The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-08
Christmas ". ChriSliauItN.

It might well be q question whether or not
Christmas should he abolished. II IL have
any special significance IL is as religious les
tival. and yet there is no period OF the entire
twelve months when there Is SO much uls,
order and crime. There is dissipation anu
decentralization attending this anniversary
which belongs to no other In the wholc raicil-
dar, and yet II Is nominally that OF u wonder
fix rcli. iouS event. The very fact that Gus
tom allows a license ut this period whlrh IT.
tolcAeS at no other is fTauShc with peru. IL
Is to MdlIitudcs the beginning OF Il a"wiI
ward course that ends in mtffi'l wreck ana
ruin. The glaring incoGrnity btt"ccsi tnc
nature of the event ccmmcmoratcu ana lic
manner OF its celebration might well suggest
the propritty of ah0liShing Christmas allo
.rther. N time of general cnrouSal, SAT.
urna IM, ollaS become unfricndly TO all thai
"nusftu,os Christianity.-iSSOc SSOciute REFORMED
Presbyterian.
That Christmas is the beginning of down
ward course with some is no donbt true-tilat
it Is the time OF ~ general carouStl, Il satnrh'
aia," is not to be denied. But for all that we
hope that the Christmas may never be hb"i-
ished. The Christmas season, may furnish
to some excuses for dissipation, yet to others
it is u season of much joy ana happincsS--lhr
endowment of much pleasure that Is Hot III
consistent with the true and proper cclebri'
ton of the event which it is intended TO COM
memorate.
Let US, however, abolish those customs and
habits which are not only oljcctonablcat any
time, but which are offensive at n time when
civilized christian people are celebrating 'he
birth of their Saviour. Let us never cease u
make the children happy on Christmas Lc'
us meyer deny to the young the enjoyment oi
innocent pleasures and the delights which
honest mirth always brings. Let us never
depy TO older persons that great pleasure
which comes from making child harpF'
and let us never deny to them the gratiica-
ton which fathers and mothers receive In
contributing to the very existence OF thrlr
children.
We nrc unable to see how n christian pco-
pie, in a civilized country, can engage In Il
drunken debauch, or in cruel sports, that In
volve the life and suffering of any bcing-thc
handiwork of the Ruler OF the universe.
In connection with this, we hope TO bc par
doned for referring to practice which, we
are informed, has prevailed during Chrlsl
mas times about here for several years. we
refer to what is called shooting matches,
where the price of the animal or fowl is dt'
yidcd into small sums, when each may pays
| the price, and shoots at n mark, the man
max ing the best shot, TO take the amman ol
fowl. Looking through our glasses, That Is
species Of gambling, and anything which
promotes or encourages the spirit OF gam
bling must be evil and only evil. In every
heart. there is desire to get much for little
and II that desire is not curbcd and sup
pressed by that principle which should con-
troll, we are easily led into habits which will
finally encompass our ruin. The only safety
from gambling is never TO engage In game
Of chance. If, however, men will gamble, lei
them go into games which will have at least,
The greater privacy to recommend them.