The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-24
THE TNTELLIGENcER.
w1IEELING. pEcEMBER ga, lsos.
Cllristmas, 1893.

Being Sunday, its celebration on that
day viii be largely confined to the
churches and other religious bodies. Its
celebration as holiday Will be OBJ
served to-day ard Monday throughout
the Christian world, though let US hope
that the real spirit of the anniversary
Of the Nativity and Its significance will
not be lost sight Of in the festivities OF
either day. the deeds of charity. the
family reunions, the merry Christmas
feas,s and sports. The first Christmas
Day was the beginning of the era Of
the regeneration Of the world. Of new
civilization. Of the dawn of the Great
Light which has shed its rays over ma
tons for the past nineteen hundred
years and driven the darkness before 1t.
Whatever the ideas OF men may be as
to the great plan. whether whatever
view they may hold is true or not true
concerning this ending of the night. cer-
tain It Is, undeniably 1t is true. that the
world Is better for that first Christmas
Day and all the Christmas Days that
have followed 1t In the nearly two
thousand years OF the era. Without 1t
we would stlIl be in the darkness of the
past. Aside from every other consider
ntion, the people of the civilized portion
OF the world owe their condition to-day
TO the influence OF the spread OF the
Light which was created on that occa-
Sim and which has conquered every
thing before it-lgnorance. wickedness'
superstition. savagery, and proved the
nope Of the ages that were past.
In America this Christmas Day comes
Mt time when the Nation is rejoicing,
in the spirit born OF this Great Light
over Victory in behalf of civilization
for humanity, for the transformation
Of conditions Of AFFECT slavery Of ig-
norance and OF misery among people on
two hemispheres to condition OF that
Of freedom and enlightenment based on
the great principles of Christian civil
ization. which. from the day of the Ma
tivity, the first Christmas Day, have led
the march in the worlds advancement.
Throughout this land this year. when
Is celebrated the birth of the Prince OF
Peace, the. occasion when the doctrine
of peace on,earth. good will to men was
proclaimed, the people win regard the
observance with better appreciation OF
its spirit than usual. Not only are they
at peace with all the world, and rec
ogniza their obligation to the Hand of
God for what the country has wrought,
but national unity is an accepted fact
as It never has been before, since the
fine when men forgot and the Nation
was torn with civil strife.
AS We look over the past, survey the
present, and gaze into the future, and
contemplate the great work before us
in the spread of Christian civilization
and ueace and humanity. as Nation
I'VE may unite with theipoet Whittier in
his beautiful Nativity Song. which,
though written years ago. is SO appro-
pirate and significant on this Christmas
Day Of 1888 in his native land:
sound over al waters, reach out from
The a Chorus 5TasI Or voices. the cIasplng of
Sing f hy%ns that were sung by the stars
sing q so5 rs Of the angels when Jesus was
S Win glad publications
bring hope to the nations!
The dark night is ending and Dawn mas
p,,. G SsBS 81 the ages. arise Ike the sun,
All SISsch DOW 70 music, all hearts beat
a. one!
,slpr tho bridal of nations! With chOralS
Sing o sa to lie war vulturo ana sing in tho
TIL t dSSi hearts of the peoples keep time
And the L voice Of the world is the voice of
ciSSp hands OF the nations
In strong congratulauohs'
The dark night IS ending ana GAVIN mas
rise. e sSDs Or the ages. arise ike the sun
All speseh now to music, all hearts beat
a. one!
Blow bueles Of battle. the marches of
East. OS asst. north and sou,h. let the long
sing ISs Ions q great JOY that the angels
Sing 81 y S glory TO God and of good viii to
Hsrk! Joining in. chorus
The heavens bend DER ~
The dark night Is ending ana dawn mas
ma. 0 sSps Of the nEes. arise Ike tho sun.
All speech Gov 10 music, all hearts beat
~ one!