The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-12-25
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
CHRISTMAS.

around US. 1t brings cheer to the dis
couraged, comfort to the sorrowing and
hope to the discouraged. We are at
sea now. The whole world is like a
drunken man, reellng. We know not
what is before US. Doubt and uncer-
tainty harass US. The nations are like
the troubled sea that casts up mire and
dirt. It's dirge is melancholy. 1t touch
es a chord of sadness in US. Greed and
grasp, deceit and camouhage, hypo-
crisy and reckless Indifference to the
higher things of life characterize the
age. Whittier are we drifting? Never
in the history of the world has there
been such unrest. Lawlessness is ram
pant; force is idealized, might makes
right. With many; the masses are rush
ing after pleasure, seeking some new
excitement, careless of their obliga-
lions and Indifferent to their oppor-
tunlties, wasting their substance on
riotous living, or the qualifications of
the flesh. While thousands of their
fellow creatures are starving, yes mill
ions of them through no fault of their
own are deprived of the food that would
sustain them, yet we have enough and
to spare.
What is Christmas to these sufferers?
They are looking to America for relief.
We can save multitudes of them. Our
state has made an appeal for help for
the needy of the near East. Churches
are appealing for succor for these per-
ishing ones. While we are happy and
well fed, let US give as much to feed
the hungry over the seas. as we spend
upon ourselves. Christmas DAYS! The
delight of the young, the goal of the
years aspirations. Joy fills the heart of
children as they try to anticipate their
gifts nor can we condemn the spirit of
happy childhood as they longingly look
for this season. We must be moderate
and not give extravaganza to it. The
dav should be made to subserve its high
end and to impress US with its great
lesson. tits not of divine appointment.
There is nothing sacred about Christ
mas day, for only by common consent
is it to be observed as the birthday of
Jesus. Yet it suits the purpose for
which it is used quite as we'll as any.
We are not wanting in appreciation of
the event it commentaries. The day
should stimulate our affections to great
er devotion to and worship of the Saw
Jour. Like the wise men of the East
we would follow His star, until it leads
US with our gifts of praise and prayer
to the manger. Like the shepherds we
would hesr the song of the angels, re-
joice with them and sympathize with
their wonder. You will be interested
in bit of this Days history. The
Eastern church observed it on January
9th and called it Epiphania, while the
Western church observed it on Dec.
25th, under the name of Natalis. The
Evangelist gave no date of His birth.
Doubtless it was intended to omit the
date, because OF the tendency of man
kind to attach undue generation to
special occasions. 1t was a mere in
ference that fixed Jan. 9th.
The reason for fixing Dec. 25th is not
known, but once established, the church
by degrees came to regard it as one of
the three great festivals. This one has
extended to all Christendom. Its essen
tial feature is joy. In the middle ages
it sunk into social reyelry and the So
called social refinement and education
still adhere to the reyelry of former
times. Christianity has nothing to do
with such practices. Christian educa-
ton refines, ennobles and so far as it
has been rescued from improper prac-
tees of former days, is due to Christian
influences. The reformation of the l6
century-which was great revival of
pure religion-rescued the day from
many of the abuses and gave emphasis
to its Christian elements. Evangelical
Christianity has made it a children's
feast and the observance of the day and
its observance either in a social or re-
ligious way has of late years become
almost universal. We should celebrate
it with feelings of joy and gladness but
never with revelry and extravaganza.
The object of the day is to commemo-
rate the greatest event of the world
the incarnation of Dlety- the birth OF
Jesus. 1t was heavens best gift to man.
1t was the coming in human form of
the Lamb of God, the choicest treasure
heaven could bestow 1t was Christ
manifest in the flesh, coming when
man was hopeiessiy lost 1t was the
opening of the new and living way
wherein all could walk with safety
Jesus is the door thus opened, the way
from sin and bondage more CALLING than
that of Egypt, to land glorious be-
Yond conception, of which Canaan was
but the type.
Precious gift! gracious giyer! who can
rightly appreciate it!
Like circles widening round upon a
IL