The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-06-28
Oscillation.

/
Kissing was universally practiced
among the early Christians as a part of
their religious rites. The first disciples
kissed each other at their aqapes, or
love-feasts, just as the initiated did at
the Eleusinian mysteries in token Of
brotherhood. In 1877, however, notwith-
standing st. Peters exhortation, the
Council of Carthage forbade all religious
kissing between the sexes. Several later
sects have at various times sought to
bring back the institution of the kiss of
peace but, though doubtless peculiarly
edifying to the young folks, it has been
found prudent and necessary to prohibit
the use and continuance of the same,
and to go back to less godly forms of
salutation It still fingers, however,
both i'll the Greek and Roman churches.
At the solemnization Of matrimony
among ourselves, it has for long been an
established custom for the bride to be
kissed at the conclusion of the ceremony
by both the groom and the officiating
clergyman appropriate and, gener-
ally, most satisfactory termination of the
marriage rites. This is sometimes fol-
lowed by good deal of promiscuous
kissing among the relatives and familiar
friends of the two contracting parties.
Beyond this, we are not aware of kiss
ings" forming any part of our religious
observances at the present epoch.
The Bible is full of kissing, and some
passages where it is mentioned are re-
plete with softness and tenderness, while
others teem with treachery and revenge
Jacobs interview with Rachel at the
well; Joseph's reception Of his brethren;
Moses meeting his father-in-law, Jethro;
the passionate kisses bestowed On our
Savior's feet by the penitent Magdalene
are few of the former class while
Jacobs kiss, in which he robbed Esau
of his birthnght Joab's treacherous
salute of Amasa before his murder of
the latter and that dreadful one of the
traitor Judas-which has become the
type Of all treachery-are some of the
most remarkable in the last-named cate
CORY. We could pursue our investiga-
ton Gd jfafn5tun1 were we to confne
ourselves to the sacred volume, but
enough has been said for our present
purpose.
Kissing is, as may be supposed, of
frequent occurrence in Shakespeare, and
generally in a commissioning sense.
We find the expressions, "Press my
sign-manual on her ruby Lips, "Seal it
with kiss" etc.
England, in Shakspeares time, had
gone back sadly from the earlier days Of
reticence-as practised in olden times
when man would as soon have thought
of kissing his wife in his daughters
presence as we would now think of per-
forming the same grace in church.
At the present day kissing is COM
mon mode Of salutation among even the
men of many nations We may instance
Germans, among whom it is no uncom-
mon sight to find two great bearded and
mustached giants kissing each other like
a pair of turtle-doves. But the most
pleasant-tender, but at the same time
perplexing-s is that bestowed upon
one by the women of Norway, who, after
having put you to bed and tucked you
up well between the sweet-smelling
sheets, bend their fresh, fair faces, and
kiss you honestly upon the beard, with
out shadow even of shame or doubt.
When a Gar OF Russia dies, his corpse
is affectionately kissed, and the same
custom is observed with the Jews.
When Jew is dying, his nearest rela-
tive kisses him, to receive his last breath
"a custom which, we have already
shown, obtained among the ancient Ro-
mans he is kissed, when dead, as a fare
well, and again when carried to the
grave. This custom, we learn from
scripture, was IN vogue in the days of
Jacob, whose corpse was affecdonately
kissed by Joseph.-Appletons' Journal
for July.