Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-10-20
Written tor the Alexandria Gazette. |

Written tor the Alerandrla Gazette.
Some reasons why the Friends, commonly
called Quakers, do not join with others in
naming the months and days of tho week.
| The children Of Israel, the people whom God
chose out Of all the families of the ea,th tc
place bis name among, and to make known IN
to, wero strictly commanded rot only to abst,iu
from the ldolatrous practices of tho nation, in
the midst Of whom they dwelt, but were CO.
Joined to be ciroumspecs in all things that tho
Lord commanded, and even to make no men.
ton of the names of other gods, neither to let it
De heard out of their mouths" Exod. 23.l3.
This injunction was not relative to any legal or
typical rites. External ceremonies, or institu-
tlons OF the law peculiar to the Jewish nation,
but was perpetual command and standing
ordinance respecting the power of the One AL.
mighty Being, the same yesterday, to-day aud
forever. and as such, ought to be regarded by
Us. aud by all the generations of those who
With the heart believe, as well as With tho
tongue confess, that "the Lord He is God, aud
that there is none else beside Him." Deut.
4.35-who hath declared, II am the the Lord;
that is My name. and My glory will l net give
to aoother, neither My praise to craven images"
Lisa. AZ 8. From firm persuasion that the
glorious Gospel Day aud Timc was come. where
in the Lord IVES fulfilling bis covenant with
Saul, viz: II will take away the tho names Of
Balim out of bis mouth. and they shall ba ~
more remembered by that mama. Hosea Eli.
lst. January was 80 called from James, 40 an.
cicnt King OF Italy. heathenish superstition
had delhed, to whom temple was built, and
this month dedicated.
2nd. February was so-oelcd from Februa, n
word denotiug purgatiou by sacrifices, it being
usual 10 this month for the Priests of tho
heather God Pan to offer sacrifices and pcr-
form certain rites, conducting, as vas supposed,
to the cleansing or purgatou of tho people.
Sd. March. was so denominated from Mars,
feigned to be the God of War, whom Romulus.
founder of the Roman Empire, pretended to bc
his father.
9TH. April is generally supposed to divine it,
name from the Greek sppelIation of Vauus. au
imaginary Goddess worShipped by the Romans.
5th. May is said to be 30 called from Maria.
the mother Of Mercury. another Of thoir pro-
tended ethnlc deltles. to whom, 10 this month.
they paid their devolions
9Th. June is said to take it, name fromJ uou,
one of the supposed goddesses of the heathcp
asus ouJS oV Ooioo Atou uiluS Sdoo6is ouc
Of the Roman Emrerors, who gave bis own
namo to this month, which before was called
Quiu tiis. or the fifth.
Sth. August, SO named 10 honor Of Augus-
tus Caesar another of the Roman Emperors.
This month before was called Sextilus or the
sixth. The other four months. namely, Sep
tember. Ootober. November and December,
still retain their numerical Latin name, which
according to the late regulation of tho Caleo-
dar, will, for tho future bo improperly applied.
AS the idolatrous Romans thus gave names
to several Of the months 10 hon,r OF their pre-
tended deities, s, the ks idolatry prevailing
among our Saxon ancestors induced them to
call tho days Of the week by tho namo of the
idol which on that day they peculiarly wor-
shipped; hence the first day of the week was
by them called Sunday from their customary
alteration of the sun upon that day. The sec
ond day Of the week they called Monday from
their usual custom of worshipping the moon 90
that day. The third day Of tho weok they
called Tuesday 10 honor Of ono of their idols
called Tuesoo. The fourth thoy called Wednee-
day, from Wooden, another idol. The fifth,
Thursday, from an idol called Thor, TO whom
they paid their dcvotioEs on that day. Tho
sixth day they called Friday, from Frigs, ap
imaginary goddess. The seventh. Saturday,
as is supposed from Saturn, or Seatee, then
worshipped. That these heathouish and idol
atrous names were not adopted by the early
Friends, but they kept to tic ancient scripture
names Of First. Second, Third, etc., as used in
tho Bblc. @. GILL1NaHAH,