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Literary
December 26, 1833
Herald Of The Times
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
In a Newport newspaper on Dec 26, 1833, a female correspondent contributes an essay on Christmas, contrasting its sacred significance as Christ's birth with its profane celebrations, urging true gratitude and charitable acts.
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OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
NEWPORT, Thursday Morning, Dec 26, 1833.
A female Correspondent has kindly furnished us the following thoughts on the return of Christmas. We should be highly gratified to hear from the lady more frequently.--She may be assured that the gifted productions of her pen, will ever receive a hearty welcome into our columns.
CHRISTMAS.
"Though it is a fair and lovely sight when we see an affectionate family keeping the birth day of some beloved member of their circle, yet the soul gives loose to a nobler impulse of joy, when a whole nation celebrates the natal day of some patriot hero, who has won for them freedom and glory. But there is an Anniversary, and there is only one on earth which, possessing all the close and tender interest of a Family festival, can at the same time yield the soul a more sublime gladness, than the birth-day of any mortal hero.--It is Christmas! The festival which unites Heaven and earth!-- A family feast indeed, or it is His Birth-day who became our Brother--bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh. A general jubilee too, for it calls on the Universe to Hail her Deliverer and her God! But thou holy Christmas! thou jubilee in which all the families of the earth may rejoice; how hast thou been profaned! Thou didst appear in no human glory. On thy forehead shone the star of salvation, and robes of glorious light fell around thee! while before thy face went forth the shouts of Cherubim, and Seraphim, Glory to God in the Highest! good will to men! But the sons of earth have turned the Birth-day of their Savior, into a day of gross and heartless merriment--and drown the gracious memory of the Babe of Bethlehem in their cups of revelry! I would to God that even Christians fully realised the surprising sublimity and loveliness of this festival. I would to God! that our cold and grovelling hearts might receive some impression of gratitude, from reflecting on that "unspeakable gift," whose birth-day we commemorate. Descend from Heaven Eternal Spirit, and diffuse such a fire of ardent affection to Him who loved us, and gave Himself for us, that we shall ever keep the Birth-day of Jesus with tender and grateful joy. And while we melt in love to Him, our hearts will flow out in generous acts of humanity. Filled with His spirit, we shall be the blessing of the unhappy, making glad the fatherless, and causing the widow's heart to sing for joy! Soothing the sick and the sorrowful wherever they may be. These are the true ways of keeping Christmas, and he who thus celebrates the Birth of his Prince here, shall one day behold that face of Love ineffable, which it must be Heaven to look upon."
A female Correspondent has kindly furnished us the following thoughts on the return of Christmas. We should be highly gratified to hear from the lady more frequently.--She may be assured that the gifted productions of her pen, will ever receive a hearty welcome into our columns.
CHRISTMAS.
"Though it is a fair and lovely sight when we see an affectionate family keeping the birth day of some beloved member of their circle, yet the soul gives loose to a nobler impulse of joy, when a whole nation celebrates the natal day of some patriot hero, who has won for them freedom and glory. But there is an Anniversary, and there is only one on earth which, possessing all the close and tender interest of a Family festival, can at the same time yield the soul a more sublime gladness, than the birth-day of any mortal hero.--It is Christmas! The festival which unites Heaven and earth!-- A family feast indeed, or it is His Birth-day who became our Brother--bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh. A general jubilee too, for it calls on the Universe to Hail her Deliverer and her God! But thou holy Christmas! thou jubilee in which all the families of the earth may rejoice; how hast thou been profaned! Thou didst appear in no human glory. On thy forehead shone the star of salvation, and robes of glorious light fell around thee! while before thy face went forth the shouts of Cherubim, and Seraphim, Glory to God in the Highest! good will to men! But the sons of earth have turned the Birth-day of their Savior, into a day of gross and heartless merriment--and drown the gracious memory of the Babe of Bethlehem in their cups of revelry! I would to God that even Christians fully realised the surprising sublimity and loveliness of this festival. I would to God! that our cold and grovelling hearts might receive some impression of gratitude, from reflecting on that "unspeakable gift," whose birth-day we commemorate. Descend from Heaven Eternal Spirit, and diffuse such a fire of ardent affection to Him who loved us, and gave Himself for us, that we shall ever keep the Birth-day of Jesus with tender and grateful joy. And while we melt in love to Him, our hearts will flow out in generous acts of humanity. Filled with His spirit, we shall be the blessing of the unhappy, making glad the fatherless, and causing the widow's heart to sing for joy! Soothing the sick and the sorrowful wherever they may be. These are the true ways of keeping Christmas, and he who thus celebrates the Birth of his Prince here, shall one day behold that face of Love ineffable, which it must be Heaven to look upon."
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Religious
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Christmas
Religious Festival
Christian Reflection
Moral Instruction
Acts Of Kindness
What entities or persons were involved?
By A Female Correspondent
Literary Details
Title
Christmas.
Author
By A Female Correspondent
Subject
Thoughts On The Return Of Christmas
Key Lines
Though It Is A Fair And Lovely Sight When We See An Affectionate Family Keeping The Birth Day Of Some Beloved Member Of Their Circle, Yet The Soul Gives Loose To A Nobler Impulse Of Joy, When A Whole Nation Celebrates The Natal Day Of Some Patriot Hero, Who Has Won For Them Freedom And Glory.
It Is Christmas! The Festival Which Unites Heaven And Earth! A Family Feast Indeed, Or It Is His Birth Day Who Became Our Brother Bone Of Our Bone, And Flesh Of Our Flesh.
But Thou Holy Christmas! Thou Jubilee In Which All The Families Of The Earth May Rejoice; How Hast Thou Been Profaned!
I Would To God That Even Christians Fully Realised The Surprising Sublimity And Loveliness Of This Festival.
These Are The True Ways Of Keeping Christmas, And He Who Thus Celebrates The Birth Of His Prince Here, Shall One Day Behold That Face Of Love Ineffable, Which It Must Be Heaven To Look Upon.