The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-12-12
CHRISTMAS DUTIES.
JUNlUS HENRI BROWNE ON BELlEV-
ING AND DOING.
Broad Religious Influence of the Day.
Morality and Humanity = What Jesus
Was and What He Labored For Mans
Conduct His Qualification.

Wa, and What He Iahored Far Mana
-. ~ .,a..
'' nm "'o"'
Copyright, Iss5. by American Pre- Aa4,ciA
ton.I
Nearly all the early Ghristinn festivals
which are still cxtant were shrewdly found
ed on the pagan festivals preceding them.
80 that the influence Of the old and the
new could be united and identified Christ
mas, as commemorative of the birth 81
jesus, is an exception, having been reli
gious from the beginning The day u the
event was not agreed on until the fourth
century, when, by an inquiry VI theole-
gians Dec. "a WAS decided To be the date
which has been observed ever since In
this country tho gloomy, morbid Puritans
earnestly opposed any celebration Of Christ.
mas as sasoring Of the scarlet woman.
especially II Of social Or cOnyivial
kind, for they regarded all pleasure,
however innocent, as wicked. thinking
to gam heaven In tie next world
by making Il hell OF this The mas Of
Americans. whether Young or old. no
longer couple the day With theology. IEeY
consider II time for taking substantial
comfort and making merry. Chr htnas
presents, Christmas dinners Christmas
Rhyetlea OF very sort are significant ol
DOC 20 are i"9hed forward 10 WIN inhd
ahtlclpatlohs ana bHck"afd at Win mlid
regret, Ike AL pIeAsaht Things mat nave
passed
Inc mere laet 'hal lht aaS' whether &c
oura'e or not, II lhutHRIY ass7cEttd WITH
1hIN'' win Jesus Win MS hh' WHY, with
inc record oi MS none beautiful sen sac
riIi'lhS ne, ehlir''y ueNoted To humanity
siou'u rehaet II precious anu inspiring
II matters not whether ne De b'il'Ned 10
po 'Ho 7"h u 'ou OF me son oi llIah-ills
aeiN ms supreme eChefosll ana peheSo
renee MS total sen dehlai' ms sublime
courage MS sovereign airulsIh remain
III el'ler cast prcclseiy lhe same. REGARD
ing MN sliiiPiy as huiilail' ms ehlire ne
Wouiu seem ihaeeu L" De gfahaer more e&
ai'ou' more 'ouchlhR' more o"hSeeralea
IMAM IL ne were accounted supernatural.
ne "ot'Iu De uNlhc III MS humanity not
through miracle pul through superlatlFe
eo9uhcss' purify, cAailee passion Tor the
"eiiare OIL ms fellows 10 the thorodghiy
ra'iohailslle' ne might not appear so Truly
heroic so uhapproachaple' SO morally Won.
"efl''l III 'he ifsiV ol ooo rs III we lighe
Vi iii'.h' III ohe ins'auoe he might STUN
an imposing form TO be something less
'hah ne assumed IN ,he o'lier' ne "ouia
prove hlliiseii aoSolu'ely, aWiully sincere
rising siorloosiy above the common weak
ness ol MS race rc'chlng the loltlesl pm
hacie Oh the eti'lcaiiy sublime. As an heir
ol 'ilile anu nature ne Is without '"lnPah
ION VoIlP''i'of OF peer inc er"h"eS' iueal
Vi humanity
hrS'' as ne may nave p'Ph the lhs'' perfect
coi''lIc'eis ia" ''SS man. ne was .ne
PRIMARY uoii"er''' IN MS eScs al ms lei
l""S We're elu'iN' Inc prince anu siaNe
the courtler ana thr hlhd' the scholar ana
me HoNel We're On 'iio sumo ieN'i' lie ae.
iilah'iVu Jus'ie' I"r 'he "iioi' race ana Ne
tempered JUSTICE WIN inerey' ne was ne
hrs' 10 esteem i" revere woman ior hef
"o'n"lhooa' 10 S,ahu between h'r ana me
wrongs ol hef stronger, less hylhpatneile
partner, ne was dr. ,ei.ief IL ne was it.'fz
lSS' lie was inc Sole pioneer Oh true CIV
'liHa'loii' moral ana polltlcai folorIlrr
anu centuries III a"Nahee Oh MS l!Ihe' IL, MS
II was lla1 i'u 10 ms obstruction Inc
fhari9eea na' ur"'i! ha'eu MN heE were
ae''N' IN ms uho"ihg. drought TO 'he
S'n'l'urlh' ne WAS ueoiared SulItE OIL IRE.
~,
p'loro roh'i"s il"''e' governor u 'le
province ehar1'" WIN s'ai,lon' ne was
a'No S'nl'heeo 1'"o''eh fll''e ppIoNeu MN
'H'"'H0 vi 4e''''''' 81 'he ol"ll''rs anu
i,''','''a VI eiU l""Plo, MS "!l'iisc ~
u'"''' ""S P"il'lV"I' II was le''reo ne
"'"'" unaetllil'l' INC ms lions oi 'iie
'""'' ''f me- Hi'ilSoi' Je"' was iosti'e
~ '''' ''i'l'i an, S'i'i1 VI ne 'c"S' "h -
"'i' ''ieh1 ana S'peliiary1 aS was an
.''i'''"'5 at 'i''' ern' iie suh'r'u a. any
y '"'Eh' iaIe suffered VINO was lar ne
ny nus eloen' whose opinions leelIhRs'