The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-25

changed through the passing ages until
 now they are almost anything else than
 religious. A thousand years ago this
 change had become so pronounced that
 we fnd the good St. Bernard and other
 pisus men remonstratins with their fiecks
 for paying so much attention to the fes-
 tivities Of the day and SO little to its
 more solemn aspects, Even in that day
 1t had come to be looked on as Q time
 when every restraint might be thrown
 off. and the worship of Baechus and
 Momus take the place of the meek and
 lowly Redeemer.
 This ought not to be so in a Chrlstian
 land. It Is day for rejoicing. for thankfulness and for charity. but the re-
 joicing should be that of hearts thankful for all the goodness and forbearance of God and not the rejoicing of the drunk ard and the law-breaker. It is day which ought to be more sacred than the
 Sabbath. but modern ideas have turned 1t to one of sensual indulgence. It is day when all who-can do so, believers and woridlings, assemble at the churches and give due honor and reverence to the Christ whose natal day 1t Is and to the Father who preserves us. It is day when the family can for a few hours shake off the worry and care and toll of labor and come together in love and peace.
 And not least among the many lessons Ia., nf all | for acts of kindness and Christian charity. But the greatest of these is charity, I said the Apostle, speaking of the Chris | tian virtues, and this Is above all days l a time for helping others. It is not merely | the making of Christmas presents to | friends and loved ones, however good and commendable that may be, but in extend | ing a helping hand to those who are in
 need.
 | Tn faith and hope the world will disagree. l But allmankind's concern Is charity says Pope, and Wordsworth tells us Of | ''The charities that soothe and heal and l bless" and this is the time for their exercise. It Is no special credit to us l that we make gifts to those who are not in need. That Is a testimony of human | love and remembrance. beautiful and de- | sirable, but the real charity of life is to help those who are needy and perhaps suffering. In this goodly city of ours there are children to whom Santa Claus | Is a myth and to whom Christmas is but | another day of privation. There are l good and industrious families to whom misfortune has been a constant visitor
 and who look on the dawning of the
 Christ-day as only an added pang to | their sufferings
 When Christ said: "A new command ment I give unto you, that ye love one | another" he spoke not only to his dis- ciples, but to all the people for all time to come, and in what way can we bet 1 ter show our love for one another than by doing something to smoothe the path way of the needy, to ease the pains of the l suffering and to rbrighten. If only for day. the gloom of poverty In what way
 esn we better testify our thankfulness to | the God who watches over us and to the | Christ who saves us IaAH oy soAAAo ~N~NS of kindness which make us no poorer but make the recipients richer in reality and
 in their faith in humanity? That good woman, Mrs. Osgood, wrote
 Little deeds of kindness. little words of | love,
 Make our earth an Eden like the Heaven above.
 and Wordsworth again speaks of That best portion of good mans life l His little, nameless, unrememoered acts | Of kindness and of love.
 And so, on this blessed Christ-day the
 Advertiser sends out to each and all Its
 best wishes and its hopes that this day
 may be one of rational Chritmas enjoy
 ment, and that peace and love and charity
 may reign supreme In human hearts.
 God bless the day and the people!