Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-12-25
CHRISTMAS DAY.


Christian nations.
AS u.s. laden with all the blessings of land OF
and plenty few of stop to consider the sacrifice
say establish the faith which consider only boon
humanity but absolutely essential the progress of civilization
The human appearance
the latter portion of the reign of Augustus Roman Emperor
The early Christian interpreters making too strict appeal to
scripture prophecy insisted that at the moment OF the Divine
Birth all the world The actual state of the world
the world of the Romans hardly perhaps
other period bear such assertion in it's literal
On their frontiers at least the of subject
provinces the Romans always and enjoyed hardly
momenary respite from active operations Nevertheless the
government of Augustus substantially PEACEFUL there
entire cessat from Civil the Romans bore
ganst another they engaged in desperate rivalry
with equal enemy No civilized community great historic
power, stood in array against them
Carthage overthrow, Numidia and Mauretana
subjugated Greece PROSTATE Egypt annexed Para
aggression Rome extended her hand to the
Oriental monachs beyond the Euphraes The peace
PAX Romano it proudly syed-reigned throughout all
the regions in which the Scos Lucuus Pompeus
Caesar had carried their victorious eagles Certainly broad
might be truly that the reign of Augustus
erva of throughout all the world known the
The prophecy of the Hebrew scriptures substantially full
filled The conception indeed of such suspicious crisis hui
history something strange grandeur
Impression upon the minds of the Romans War; always
had been the dominant idea of earlier generations
forth the policy of the the ambition of the
might sometimes dictate attack the descendants of the old
peraos and procounsus might chafe system which
MED them the indulgence of boodhed and but the people
generally evnced disposition for conquest and would scarcely
rouse themselves to avenge national dshonor.
This condition of pubic affairs might lead expect
early adoption of the faith religion
nearly three hundred and fifty till the reign Constantine
the Christians lived prosecuted only
faith IN the divinity of Lord and saccia spirit that led
them die rather than recan they finally saw the religion made
the rule Of the Empire -tL,
jealous rising influence the Christians fearful
of attraction which would draw mems minds away from the
admiration OF his greatness slew them in mercess num-
brs and finding easy the popuace anything
charged the faithful bel with the burning sacng
Rome He condemned them to be burned wrapped pitched
hoo
and Their qualification
populace last moved pity required spectacle
to cease. +
Under Traan, all mmoraties were laid to the ac
count Of the Christians Their faith
Judasm it crime to be follower of Christ they
call Caesar Master Failing do this they brought as
maeactor before the Roman tribunals and the Majesty the
law upheld. h
During the reign of Aureus returning army brought
the seeds Of BILE pestence which shortly spread throughout
the west and inflicted lasting blow it's prosperity Rome
the number Of victims amounted to thousands The
of the disorder increased by long continued scarcity
At first wa popularity attr the sacrge by
Avdu Casus the sack of Suc But the general
too powerful to be sacrificed popular cutlery plague
still advanced abatement Fires and earthquakes
added the general alarm Danube called
forth all the strength of the empire repres
demanded and the which the of Christians
IDENTIFY making marked them the of the of the gods
and the calamtes of the Empire The permit
ted had other origin than the which people
had fallen.
Doclet palace was fired by these
secarian fanatics signazed himself relentless
prosecutor before him. This the last and
fort to stamp out the faith 1t appearing
diciples of Christianity still multiplying They contin
uing and absorb their body intelligence
activity and the moral force of the Empire
blind to the mpossbty of revvng the spirit heathensm
raising counepose their influence the stronghods
persttion or philosophy.
left Constantine perceive Christianity which
had survived the spiritual power
future his ardent imagination doubtless knded by the
claims advanced the claims It actually realized his vigorous
dersandng convinced him that whether it's authority
human only it rested at least foundation of