Editorial December 20, 1900 Issue

Christmas

Editor

Christmas-tide is again with us. The usual festivities are marking its presence. The churches observe the occasion with special services and special music. Outside the churches there is much to suggest frivolity and material pleasure, little to impress upon mankind the solemnity or real significance of the Christmas observances.

What benefit is conferred by this popular observance? How many seriously think of the event which gave rise to it? How many have a deep or earnest care for that event?

We do not wish to dwell on this side. We refer to it only to emphasize the hope that ere long the present practices may cease, and the day be observed somewhat in the spirit which brought it into existence, and in a manner bearing more the stamp of fitness. The idea originated in a degree of spiritual reverence and a laudable desire to perpetuate, in human memory, the solemnity and signification of the birth of Jesus. As commonly applied, it has departed from the original purpose and degenerated too largely into materiality; we mean outside the religious bodies.

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