Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1878-12-24
cirRIsrMas.

Nearly nineteen cen'ufies ~ ~
cording to the Bible. Jesus Christ. the
| Son Of God aud Savior Of mankind. was
born in a stable at Bethlehem in the
land Of Judea. Whether God or man.
the birth OF Christ Is one Of the greatest
and mos, notable events in the history
OF the world for the religion taught
and promulgated by the humble Hebrew.
struggling through ages Of barbarism-
its disciples prosecuted. exiled. impris-
oned. erueidsd or driven To live in caves
or wherever they could seek safety
finds recognition in every enlightened
human law. aud Is to-day the faith Of
nearly one-quarter Of the inhabitants OF
the earth. It is the religion Of science.
OF progress. Of civilization. OF morality
and o: Law ; it was the religion Of
Bacon. OF Shakespeare. Of Milton. Of
Cromwell. OF Washington. Of the Pill
grims who landed on Plymouth Rock,
and OF the Fathers OF the Revolution.
II has s~ubjugated. improved and en-
lightsned the world. and no nation is
great. either In physical or moral power.
whose people are ignorant OF or repudi.
ate the teachings Of the Carpenter OF
Judea.
The ins titution OF Christmas as a hol-
idsy is generally attributed to Pope
T~elesphorus. who died A. d. 1873. Al
first 1t was one OF the most movable Of
the Christian festive days, often con-
founded with the Epiphany, and cele-
brated in the Eastern churches in the
months Of April and May. In the
fourth century. however. at the solicit
alton OF st. Cyril OF Jerusalem. Pope
julius /. ordered an Investigation CON-
corning the exact day OF the birth OF
Christ, and the result Of the inquiry by
the leading t~hsologians Of Christendom
was an agreement upon the 25th day Of,
December. The chief grounds for the
decis ion. we are informed. were the ta-
bles Of the Censors in the archives OF
As entirely authentic by many OF the
Rome. This authority was not regarded
fathers. but the decision was uniformly
accepted, and hencetorth the nativity
was Q celebrated the same day throughout
the Christian world. The Investigation
also disclosed the fact that Christ was
born about the middle Of the night.
Hence. the custom in Roman Catholic
countries Of ushering in the Jay with
three masses-the first at midnight, the
second at early dawn. and the third in
the morning.
The day seems always to have been
regarded in the double light Of a holy
commemoration, aud u season for festive
enjoyment. In the Middle Ages it was
celebrated by fantastic professions and
dramatic entertainments. illustrative Of
events in the history Of Christ. Four
or i've centuries ago and even later.
Christmas carols, sung by the populacs.
were included in the festivities OF the
day. These carols, which were chanted
in recollection Of the songs Of the shep-
herds at the birth OF Christ. were very
popular at one time. and several volumes
OF them have been collected and are still
in print. Among the revels Of the Christ
mas season in England was the feast
Of FOOLS" q grotesqus and frolicsome
fesiivity. in which social order was re-
versed for the time beins-the servant
becoming master n this master assum-
ing tho humble capacity oil servant Dis
raeli. In his "Curiosities OF Literature.
makes descriptive mention OF this com.
zeal s~.,p,n.lia. This Cbri.tmss tree with
-, 81 $500,
whieh tne niue 'o'As arc en'e''aineu
originated in Germany. rs well rs the
concsit OF Santa Claus and his much
ioolad,o, contributions IN snspendsd
.~-,- r,. -. -, \ =,
' e
hnsiish CUSTOM inc los " Piaceu
upon the hre on Christmas Eve,
and while 1t lasts the festivities
..u - ...u.