The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-12-23
MOONS PHASES.
CHRISTMAS.

CHRISTMAS.
In our contemplation of the past
we are wont to look for the great
milestones which have marked the
progress of civilization from its birth,
and measure, if we can, their effect on
humanity, especially on ourselves.
Passing without consideration the
many which played such important
parts in mans evolution, we annu-
ally celebrate as the day above all
days Christ's birthday, Christmas.
Suddenly, in an age when the faith
Of their fathers was rapidly yielding
to the enervating. influence of heather
conquerors, the Jews beheld with
their eyes Him whom they had been
looking for by faith for so many CEN
Slim OF whom their patriarch
Isaiah had said, ellis name shall be
called Wonderful, Counsellor, The
Mighty God, The Everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace"
For over nineteen hundred years
now this Star of Bethlehem has been
shedding its blessed rays over an
ever-increasing horizon, until it now
seems assured that at an early day
there will be no land where the
heather will bow to gods of wood
and stone. No wonder the prophet
said "His name shall be called Won
derlul," for it has given US in the
goldman" a standard of perfect hui
mainly, and in proportion as nations
have set their pace of civilization by
His standards have they become the
truly great of the earth.
Viewed at the end of a century and
a quarters growth, few citizens Of
our own fair land will fail to assert
that the foundation of her marvellous
development rests on our motto, Gin
God we trust"
Starting with the broad PROPOSE
ton that our watchword should be
'civii and religious liberty" as one
Christian army with many denomi-
national regiments we have fought a
common fight against ignorance and
vice, and on this Christmas morn
will in united and humble alteration
bend the knee to our one great King.
And as we should ever turn to Him
as the great Counsellor, so this day
we especially remember Him as the
Prince of Peace. BY a strange coin
cidence the only field of human blood
shed today is situated in a heather
land where two semi Christian ma
lions who "see through glass dark
iy" are warning to the knife because
of human greed.
1t has seldom happened that
more propitious Christmas sun than
today's has risen upon America. Our
national horizon is as serene as the
whitened landscape about us, while
all the signs Of the times point to
slow but sure return of commercial
prosperity. This is strikingly true of
our own agricultural section, where
the full garners attest an industri-
Gus, contented and prosperous peo-
pie.
Catching the spirit of the great
Giver in His divine Gift, the watch
word among us at this season is
giving" Yet there is nothing in
this holiday so open to mistake as
how our giving is done. From year
to year the thrifty merchants vie
with each other i'll furnishing their
customers with more and more cost.
lypresents until the drain has become
greater than many persons can prop
erly bear. The Perfect Gift was
above price, typifying the embodi-
ment of all virtue, and our gifts
should be measures of the affection
they typify aud not of the dollars
they cost.
Measured by this standard, the
humble child's simple tokens mean
far more than the rich mans gifts,
and the newsboy's full stocking
brings more Joy than the rich mans
Jewels Everyone is able to give
CHEEKY word and extend a helping
hand, while such nought impoverish
themselves but make others rich in
deed.
In this spirit doth the .I>gis extend
its Christmas greeting to all its read
ers, thanking them at the same time
for their cordial support, and prom
Using them in the future a faithful
performance of its duty as public
servant.
THE ROAD LAW CONSTITUTIONAL.
Judge Burke has filed a decision
that will be of interest to all sup
porters of the Good Roads move
ment Sometime ago the County
Commissioners of Baltimore county
declared their intention of improving
certain public roads under the pro-