, 1872-12-26

RrnI.u BgoWN. EDITOR
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XMAs.-The 25th dIy Of December. or
the day which corresponded thereto III
orr calender, was for the first thirteen
centuries observed and celebrated by
Christians every where, as the natal day
of Christ, the head of the Church. The
first three centuries the Church was
catholic, under the government of Bish-
,ps. Priests, and Deacons. Then it be-
came divided into two branches upon
she question Of seniority between the
Bishops of Rome and Constantinople, il
Being the right of the senior Bishop to
preside in the Councils of Bishops
The two branches retaining the same
creed and forms of worship, being de-
signated respectively as the Latin and
Greek Church. Subsequently the Bish-
of Rome WAS invested with supreme
power over the Latin branch, with the
title Of Pope, the Greek branch contin-
ming under Episcopal government until
the present day. retaining the creed,
orders of priesthood and forms of wor-
ship common to the Church catholic
before the separation. For the next
thousand years, these two branches of
the Church embraced all Christendom.
Then came the Reformation, under the
lead of Luther, Calvin and Melancthon,
the protest of the English portion of the
Church against Papal supremacy, and
she organization of new sects and de-
nominations, which have subsequently
continued to multiply. The Church of
England maintained the doctrines, orders
and observances of the Church catholic,
while rejecting papal supremacy and the
Interpolation of new. dogmas in the
creed. The Lutheran church went a
little farther, rejecting Episcopal su-
premacy, while adhering to the Apostol-
ic creed. ritualistic worship, and the fists
and teasts established by the Church.
The followers of Calvin, who divided in
to various denominations upon sundry
differences in doctrine and government.
rejected every thing connected with the
church and its established usases, tax
ing the Scriptures, according their own
Interpretation, for their only guide.
The ritual, calender, fast and feast days,
and all that would perretuate the mem
ory or history of the Catholic church
save its errors and ptions-they
abolished as a necessity to their own
,urifcation. Thus Christmas, the great
festival of the Romish, Greek, English
and Lutheran churches, was prescribed
MS a relic of papacy and ido}atry by all
sects and denominations but those above
named. In the early history of New
England, the rublc observance of this
anniversary was prohibited under Sc
we're penalties, and to meet the instinc-
tive popular demand for holiday
recognizing cause for special re-
joicing and thanksgiving to God for
Christian privileges, Thanksgiving Day
was substituted for Christmas by the
civil authorities. That DAY was accept
ed by all Christi IN people, as civil Or
dinance demanding recognition, but by
none as a substitute who sincerely be-
Iieyed in tie Divine origin of the Christ
mas festival. But the prejutices grow
ing out of extreme sectarian antaSonism
are passing away; every year brings
all believers in the Divine mission of
Christ more and more near to common
platform; the more narrow and pro
scriptive tenets of the Puritan fathers
have no advocates; many Calvinists are
approaching ritualistic worship; the
Methodists vie with their mother church
in the magniicence of their houses OF
public worship and the artistic style OF
religious music; all congregations are
now addressed by written sermons; there
are no longer any meeting-houses, con-
venticles or chapels, but all houses of
Christian worship are churches, many
of them, of all denominations, bearing
the names of Saints canonized by the
Catholic church; and now all Christian
people, Of every name and nation, again
join in celebrating the natal day of
Christ, and with one accord mingle their
voices in the glad anthem =" Peace ON
earth and good will to men,