Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-12-25
Christmas.
Editor Sentinel !:


This festival so treasured and revered by
the whole Christian world Is again with U.S.
bringing happy thoughts and scenes of re-
union and joyful festivity. In its celebra-
tien millions of souls are in communion
The people of the older civilized nations
and many others raised from barbarism by
the cross of Christ in later years are united
by a common bond of sympathy and senti-
ment, awakened by the sacred name and
commemoration Of the birth of our Redeem
er, who was born in the cow stable at Beth
lehem in Judea, eighteen hundred and nine
ty-one years ago, and whose precious little
form was laid in the manger, to sleep just
as the mother should lay any little infant to
sleep who shall come into the world this
morning. His coming and the important
circumstances surrounding His birth were
foretold by the prophets in the Old Testa-
ment, together with many of the remarka-
BILE scenes that occurred during His advent
on earth, which covered period OF thirty.
three years.
AS we are drawn together around our
homes in this joyful season we shall, in
many families, miss some of those precious
ones whom we cherished in sweet compan-
ionship on many happy occasions in the
past. Their forms, their countenances, their
bright words and laughter, will all rise up
will cast shadow over the bright and sun
ny scenes of joyfulness. Mothers and faith
ers will miss the smiles and forms of chill
dren, sisters and brothers, loving husbands
and wives, friends parted from each other,
separated on earth, but through the death
and promise of that Divine Infant, severed
to be united in realms where there is no
parting to mar the blssful companionship.
We shall long for the loved ones who have
preceded US through that mysterious vale,
but let us not reflect tinge of gloom over
the cheer and happiness of those who are
still with u.s. Let US enter with all becom-
ing grace into the enthusiasm of the young,
and as far as we may be enabled to do so
provide all reasonable accompaniments of
joyful commemoration Of the greatest of all
Christian festivals, and do every thing we
may to foster and perpetuate in their hearts
the same cherished impression OF this time
and its associations that we retain ourselves.
All the great authors OF fiction of modern
times have exercised their genius and talents
in the portrayal of the most charming pic
lures OF the celebration of the Christmas tes-
tval with the varied customs of different
Christian countries and perhaps many of
us are really more imbued with impressions
received from reading these beautiful de-
scriptions than from actual experience OF
Jul oWu. Dut uO uldttcT ilOtu Wu6uC6 VIC
get the impression OF Christmas, which is
so charming to the Imagination, we should
always remember that there is beautiful
and wholesome lesson that should be taken
into our hearts and impressed there by
the bountiful happiness OF this anniversary.
And whilst we celebrate the birth OF our
Saviour, we should also contemplate His
life and character and His sufferings, and
His agony and fiua death upon the cross
for our redemption. The history OF all the
world presents no other character to COM
pare with Him even in his human person.
ality, and if for the sake of our happiness in
this life, without regard for our condition
alter death, or any religious view of the per-
lection Of Christ, 1t would be the most con
sstent wisdom for us to read the New Tes.
lament and study it closely that we might
inlbbe deeper sense Of the fascinating per.
fection of His life and character, and the de-
sire to conform our lives 10 the model which
is presented in that of Our Saviour. And
remember that those traits were not Divine,
but the highest exempliflcation of human
virtue.
He was gentle, patient, forbearing, charit-
able, industrious, straightforward and un
selfish. And though exhibiting the most
exalted fortitude in his own agony and per-
secution, His heart was so tender for others
that lie WepJ Wnen tOo Oh Lne Qeatn oi
Lazarus. All these are hum an virtues, and
by faithful and sincere study of the perfect
life in which they are presented and deep.
rooted wish to emulate them we must be-
come happier and more valuable members
of society," besides awakening in our souls
more earnest impression and conviction of
that religion which originated in Him, the
anniversary of whose birth almost all the
civilized world is now united in celebrating.