The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-06-12


great Reformation of the Sixteenth Century.
Since that era, new holidays have from time
to time raised their heads and struggled man
fully for existence but have been ruthlessly
crushed to the earth by the remorseless tread
of material progress.
second result Of the law of holidays is
that those, which extend beyond narrow linn
its, are closely associated with religion, if they
do not indeed spring directly from it. Relig-
ion is the most powerful and universal emo
ton in the heart of man that which appeals
to the mans religion is best adapted to OBJ
tain universal sway. AS we review the ma
ture and history of particular holidays we will
find abundant confirmation of this fact of
their close kinship. Christmas, New Year.
Easter and others at once rise before us as
witnesses. They keep step with the march
of religion. The progress of religion among
the masses is gradual. She does not spring
into existence in her fulness, but at first ap-
pears in rudimentary form, and gradually
grows and develops. Thus was it with the
holidays. They are not created in an hour,
but advance step by step. Two thoughts
about our holidays spring from this fact of
their religious origin. (d) i: Holidays uni
versally observed could only be fostered by a
universal religion. They could not arise in
this age of different religious connections
Were it not for the Church of Rome, which
formerly prevailed over civilized Europe we
would not find Christmas or any other day
generally observed in Europe and America
Each nation, or each fragment of nation
would have its own holidays-an endless di-
versity. Rome introduced unity. A great null
titude of festivals and saints days were OBJ
served by her command. When the Refor-
nation, like deluge swept over the lands
now Protestant, most of these were carried
away by its fury. But some were too deeply
rooted in the hearts of the people and still
exist, with modified features.
%: The depravity of human nature marks
our holidays. Originally, meant as seasons
| of devotion and joy, they were soon deformed
with follies. In the darker ages of the church
the religious origin of some of them would
never have been suspected by the uninitiased
for they were devoted to bacchanalian orgies
rather than the worship of Christ. And at
this age the multitudes observe them as days
of mirth and pleasure, without thought of
their origin or meaning.
One of the most interesting subjects for re-
search to the student of ancient history is the
motives which prompted the Church to intro
duce these holidays, and the skill with which
they were managed. Many of them would
never have been known, but for the force of
circumstances. They were not introduced be-
cause desirable in themselves. But in the
missionary work of the Church among the
heather nations of Northern Europe-our re-
mote ancestors-festivals of the heather di-
whites were found to be serious obstacle
They were too deeply rooted in the affections
of the people to be abolished by blow and
the Church, feeling its Weakness considered
that the best it could do would be to take
them under her own auspices, change their
significance by substituting Christian notions
for pagan absurdities, and tolerate Them
Hence we find in many of the iites and GUS
toms with which they are observed a curious
mixture of the Christian and the pagan.
The truth of these general remarks will APP
pear from hasty review of our leading holt
days, noting their origin, history, and modes
Of observance | pass by in silence the Lords
Day, as 100 well known to require remark
1t will be noted that the church festivals which
have survived the Reformation in Protestant
lands, are mainly those connected with the
life of Christ-and Of those, only such as by
their nature invite social and festal enjoy
ment. The long array of saints days are
hardly known, nor the days commemorative
of our Saviour's sufferngs, except in those
churches which keep them with distinctly
religious observance. 1t would be interesting
to inquire whether this "survival of the fit
test is due to the superior hold they took on
the affections of Christian people, or the fact
that they were tolerated, in mutilated form,
by some branches of the Reformed Church.
But l cannot enter on that question.
CHRISTMAS.
Christmas is perhaps the most generally OBJ
served of all our holidays. 1t is useless for
me to speak of Christmas trees, presents u.s.
ages, &C., to this audience, for they are still
tlCSl III Dt udy wis III OD-
served in commemoration Of the nativity of
our Saviour. The first records we have of its
observance are of the reign of the Emperor
Commodus, A. d., 1902. The pagan EN-
peror Diocletian, A. d., 2S4-305, in his rage
for persecution, ordered church, full of
Christmas worshippers in Nico Media, to be
burned-with all within. 1t is highly i'm
probable that Dec. 25th was the day of Chrst's
birth, for it is in the midst of the rainy seas
on in Palestine, when the shepherds would
not be likely to he watching their loeks by
night in the fields. Some have supposed that
that day was selected by the early Church
that it might serve as substitute for the
heather festival of the Winter solstice. The
return of the sun from his Winter wandering
to the South was considered an important
feature in the nature worship of the German
tribes, and celebrated accordingly. Our Sax
on ancestors then celebrated their yue feast
to commemorate the return of the fiery sun
wheel'' At that season their gods, Odin,
Wodon, &C.. were supposed to exercise
special influence on earth. The church III