, 1876-12-23

| lluI'lNC hIu ploNHN'S SNIu StHVl u
feeling of Joy and gladncsS, especially IN
the household, as Christ mas Instituted
by the early Catholic church. before the
separation of the Greek and Episcopal
branches of the Christian church from
that body, it has become festival oh.
served by every sect of Christian demon.
nations. The 25th Of December is sup.
posed to be the birth day of Christ For
u long time the exact day was matter
of dispute. Not only was it claimed
that the 25th of December was the real
birth day OF the Christian Messiah, but
every day from December l5th to Janu.
ary 5th, New Style, has been observed
in the Christian church as the actual
birth day of our Saviour As a figure
in profane history Christ is hut cypher.
His name is mentioned only once, and
then not as historical or political cha--
acter, hut only as man about whom
certain rumors were atloat in the imme.
diate ncighborhood of the capital Of the
Jews. The precise day of his birth can
not be determined. The matter was
finally settled rs far as the Christian
church is concerned, by one ofthe Popes
of Rome (probably Gregory VlII) to be
the 25th of December, New Style, and it
has since been sacredly observed by both
the Greek and Catholic, as well as all
sects of the Protestant churches. 1t is
u day Of general rejoicing throughout all
Christendom. The Greek, Catholic and
Episcopal churches of the Christian.
churches observe it with greater solem.
nifty than any other sect. Particularly
is this the case when the day falls on
Sunday. Then it is that no pains or ex-
pense are spared to make the day i'm.
pressive and attractive. The bells chime
forth longer, more frequently and seem.
ingIy more joyfully. The choirs ale
sometimes doubled and trebbed for the
OCCASION, and the solemn notes of the
organ cease only for the brief intervals
required Tor the prayers, masses and
other ceremonies OF the altar. Flags and
evergreens IRE abundant everywhere, sal.
vos of artillery announce the birth of the
prince Of Peace" the heavens are at
night illuminated often with the grand
est OF pyrotechnic display, images of
the Savior and the Virgin, pictures of
the saints, adorned with the costliest
of jewels and precious gems, priests
clothed in jeweled robes otliciatc in the
churches that are illuminated with count
less lights, surrounded by chalices, cen
sers, candle sticks and lamps of pure
gold and silver, that literally sparkle
with the rarest of brilliants. In short,
among the oldest branches of the church,
no display is deemed too great costly or
magnificent with which to celebrate the
day. Some OF the Protestant churches
are, however, little more reserved and
peculiar. Although they profess to be
believers in and followers of Christ, vet
when the day falls on Sunday, they cele.
brate the day 6etore or the day Jol'owing
instead. Although they know from the
|
New Testament that Christ disregarded
the Sabbath OF the Jews, broke it him
self, went about "doing good" his habit
ual vocation on that the same as any
other day, taught his disciples and fol-
lowers TO do the same, and instituted
more OF his own instead yet some off
professed Christian sects ore so great Sab
bat Irians, that when the biz 4 day of the
"Redeemer of the world" falls on the
Sabbath they must not desecrate it by
celebrating the greatest event of the
Christian world. They forget, or per.
haps never knew, that when they dis
carded the Sabbath of the Jews and in.
stituted their present Sabbath, they fell
back upon the pagan sabbath oi the
idolatrous Egyptians.
SO much for the superstition and ig-
norance that still Clings to the Christian
religion. Christ himself declared that
imam was not made for the Sabbath"
yet some of his nineteenth century fol-
lowers are such strict Sabbatarians that
they refuse to celebrate his birth day
when it falls an Sunday. What are they,
Christians or Sabbatarians2