The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-25


heather festival; others that IT was
instituted in the reign of Antoninus
Plus. and stll others contend that II
was not begun until the time Of the
Emperor Commodus. There is said to
have been great lack of uniformity
as to the time of the celebration in
the carly ages, the festival being held
In the months of January, April and
May by various people In different re-
gions. and one of the most particular
of the commentators has proved to
his own satisfaction that the 25th OF
December could not have been the
birthday of the Christ for 1t was then
the height of the rainy season in Judea
and shepherds could hardly be watch
ing their hocks by night in the plains"
There has been much difference in the
form of Observing the occasion, some
OF the Churches celebrating the event
with all the solemnity of special
masses, while the dissenters. holding
that It was human invention
"savoring of papistlcal will worship"
adopted It as social holiday
Whether 1t was Antoninus Plus or
commodus, whether 1t was of heather
extraction or Christian institution, we
have not the least doubt that 1t was
of Divine appointment; that il is God
manifest In the heart OF humanity, in
the Jew as well as In the Gentle. and
that during this blessed season 1t is
posstble for the eye of faith to dis
Germ the angels coming down out of
heaven to lift up the world into har.
mony with the Eternal But for the
confusion of tongues. and the pride
of opinion. and the influence of dogma
there would be nowhere in this world
any to question the true sublimlty of
the great FESTIVAL celebrated this day.
1t was the Prophet Isaiah, the son of
Amoz, TO whose spiritual sight was
discovered this blessed era in the life
OF humanity when
THE wolf shall dwell with the lamb
and the leopard shall lie down with
the kid: and the calf and the young
lion and the failing together; and a
little child shall lead them"
At ~ o'clock last night in Roman
Catholic countries all over the world
the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour
Of the world al Bethlehem, in Judea,
was celebrated with all the solemn
pomp and ceremony of ritualistic OBJ
servance. At o'clock this morning
in the Catholic Churches of this eoun-
try, and at later hours during the day
in other churches throughout the
world the followers of the Nazarene
will bend the knee in alteration and
Join in anthems of praise and thanks
giving to the Almighty Father for His
Gift to the world, and from pole to
pole, and hemisphere to hemisphere
around the earth will roll the glad
acclaim Peace on earth to men of
good will" or. the dry land and
on the sea, iii tie palace of the king
and IN the cottage of the poor this
Is the one day of all days in the year,
when the heart of all humanity beats
in harmony with the heart of God
According to ono of the writers on
the subject of Christmas the custom of
making presents at this season is de-
rived from an old heather usage. But
what does that matter? 1t is beau
tiful custom. moro honored in the
observance than in the breach, Gus
tom that will endure forever, 1t is
hoped, because whatever the difference
OF race and condition. there is on this
day neither Jew nor Gentle, bond noi
free, but all men are lifted up out o.
their ignorance and gelashness into ;
heartfelt appreciation of the Father
hood OF God and the brotherhood q
men.