Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-24
WEDNESDAY EVENING. DEC. "a, 1902
THEGAzETrE wishes its many readers,
one and all, Merry Christmas.
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS.

CHhl0ImAO OR66 i A4NNS
The Gazette today takes pleasure in
extending the compliments of the sea-
son to its readers Of the present gener-
alton. This it has done annually III
three centuries. We hope one and all
will experience unalloyed pleasure dur
ing the happy Christmas season. As
the years come and go people grow older
and some may not anticipate the ap-
proach of this the greatest OF all Christ
ian feasts with the relish OF then
younger days; but none should lose
sight of the fact that at the coming OF
each Christmas there, is so to speak,
new generation of young folks who have
learned for the first time to lisp the
word "Christmas" and in a measure
comprehend the joys of the OCCASION
1t will afford happiness to their elders to
see them taking inventories tomorrow
morning and in gathering around be-
decked Christmas trees. The tiny wax
candles of the latter will sparkle III
unison with the brightness of the eyes
of the little ones whose JOY overhows
during the holiday season. They may
not understand the spiritual import OF IL
all now. as their young minds are alb
sorbed with the glee OF the occasion.
As they grow older, however, and are
enabled to see the spiritual AID tenn
poral pictures, they may make the lat
ter secondary to the former, when a
field of thought will be opened up to
them and the Creator, not the creature,
will be needed to fill their expanding
minds. Christmas means much; 1t Is
many-sided. It's most important feat
ure is 70 call attention to the fact that
over nineteen hundred years ago the
greatest Friend which las ever ap-
peared to the human race vas newly
born babe lying in a n niger, whiie
angelic choristers before tt : stars were
out of the sky were singing on Judea
plains "Glory to God in ne highest
peace on earth, good will to men, with
humble shepherds only as their audi
o,1 roma
tors. Many years have cone and gone
since this heavenly visit; tle world mas
made volumes of history; ''ars, conten-
tons, controversies and bs'd blood nave
formed dark spots here Ind there in the
annals of the race as misguided men OF
all creeds and nationalties have COM
mitted overt acts in the name of the
Prince of Peace. TO the well-disposed,
however, the song of the angels on that
memorable night has echoed down the
ages and will continue to do so until
men learn war no more and swords
shall be beaten into pillow shares and
spears into pruning hooks. There have
been in years past many conscientious
souls who have refrained from the OBJ
servance of Christmas from the fact that
it is no where enjoined upon us by the
Bible. There are still many such in
the world Some of their progenitors
when they were in position to WELD
power made it a misdemeanor for Others
to participate in Christmas cheer. The
fact that the celebration of Christmas
is not according "tO the pattern of all
things shown in the mount is, how
ever, by no means a serious objection to
Others equally conscientious. 1t may
be observed that there is no command
ment, injunction or recommendation
under the New Dispensation to cele-
brate any day, not even Sunday, al
though most people calling themselves
Christians, very properly make that
their day of rest and an occasion for
devotion. Let Christmas be celebrated
in the proper spirit, not in the abuse of
the gifts of heaven, and the angelic
choristers who rejoiced with mankind
nineteen hundred years ago will con-
tinue the glad anthem which broke the
stiffness OF the most eventful night in