Middletown transcript., 1896-12-26
Ths sYliddlttolun Gransfript
PuBLIsHED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING
Middletown. New Castle County. Delaware
rcKENDREE D0wNnA1.
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
Nj DDLETowN, DEL. DEC. ae. 1896
CHRISTMAS.

Christmas! What does it meanf In q
great measure every individual an
swers the question for himself. There
are few SO benighted who have not
heard the story Of the birth of the
child Jesus in Bethlehem Of Judea,
whose cradle was manger, the sweet
and gentle spirit Of whose life, the les
sons Of brotherly love in whose thirty
three years upon the earth, are not de-
MED even in the Pagan world. But the
influences Of that life are governed toa
greater or less degree by the indiyid-
ual. To some it means only that nine
teen hundred years ago q great histor-
ical parsonage was born into the world,
one whose teachings and example have
created new era in the history Of men
the Christian. They will discuss
with animation the date of his birth,
which by mistake was given out as
four years later than it really was, this
being the full 1900 years since the ad-
vent Of Christ and in feet the begin
ming of the new Century. But such
views of the Carpenters son." it mat
ters not how much learning there may
be possessedby those whose interest stops
with the scientific investigation Of his
torical facts, fail to appreciate the true
Christmas.
Christmas Of 1900l And yet several
of the so-called Christian nations of
the world are ready to deny their pro-
fession of "Peace on Earth; Good will
towards Men, by entering into mortal
combat FOR supremacy, not only ready
but apparently anxious to settle their
differences in the old and savage way
of might makes right. The govern
ments of these nations profess to be
guided by the teachings Of Him 'who
spake as never man spake" for the
cessation Of wars and strife and dis
content. Have theyfound the true spiri t
and learned the lesson of Christ?
Christmas Of the 20th Century, And
yet the followers of the Risen Christ
are divided and sub-divided into a
hundred and forty or more sects, these
denominations or churches not only
trying to convert the world to their
Interpretation of the true church but
with more or less Of the proselyting
spirit towards each other. Certainly no
one can deny the effectiveness Of the
learned pagan criticism that the gospel
of Christianity would be more effective
were it's professors more united in its
teachings. It is possible that these
things myst needs be, and the waste of
effort and means In the subdivisions,
but sets forth the weakness man.
Christm&sl Happy is the individual
who comprehends its meaning despite
the failures of nations, of churches
or of peoples to understand their full
duty towards each other. After all the
true life is that found within, notwith-
standing adverse outward circumstan-
ces the true Christian comes nearer to
the spirit Of Christmas than can the
most favored who accept only the forms
of Christianity. The TRANSCRIPT can
make no more seasonable wish than
that the true spirit of the day may be
revealed in wider and deeper sense
than ever before to all who read its
pages. And may such revelation
benefit the readers and the TRANSCRIPT
A Merry Christmas to ALL