Show A MERRY CHRISTMAS amerry merky merry CHRISTMAS I 1 this willbe will wiil be the greetin greeting that will be heard tomorrow morrow wherever zhe the english 0 lang language ua e is spoken throughout christendom in various tongues the compliments ot of tei tee the tha season season will be tendered for the time bein being g at least party lines and f factional act loual barriers will be broken down the banty haughty hanty h will unbend to the lowly the rich will come nearer to the poor foes will appear friendly scattered families will be drawn together icy ley hearts will be thawed out generous souls will be aglow benevolence will abound the little ones will be in an cesta ecstacy ay of de delight ligat and amid feasting and dancing music and merriment good wishes and congratulations the great carist Carlst lan ian anniversary will come in and go out a time of general pleasure and rejoicing lc it is a religious celebration yet it brid brids brings s with it spirit lof lot 0 o asceticism in s spite pite fite of the common notion that p piety ie ty means austerity and gloom it t is set apart to commemorate ahe birth of the greatest bein being of all he earthly ages the worlds redeemer jesus of nazareth the son of mary and as millions believe also thal thai son of god there are varied views as to the nature and origin the doctrines and requirements the birthday and death day of the great teacher And Perfect act exemplar but all civilized nations unite in recognizing llis his power wisdom and purity and in doing honor to if his Is greatness theist and atheist enthusiast and agnostic learned and ana illiterate acknowledge lils his goodness and admire ills his works ile he is unique no one onais is to liim in history the tha annals of the world f furnish no parallel to ills his majestic character rile the spirit of lits his teachings has permeated the world even heathendom has felt its effects and though mankind are that obedience to his precepts which Is desirable t the he most precious benefits that the tle tie race enjoys today to day are traceable to the in fluence influence of tile the gentle yet mi mighty gaty personage whose natal day we celebrate we donot do not believe that in any portion of the globe christmas day will be more generally commemorated than in utah during the past week business has been done with a rush tho the stores have been crowded the streets have been thronged thron ged everybody has seemed to bo be laden with parcels an and devery deveny every face to wear a smile it Is so pleasant to inake make oeners happy the presents that have been purchased the tae toys and goodies for lne tae children the provisions made for creature creatura crea ture turf comforts oom tom forts must musk ulus uius have cobia liberal fortune and the diali of yu so large a volume of the commercial life current must have a good effect upon the body politic what some miscall extravagance is that circulation ot of currency which prevents general stagnation and arici gives life to too trie social extremities all classes are benefited by it and the artisan and laborer are thereby remunerated mune rated for their toil the effects affects of this christmas e expenditure will be felt in all circles of society thit affection lor for offspring which is a mark of christian sentiment and training is nowhere more apparent than in rui rul misunderstood 4 un der stood utah and no boys and girls will be prouder or have more caus to be pleased with the visits of santa claus knauthe the progeny of the merry bior mormons cormons Mor Alor mons 11 the poor too will be as well and as thoroughly provided for in these mountain valleys as in any portion 0 of either hemisphere organized relief I 1 in the various wards lias has collected all kinds of good things for the comfort of the indigent and that without noise jor or ostentation there will be no cringing wealth to nor humbling of the i needy gifts Gift will swill be bestowed with a ready hand band and a cheerful spirit that will drive away want for the balance of the year in many a scanty home and there will be fewer victims of penury and aud sufferers from want in utah than in any place of equal numbers in christendom this thom thought willada will add greatly to the pleasures and rejoicings rejo icings of the season but there is one great drawback to the perfect celebration of christmas 1883 1885 in utah A A number of households will miss the loved head and guardian of 0 the cami family ay of the best men in israel are in exile or in prison forced from their homes because of their devotion to principles dearer to them than life they the cannot mingle with the fond and affectionate ones who were wont to gather around them ou on this great festal day no not tender en kli kii kiss will de be pressed u pon upon their lips or little ones clamber upon their knees coshow with glee the gifts of santa claus and cling with sweet caresses round dear papas neck that liberty which the great christ came to breith breath and inculcate is taken from them thein by lils hla professed admirers for truths that ile he has revealed they suffer forthe for the gospel he preached eachen they are persecuted for ar following blowing the examples ile he pointed out and keeping keepin I beep in the commandments he has given toey they languish in jail jall all or linger in voluntary retirement knowing that they have no present chance of justice their absence will w III ili cast a deep shadow upon the domestic hearth and if father were only here will check the joy bursting from childish lips and start the tears in many smiling eyes ea M when angels sang their anthems over the newborn savior peace on earth 1 goodwill good will to all men was the burden burde of their carolines caro lings when the redeemer in liis his manhood pro 0 11 1 I come not to send peace on the earth but a sword the song and the saying seem to conflict but before there is 1 3 universal peace there in must be a grand struggle truth troth clashes with aror error the word of the lord is opposed by the will of men divine coal coni commands mands are opposed by human laws christs mission provokes a warfare but the end will be peace I 1 tile the resul result will be good will the triumph will vill be harminy hari harmony iny the servant is not greater than his master hell was stirred at his ills coming and the powers of earth sought his destruct destruction loti he was led to prison and to death he ire was sacrificed under the color of law treason was the cry against him and lle lie ile he is not fit to live was t the he verdict of his followers must not murmur at similar injustice and a similar tate fate tile the great martyrs of all ages were tormented under pretense of law those who are persecuted today to day may expect the tile same treatment 1 it Is is all in the gro pro gramme and all works to the same samo end but now the climax is near the consummation la Is at hand band courage denof men of god godl I 1 patience wives and children t r R rejoice loice joice israel for your redemption nigh the celebration of christmas has a peculiar charm to the latter day saints jesus ista Is xo them no mythical messiah ile he is a living personage ile he I 1 Is their elder brother lie he is their everlasting prince he is their resurrected savior he Is their coming deemer redeemer Ke joseph the seer saw him in the heavenly vision and testified that ile he lives the spirit of truth bears record we commemorate his birth we hail bail ills his approaching advent I 1 we are making ready tor for we great bridegroom i let these thoughts mingle with the i rejoicings rejo icings of the day clay make everybody happy who is within your reach let the little ittle folks have a splendid time be merry and wise let temperance guide in all things remember lle Ile the absent provide tor lor those who need let no mission arys family lack anything t ng to make up good Christma christinas 8 cheer look to the dear ones of those w whose hose absence is enforced or made necessary for prudential reasons if thine enemy hunger f feed eed him it be he be thirsty give him drink if he be naked or olt tireless fireless clothe him aud and keep him from the cold but do not drink into his I 1 evil spirit nor pattern atterb after his persecuting cutin ways ae ye are not the children i of this world 11 to all our patrons we extend christ mas greeting gre pre eting to our opponents we say god grant that you may see the I 1 truth as it is in him whose birthday we celebrate we wish no ill to any ohe ope ope one we lye do db not design to injure a living booi bool we lye desire 0 o promote peace 4 lii ill U our M les ies and de fences are forthe maintenance of principled not lor for the downfall of men we would to god that all peoples governments kindreds and tongues g would bow to eing king immanuel abandon war banion big otry cease ceabe to strive with tongue and ard pen and inaugurate 11 an era or of peace pra praise e an and unity we abor to that e end and aud u if it wo we use s sharp harp weapons in our oar or warfare with error and meet forcible forcible assaults with vigorous vigo rons rebuttals it is for what wo we demiri the cause of the inimitable and matchless godman whom all delights delish ts to honor lignor in name it not in reality god bless all lovers def defenders enders ald aid and seekers of the truth and may a merry christinas christmas be the harbinger of a happy and prosperous new year |