The weekly Butte record., 1867-12-21
A Merry Christmas.


Christmas, the day on which the nativity Of our
blessed Savior is celebrated viii have come and
passed. for the eighteen hundred and sixtyseyenth
time. So closely will the New Year follow, that
we have concluded to say word about Christmas
now, and have couple of weeks in which to con
template the approach of ls6s. Not that we re-
gard the latter the more important but because
the two are closely connected as to blend the
week iato the general term of The Holidays
1t is eminently proper that the human family
should rejnics at the birth of the SAVIOUR of the
world, and observe the anniversary of the day as
era Of good will to all manknd-for, from the time
the serpent entered the garden Of Eden, dswn to
the glorious birth at Bethlehem-the way OF re-
dempton was not pointed out to fallen man.
The first traces that find Of the observation of
this day. in the secohd century about the time
of the emperor Commodus A. D. l62. The decretal
epistles, indeed. carry it up little higher, and
say that Telesphorus, who lived in the reign of
Antoninus Plus, ordered divine service to be cele:
brated, and an angelic hymn to be sung on the
night before the nativity Of our Savior. That it
was kept before the time of Constantine, we have
an abundant proof for whilst the persecution ragged
under the Dioclesian A. D. 292, who then kept his
court at Nicodemia, that tyrant, among other acts
of cruelty finding multitudes of Christians assem-
bled together to celebrate Christs nativity, com.
manded the church doors where they were met to
be shut, and FIRE to be putoto it, which reduced
them and the Church to ashes.
In the Roman church three masses are performed;
one at midnight, one at daybreak and one in the
mornings and both in the Greek and Roman
churches the manger, the holy family, &C., are
sometimes represented at large. Some converts at
Rome, chiefly the Franciscans, are famous for at
tracing the people by sach theatrical exhibitions.
This feast is also celebrated n the church of Eng
land, and in the Lutheran churches but is rejected
by the Church Of Scotland and the Dissenters;
though in England, some Of the latter embrace the
opportunity of having preaching it being day on
which little no business is done; Others object to
this as apparently symbolizing with hum an inven-
tions.
The custom of making presents on Christmas
eve, is derived from an old heather usage, prac-
ticed among the northern nations, at the feast of
the birth of Sol, on the 18th of December to which
it succeeded, and retained the name of Yuls
or InuI; i. e the wheel or revolution of the
sun.
Whether this festival was always observed on the
18th of December, is point which bas been greatly
disputed. DR.. Cave is of opinion that it was at
first kept by the Eastern church in January, and
confounded with the Epiphany; till receiving bet
ter information from the Western churches, they
changed it to that. day. Chrysostom in the fourth
century, in an homily ou this very subject, afirms
that it is not above ten years since in that Church
(that of Antocb) it began first to be observed on
that day; ana he offers reasons showing that to be
the true day of Chrst's nativity. Clemens Alex
andrinus reckons. from the BIRTH of Christ to the
death of Commodus exactly one hundred and
ninety four years, one month, and thirteen days
These years, being taken according to the Egyp-
tian account and reduced to the Julian style, make
the birth of Christ to fall on the 18th or 26th OF
the month of December:
Mr.. Selden, in his 'Table Talk speaking of this
festival says christmas succeeds the Saturualia ;
the same time, the same number of days; then the
master waited upon the servant like the lord of
msrule.''
"Our meats and our sports (much of them) have
relation to church works. The coffin of Christ
mas pies. in shape long, is in imitation of the
cratch. Our choosing kings and queens on Twelfth
night, hath reference to the three kings. So like
wise eating of friters whipping of tops, roast
ing of herrings jack of lents, &c. they were all in
imitation of church works. emblems of martyrdom.
Our tansies at Easter. have reference to the bitter
herb. though at the same time it was always the
fashion for man to have CANNON of bacon, to
show himself to be no Jew.'-Hend. Buck.
The American people have been educated to re-
gard this anniversary for the social reunion
of families and friends, and the cultivation Of gen.
eral good feeling and Christian brotherhood. That
the approaching Christmas may be such to all is
the heart felt wish of the BUTTE RECORD. And So
"A merry Christmas to all.