Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-12-25

SLAMS from the far East to the cradle or
the infant Christ have also shown as
heralds in the progress of the world.
Not few OF the most significant events
in the worlds history have happened on
Christmas day.
1t is day of rejoicing in the Eternal
city. Rome has thrown open her gates
10 the conqueror. Up the Via Sacra and
before the grand front Of the Capitoline
masses the chariot of Constantine, who
by his victory over his rival, MaXentius,
has become lord and master of the
world. There march his victorious le-
gions, not under the famed eagles OF
the Empire, but under new and more
august symbol. 1t is the labarum,
which has forever supplanted the idol
Atrous emblems of old Rome-a long
spear plated with gold, with trans
verse bar forming a cross from which
depended a square purple banderole or
Aamented with fringes and precious
stones. The staff was surmounted by a
golden crown, set with jewels in the
midst of which was the monogram Of
Christ in Greek.
But where are the incantations and
the incense Of pagan worship? Rome
keeps holiday for the first time in a
Christian fashion. The temples glow
with light indeed, but it is with the
ant faith.
1t is the festival of the nativity, and
not the obscene revel of the Saturnalia,
that Constantine keeps in Rome. The
old worship has been discarded, and the
religious Of the humble Nazarene is for
mally established. And the date Of this
Arst Christmas held in pagan Rome; be
II never forgotten, is December 25th, A.
ID. 312.
Let us take the romance of one Christ
mas day in England which will be for
ever memorable in English history
William Of Normandy had just won the
kingdom from the brave King Harold
who was left dead on the field Of Hast
.ngs. A little more than two months
after that great battle the coronation
4 Of the conqueror took place in West
( minister Abbey. Nothing that was need
ed for a lawful browning was lacking
1he consent OF the people, the oath o.
the king, the amounting by hands o.
lawful metropolitan, were all there
Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury
placed the crown upon the new kings
head, and William, the duke of tn,
Normans, was now the king of the
English, so far as outward ceremonie:
could make him. The acclammation.
which hailed the auSpicius event wer,
joined in by the English as we'll as tn,
Normans The real history of the Eng
iish people begins from that day
Stranger and conqueror that William
was his craftsmanship won him
warm place in the hearts of the peopl
he conquered.
The history of England for the pas
eight hundred years has been what i
mas largely from three personal char
acter of this single man.
toric Christmas December, 1776, wa
q gloomy month in the history Of GU
country. We were in the midst of tn
revolution and the war seemed to b
going against us. The British held pos
session of New York, and their force
we're sweeping the Jerseys, driving tn
Americans before them. The America,
army was almost entirely destitute O
resources, without arms, without am
munition, without food. The soldier
were unpaid and in rags.
But the great patriot, Washington
was not dismayed.
One thousand Hessians were encamp
ed at Trenton, where they were keep
ing the Christmas season in the goo
old German fashion. They had no fea
of the Americans who were on the 9th
er side of the Delaware. Brightly tn
lights shone and the laugh and tn
song went round. The feast went on I'll
long after midnight, and the lamp be
gan to burn low. Suddenly the repol
OF musketry rang out on the air: "'T
armsi to arms!" was the cry. But tn
drunken, sleepy soldiers could not
reused in time and the Hessian con
manders surrendered his whole force
the American general who in the darl
ness and storm of that Christmas nigh
had crossed the Delaware to strike
vital blow for American freedom. Thu
the tide was turned and the patriot
from that hour commenced to gain tn
upper hand. A glorious Christmas fl
s-IooI NJ n