The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-22
HOW TO OBSERVE CHRISTMAS.
Ways Suggested by Some of Savan-
nah's Pastors.

shall it best be observed is a question
that few people heed.
The turning of Christmas to some ex-
tent into day Of sport has detracted in a
measure from its social character and
mas brought 1t to the level of a secular
Monday The Morning News has asked
| some of Savannah's ministers how the
day should be observed.
How to spend Christmas said Rev
CharleS II. strong, he sat for q mo-
ment meditaung upon the question
| Nothing very new, nothing very remark
able but in the simple, old, natural joy
/ Iul way, which men and women and chill
| dren nave been doing ever since the morn
/ ing stars sang together and the sons of
God shouted for joy. do not understand
what men mean when. they say, 'Conse-
/ crate the day. or 'Desecrate the day 1t
/ II manhood, womanhOod that are to be
consecrated or desecrated, not DAYS
Therefore let US use this happy Yuletfde
and every other bit of sacred association
/ for the purpose of making manhood and
Monnanhood better. Rise with the son,
not the one that cometh out of the east
| like a bridegroom out of his chamber, but
| the one that tumbleth out of his trundle-
| bed and makes for the fireplace and the
young again yourself laugh with his
| laughter, thank God there is such a thing
/ as unauthorized human joy. So begin
/ the day. After breakfast look round for
some church, go and see this mighty
/ thing that has come to passS Forget the
noisy discord of sects. and soothe your
| life and care-wOrn way with an hour or
sweet communion with your God. This
/ will attune the spirit.
After this hour spent in worship, where
| is the poor family that you are going
| to make happy out of your abundance? 7
pity you, If you know not one. l would
not take your Christmas with all its
wealth of gifts, if you had not added one
/ ray of unexpected pleasure to some poor
| child-without gifts of its own-or to some
needy family with scanty larder
Duty like this done to God and neigh
Dor, see not why the afternoon and
| evening. cannot be spent in the wholesome
| companionship of friends and the sweet
domestic JOY OF home, to retire at night
I with the happy thought that life is a
/ sweet and blessed thing to him who lives
Religious thought for self and charity
Tor others was Rev A. NJ. Williams idea
The best way / know of to spend
/ Christmas, he said, lis first to get up
! early in the morning and read in the Bible
/ the various accounts of the birth of Christ
/ and then spend a few moments in ioyfui
/ meditation about what he has done for
the world. Then go out and greet in a
! happy, hearty way all your friends; seek
out some desoiate and lonely home and
/ make yourself happy in carrying happi-
\ ness to othefs. do not care to make any
| particular criticism on the firecrackers
/ and fireworks of the boys, but do think
\ they should be connected with some 9TH
er of our national feast days rather than
/ that on which the birth of Christ is cele-
! brated."
Il look upon Christmas" said DR. L. c.
| Vass of the First Presbyterian church
AS a semi-religious day, and still not as
/ a holy one like the sabbath. 1t is a de-
/ lightful time for family reunions, and a
1 realization and remem brance of the love
| of God for us; 1t is time for us to show
kindness and good cheer to others, to
| make others happy. 1t should be day
/ of sweet pleasure and moral enjoyment
Of the great gift God gave us in his son
| There can be no objection to the innocent
! frivolities Of the young when they are
/ kept within bounds
81 look upon Christmas day. the ami
versary of the birth Of our Saviour" said
/ Rev. J. H. Scruggs of Trinity church, "as
/ a time for social enjoyment. After a short
| appropriate church service. the remainder
and the cares of business laid aside for the
/ few hours 1t lasts. 1t really ought to be a
/ day of business relaxation in every re-
spect. The children should be recognized
| on Christmas day by everybody. The ed
ucational effect of such an observance
/ will be good The great trouble has been,
! that it Is too often turned into day of
1 revelry, and the punch bowl and egg nogs
are the principal features. This should
/ not be. The social feature is a pleasant
/ and a commendable one when kept within
due bounds"
Rev w. c. Schaeffer p. D.. pastor of
| the Lutheran church of the Ascension.
when called upon for an expression of
/ opinion, said:
''As Christmas brings to us the chiefest
expression of Gods love in the gift of
/ his son-the Babe of Bethlehem-the day
/ should be celebrated with religious joy.
/ ReVelry and dissipation are diSgraceful
/ to men and dishonoring to God. The
simple, broad, pervading sentiment
/ of Christmas day should be this: How
| sacred and high this human life is into
which the Lord was born. The day should
so be observed as to bring us into enlarg-
ed spiritual life. 1t should be a home-day,
\ and parents and children should unite
| to make it the brightest and sweetest
! day of the year and the rejoicing should
| be in the "unspeakable gift" One hour
of the day should be given to religious
worship, in which anthems and sermon
truth of the coming of Christ to be the
Savior of the world. Good will
| ing all animosities, strengthening friend
| ships and i'm nistering to the poor.
/ In the Lutheran countries OF Norway
! joy for every creature At many of the
| inns no pay is demanded of the traveller.
| The horses get a more bountiful supply
of oats, the cows an extra bunch of hay
and for the birds a bountiful sheaf is
! exposed on pole in front of the barn
| Rev Father Balm of the cathedral par
ish discussed the day and its import in
very pleasant manner.
After Easter he said, Christmas is
| the greatest feast of the year in the Cath
! Ole church, being the feast of the nativity
be observed just as Sunday is observed.
| Everybody should go to church and the
not OF revelry- 1t is time when the
| heart seems to open and when charity
manifests itself by deeds of good works.
| 1t is a time when those who have means
should see TO it that those who are not
so fortunately situated, are provided with
| the necessaries of life, and even with
| some of the delicacies. Every priest is
! permitted to say mass three times on
! Christmas. In real Catholic countries
\ and in some parts of this country, it is
\ the rule to usher in Christmas with mid
night mass. We do not have that here
! There will be high mass at $50 a. m, a
second mass at $3.50, celebrated by the
/ bishop and a pontifical mass at 1880
O'Clock The last mass will be a solemn
/ high mass. Right Reverend Bishop Beck
er will be the celebrant, Rev. Henry
] Schlencke the deacon, Rev. Edward
! Chase the sub-deacon, and Rev. L. Balm
the master of ceremonies. 1t will be fol-
/ lowed by the benediction of the blessed
sacrament. Bishop Becker will deliver
a sermon at the last mass. All the coli
lections during the day will be for the or
phanS of the diocese.
/ The holidays in the Catholic church last
/ from Christmas until Jan. IA. Jan. is
/ the feast of the circumcision when every
/ Catholic is bound to hear mass. Jan. 6 is
/ the feast of the Epiphany, known as one
of the suppressed feats, its observance not
/ being obligatory.