This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ...over us; teach us to worship Thee in the spirit and in the truth, so that the changing etiquette of a vanishing sphere, and the vain philosophy of time servers may not harm nor forbid us to call to Thee: "Lord, Thy kingdom come." "I wish you a happy new year." Such is the universal greeting on this day among friends. Man salutes man on the first day of a new year and expresses the hope that the new year may be a happy one for each. Ah! and so it is happiness, the aim and end of all, which is the one thing most desired. That is what christians ask for when they pray to God: Thy kingdom come. And it is just for this purpose that this altar was built for us. That was the desire of our fathers, who contemplated over thirty years ago to organize a parish and have a house of prayer in this city, and which they realized, thanks to the christian sympathy of the holy synod of the Bussian church. Happiness--that was the mission object of the apostles, who walked the earth. It was for our happiness that Jesus Christ came and commenced for the whole world and all time a new and everlasting year. Did not even the heavens and their spiritual ministers proclaim it? Tea, face to face and heart in heart, did Mary encompass it. To Joseph it was in a dream. It was gloriously indicated to the learned magicians by a moving star. But for the peasant on the fields the angels sang. Yes, for this gift to humankind, for this happiness of the new year to the world the spiritual powers of heaven thanked the Lord. They sang: Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. As we to-day commence another period by which we measure that which we call time, and as we feel that this time is gliding past us, flowing swifting beyond...