The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1877.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 19, 22 December 1877, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1877.

Cheistmas is, all over. 'the Christian world, a time of rejoicing, and properly so. It is the period when friend meets friend ; when the sundered members of "families are drawn together m happy reunion,— when they can forsake care and distraction to enjoy each , other's society. But the pleasknt groupings .around the. family board and the holiday making are not the only pleasures it brings. The Roman Catholic, the Episcopalian and' the Dissenter may all unite m the common, religion of : Christianity, and rejoice m the memories of the day. And if his Christianity is worth, arush-liglit there is not one of these to whom the season does not bring some sun-beam of pleasure above and beyond, the friendly greetings, the feasting and ' the "outings that custom i has made inseparable. And, yet; it is to be feared that there are many who experience mo such sentiment, and to whom the stricture of having a worthless religion 'applies. We sympathise not with the ascetic who would, frown out all the sunshine from a Christmas day, except that derived from grave meditation. We prefer seeing a perfect rational liberty m the spending, of the season. Gb'd'g world is open to his creatures "with iW many faciHties for pleasurable recreation, and each man, woman, and child has a perfect right to such rational entertainment or amusement; as 'his or her circumstances command. But it must .lie remembered that there is an inexorable line that '■divide's the rational from the irrational, the use from the excess, the freedom from the unbridled license. Even m this smalt town the spectacle has been year after year presented of men employing the season by abandoning themselves to the merest sensuality and becoming m the sight of God arid man more debased than Nebuchadnezzar inhis debasement. They have turned the:, festivity that should arise from "peace and good will" into a hideous Saturnalia, carrying with it, perhaps, a brief fevered joy, but bearing the inevitable fruits of bitterness and shame. It is recorded that Thespis, the Greek poet, who used to sing at the Bacchanalian festivals, after a while introduced recitations into thevintage songs. The innovation was tolerated so long -as the recitation to the glory, of; Bacchus, - but when he wandered to other subjects the Greeks would bring him back to the th_eme by exclaiming "what has that to do with Bacchus?" We willriqt put exactly the same question with . respect to the abuse under consideration, for we believe that it could be easily isMwn to have a g^reat deal to do with Bacchus; But let'it be

remembered that we, as a community, profess to be celebrating, not a Heathen, but a Christian festival and when, on the very day held sacred to the Godman, heathen Bacchus intrudes with rites debauching as ever they were, and when a portion of a Christian community falls down to the abject adoration, we may well exclaim, " What has this to do with Christ?" why memorialise .his birth by setting him at defiance and disgracing his institutions? What greater mockery could be perpetrated— what greater satire passed upon the religion you profess ? In saying thus much, we take but a common sense stand against the intemperance that is wont to disgrace the season that is approaching. If a day is set apart m honor of an historical personage, it is but reasonable to shew some sort of respect for him on that day, at least to abstain from absolute disrespect : and . this truth is placed. upon a much higher basis when Divinity is the -subject" thereof. If there are those m this and other communities who must hare a season wherein to abandon theirmanhood and morality let them select more appropriately the anniversary of one of the old heathen festivals for their orgies. This would at least smack of fitness, and, perhaps, sbfiw some respect for the feelings of their fellow men, if not for the religion they profess. From this unpleasant subject we turn to you, our readers, and wish you, one and all, a happy Christmas.