The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-12-31

" ~ sfft W. hA1sf A@f oS9 van
hrsnrs The greatest happsures " ~
greatest snHsber ~ pr.spls yOang w
old. ihtnk ihal 80 s0vld MI anbasIisl
imgiy sy rhTamas The ehildss
have been soeasng forward with pocnl
ssr delghs " The twenty hfsh ~ ~
esmt-s. "T.eniy dsys mom 10 Christ
mss. len uom days 10 Christmas. osl
hss dsys more. and ihen think u II
cbrsamKs viii To- hereiv Who amon
~ has pos beard ths rhildmn indalg
IL saet e4le1!asloEss And who IL iher
AnonT as thai ~ NOD In f~rf~et syn
p,lhy sisA ibs spirI o. 10y prwmpsinl
ta3se oatb0rsis ~ enlhnsiAsmf Tb
years may have come and gone leaving
sbs hair white. and r0bblng Tho bod.
u ~ yoaibfal vigof: the stern and Cru
hand VI sorrow may have drawn desI
farrows IN The brow. aud dimmed ID,
merry twinkle % the eyes yei the bear
has moi grown 10 cold NJ 10 remain in.
different 10. or rondemn the universe
}oy ~ the advent season. For memory
brings hack the precious scenes Of our
eh,Idhoodi ~ hnya moi forgotten th,
emotions attending the hanging Of The
stocking ou Christmas eve, aud the &c.
static examination of the presents on
Tie following morning; The deiigh, Of
showing the gifts received 10 our young
companions The dinner. IN the prepar.
alton ~ which the whole family have
been engaged; aud then the long eve.
ming spent around the iule Log burn
ing chesrfuily in the iire place. listen.
ing 10 some merry story from the lips
Of grand-sire.
Only Tor brief period in the history
Of Christian civilization have men
sought 10 rob the Christmas season Of
lis JOY aud Rladness. Ia the year 1863
Massachusetts Bay forbade keeping
ANY such day Az Christmas either by
forbeariDg 10 labor. or Teasing. or any
other way under penalty Of five shil.
lngs Goodwin in bis book The PHI
grim Republic" states that within ff-
" years, descendants Of the Puritans.
though living elsewhere and protesting
gres, theological lIberality, have been
known 10 distinguish the day by an ex-
cess Of disregard. even enforcing an
oslentstious simplicity at the family
table" The Puritans aud Pilgrims
took this attitude toward the day be.
cause ID had '.been selected by the
Pope. and from his church descended
10 tba, OF England" They were not
sufficiently enlightened TO reject only
that which ia bad in the Church OF
Rome. and retain that which is good.
Bat those days are gone forever. The
New England States join with the
whole Christian world ia observing the
day marking the end Of the new cove
nant.
This leads me 10 say that this
JOY IL not limited 10 any one
section Of America, nor 10 any
one county. but is universal.
When the clocks in the cities Of the
Old World will strike twelve. the last
hour Of the twenty fourth OF December.
the mighty organs OF thousand cathe-
drals. aud the ringing voices OF ten
thousand singers will burst forth into
majestic hallelujahs, and the ''long
drawn aisle and fretled vault will re-
~cho with the sweetest music that man
has been able 10 compose IN imitation
OF the Angels song breaking the still.
ness Of the midnight hour among the
hills Of Bethlehem. The palaces Of the
rich will he adorned with most costly
decorations and gifts; their tables will
grosn under the weight OF delicate
food. The cottages OF the humble poor
viii take ON y festive appearance, the
implements Of toll will be laid aside.
and The family will forget for brief
moment the perplesiDg problems OF
life IN sample and spontaneous out
burst Of JOY. The Swiss shepard bur
i.i In his chalet among the eternal
SHOWS Of the Alps. on Christmas day
will throw An extra handful Of wood on
the cracking fire. add some delicacy 10
his usual fare, raise his voice IN song,
and muse by the cheerful flame on the
CHRIST who has given meaning 10 has
lonely aud monotonous life. The pill
grim travelling across the desert. the
mariner buifeted by the storm as he
stands in the crows nest watching
against danger. the stoker in the bowels
ship. the invalid looking
out Of the window with longing eyes
Al the endless procession ofihoughtless
people. all Of these will have brighter,
purer, less selfish thoughts because il is
Christmas Day.
n nm inhabitant from distant plan.
n wem visit our world. in the presence
81 this universal JOY aud good will Pc
rnliar 10 Christmas, be would ask the
natural questions What is the cause
md source Of il ailf'' Nor would he
b. satisfied Nth the explanation given
!. the children in the kindegartens OF
Felix Adler 10 New York city. world
'smous ~ they are. that Christmas is
he season Of the year especially set n
ssie for loving and giving. II this by
,athclical sisitani were Of an lnquisi-
Ave and speculative turn Of mind be
eoald wan, 10 know why the twenty
sflh of December rather than the
Ienih Of August has been designated
Va ME special season Of the year Tor
owing and giving. To this second
question the answer is. thai on the
Ixsnly-fi fih Of December twenty cen
turies ago .Iesus. the Christ. WAS born
INTO this world: and that through
lie II loving tenderness and complete
sacrifice He has exalied The ideals Of
owe.