Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. SATURDA, DECEMBER 23, 1871.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1205, 23 December 1871, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. SATURDA, DECEMBER 23, 1871.

The inevitable unvarying progress of lime has once again brought round the great festival of the universal Christian Church. Brief, indeed, appears the period since last we had occasion to jiote its advent, vet liqv/ many vicissitudes have been compressed into the space of a single year ! In some cases valued friends have been removed from amongst us, and in or.bers new friend ships and associations have been begun. Some of us have made progress towards jncrea;-ed prosperity, while others have \>een subject to adverse influences. With all there has been change of some kind and (degree. Strange, indeed, ■would it be if one short: year could leave v ■ ■ ■ ■ * ■ ' ' ' ' ■ : . ', any of 'is in precisely the name position as it found us. The great Christian festival which now calls upon us for observance com* resruorates i;ho promulgation of the Tgood news" <( peacj en earth and r/p'KJwil). toward- men"; yet we find,

after near 2,000 years has elapsed from its announcement, peace is far enough from being universal, and benevolence has not succeeded in establishing anything like a general empire in the heart of humanity. So long as evil exists in the moral world to war against the good > so long shall we jfind war. with all its evils and in its several aspects, in the corresponding world of nature. JBufc it is a truth that it is given to each and all of us to aid in bringing about the reign of peace by cultivating the better principles of goodwill in o'uv?elves.

In our native land there is more ample scope for the exercise of the virtue of benevolence than there is amongst us; nevertheless, we mu>t net forget that even here there are the poor and the afflicted, and it falls within the sphere of every one to add or to detract from the liappiness of others. Few, if any, can remain insensitive to the genial influences of the present festive season. All will, we are sure, endeavor to diffuse the spirit of Christinas on those around them. Following out this sentiment, we cordially wish that all our readers may enjoy "A merry Christmas and a happy New Year !"