The Irish standard., 1901-12-21
A CHRISTMAS GREETING.

According to time-honored custom,
the Irish Standard wishes all it's read
ers and patrons n Merry Christmas,
and desires to say few words on
the joyous festival which will be cell
ebrated next Wednesday throughout
the Christian world. The anniversary
of the birth of Christ, the Son of
God and Savior of mankind, is the
gladdest day in the year to all believ-
ers in His divinity. To members of
the Catholic church it is the day of
all days in the Roman calendar,
and by them it will be celebrated with
devout hearts in every land from the
rising of the sun to the going down
thereof. The Holy Sacrifice Of the
Mass will be offered upon million
affairs with the greatest pomp and
magnificence, and the most eloquent
panegyrics of which human tongues
are capable will be delivered from a
million pulpits on the Divine Babe of
Bethlehem; for the Catholic Church.
! and it alone, is universal in point of
space as we'll rs time. Sweet music
will lend its aid to the most gorgeous
ceremonials and the great temples Of
Catholic worship will resound with
the "Gloria in Excelsis Dec" which
the angels sang in the lowly village
in Palestine twenty centuries ago.
| In the United States Christmas Day
Is now universally observed by all
denominations of Christians; but time
was, and not very long ago, when it
was considered "a Romish festival"
which was observed by the Irish and
other adherents of the Pope of Rome.
In the New England states Christmas
Day was scoffed at by the Puritans,
and Thanksgiving Day was substitute
ed for it. To this day it is not rec
ognized as legal holiday in some of
the commonwealth which constitute
the American republic. Even Min
nesota, which was first explored by
Catholics, only indirectly recognizes it
as legal holiday in its statutes, by
providing that maturing paper, bills of
exchange. ETC., falling due on Christ
mas Day shall be due and payable on
the business day preceding.
The children of st. Patrick are re-
sponsible in pre-eminent degree for
the change Of sentiment regarding
Christmas Day among the descend
ants of the Puritans of New England.
The Irish Catholics, like the English
Pilgrims, had been the victims of
religious persecution in the old land,
and on coming to the New World they
brought with them love of Christ
mas Day and celebrated tie annivers-
airy of Christ's birth in the land of
their adoption. Despite all opposi-
ton from bigoted Americans of Eng
fish stock they adhered to the cele-
bration Of the day on every recurring
anniversary, until at last the children
of the Puritans, much against their
grain, Joined them in observing it as
a holyday Or religious festival.
New England to-day is about half
Catholic, and the Boston of the Endi-
colts and the Winthrops has elected
Hon. Patrick A. Collins, an Irish Cath
ole, as it's chief magistrate. Among
the aldermen and councilmen elected
with him we find such names as KEEL
~, Quigley, Lomasney, Norris, Bowen,
Dowd, Doyle, Slattery, Mccarthy,
Donnelly, Flaherty, Conway, Melon
aid, Mullen, McGonagle, McDermott,
Crowley, Fitzgerald, Curry, Phelan,
Linehan, McGrady, O'Toole, Shiels,
Hickey, Walsh, Gavin, Lyons, Flynn,
Barrett, Owens, Egan, Hoban and
Kennedy-all sons of Erin and their
descendants who will celebrate Christ
mas Day as their Irish forefathers
have celebrated it for fifteen hundred