the members of the congrega-
ton, with the request that they he re-
turned with something useful for the
family. These baskets came back filled
to a rem arkably exact manner. Prob
ably not half dozen failed to report
"at these headquarters"
Once preacher took up collection,
or made the attempt, and finding moth
ing in the hat. he said very good nat
uredly: "F. thank you for lhe return
OF the hat" So this superintendent
could be thank full for the return of the
baskets. But that was not all. Next
day that church looked more like a sec
ond-hand store than a house of God.
Clothing food, toys and money, &C..
were slowed there in wonderful abund-
ance. These things were sorted out,
and by express wagons sent out over
the city to tie needy ones, who were
not able to come, or who had not the
courage to come and ask.
Last week the Flower Mission." a
society of benevolent ladies, visited the
hospitals and poor house and asylums
and gave out reading matter, and over
800 sacks of candies, nuts and toys.
The doctor at the female. hospital had
nice Christmas tree for the children
in that institution. Those little folks
had one rich oasis in the gloomy desert
of their lives. The House of Refnge
was similarly treated to holiday.
Chaplain Hagerty and his wife spent
all day Christmas among the sick and
poor, giving them reading matter and
testaments, as well as holding services
there. Not until the middle of this
week did these services close, aid yet
there will doubtless be many OF these
connected with New Year observance
How widelv these observances are
spread all over Christenjom. One o1
the rich outgrowths of Christ's life and
teachings. If not, why are they mol
observed ia heather and MohammedaI
lands? II not, why is not the birthday
os Aristotle, Scion. Licurgus, Bacon
| Alexander, the Caesars. or our own
Washington Or Franklin, thus cell
| brated? Why does the civilized world
pick out the birthday of the carpenter
son-he who had no where TO lay his
head the day of his birth, who was
condemned as public malefactor, anC
crucifed, as not fit to live among ment
Why this marked respect to the day o
His birth if he was but a man, a gooC
man, man far beyond bis times,
There have been many advanced mei
in this back ward world. This respsc
is not only shown by saints and pro
nounced followers of Christ, but men o
pronounced skeptlcal belief. jews ant
Infides. Did any one ever hear .
Col. Bob Ingersol berating the practice
of Christmas observance? Ask his wifi
and dalRiters if on that day heis more
kindly af3s1 gives more gifts than any
other in all the rounded year. Ever
theatres, ball rooms, and places o
doubtful character make a special da,
of Christmas. Some my say, they d.
, not observe it because of any reverenc,
for the day or its Lord. Well, If thi
is so, why do they not find some othe
day that would suit them just as wei
anii not thus give any apparent homo
J they profess to dishonor? Strange III
: deed TO see the church adopt the birth
/ day Of some noted inf1del for their da'
of special service because it might per
: chance be observed by many in tn
community. The church will never d
such thing. The infidei world shoul'
not, if cons sistent, observe Christmas a
!. they do. We are glad they do observe il
! however, and look upon that as on
evidence that Christ is gaining hol,