The Virginia star., 1882-12-23
STUB PEN LETTER.
CHRISTMAS.

Christmas Papal Holy Day. but Prot-
estant Holiday. Ignorance. semi -enllghten~
ment, claims it to be the day on which Jesus
Christ, the Son of God was born in Bethle-
hem. Intelligence. enlightenment, snow
very clearly that no man knows the hour
day, month or wear in which the Son of God
was born.
An observation OF Christmas we find no
further back than the second century, about
| the reign OF the emperor Commodus. No less
than 1856 different opinions, have been given
concerning the date of the Messiah's birth.
Every month in the year has been glven.
| The Latin Church selected the 2oln or
December, the day of the feast of the Roman
/ goddess Bruma. The selection was sanc>
toned by Pope Julius 1. Learned men have
contended with each other about the date
but the Heavenly Father and Christ are
! silent upon the subject, which shows we are
not to know. Jesus said unto PLATE: 10
this end was born, and for this cause came
ints the world" He does not say when
nor where he was born. The Scriptures
enioin upon us to show forth his death, but
not his birth. Notice the circumstances
surrounding the sayiours birth. He was
born in a stable, and shepherds were watch
ing their sheep in the field by night. Mark
We. in the field not in the sheep cote.
Winter 10 Palestine embraces December.
January and February: GAS the season
advances the cold becomes severe, especially
, iu the mountainous parts, so that persons
have persisted from cold. Hailstones which
fall during the severity OF winter sometimes
are as large as walnuts. Sometimes snow
flakes fall equally as large. Nichols.
, ssss ~ee~en asiraaees the porth Tilas
! and the cold are intensely severe, and some
times fatal; travelling iaborious and danger
Gus. In the vicinity Of Jerusalem the
vicissitudes of a winter 10 Palestine were
experienced by the Crusaders of the twelfth
century in all its horrors. Many persons
perished from want of food, the intenseness
of the cold, and the heaviness of the rains
: which kept them wet for four successive
J days."-H0rae.
Christ corroborates the statements OF th'
5 inclemency of Palestine winters when ns
!. said :"Pray We that your flight be uot In the
winter Is it reasonable that The shepherds
. to whom the angel announced the birih o
Jesus. had their sheep out in the field on
r. cold December night. and they seated on to-
d cold, damp, frosty ground? trow not
Bethlehem is only six miles from Jerusalem
Z The severe winter felt in Jerusalem wouI'
= undoubtedly be felt at distance OF only ST.
n miles.
The shepherds of Judea did not keep thei
sheep out later than October. Therefore
IS IS clear that October had not yet come whe
&c the Saviour was born. October was ll
seventh month; December the tenth montL
1t is more reasonable to suppose that Chri'
es was born in the summer, than In Wlnte
ns He was born in stat le. 1t is not reasonaD
or that there was fire in the stable. Chrls
" mas is of. Papal origin. Protestants accept
W as q mere holiday in which to eat, drink an
g.; be merry, and give presents.
1--WE ring the bell. we raise the strain,
We hang up the garlands everywhere
And bid the tapers twinkle fair,
). And least aud lrolic-and then we so
Back to the same old lives again.
At Christmas play and make good cne
For Christmas Genes but once year."
IA Such is view of Christmas from an AM
papal standpoint. In the north OF Euro
Ill and in the Protestant districts OF German
va merry Christmas is often called the 'eh
dren's festiyal.s Such is becoming the CD
10 in this country. Mature. intelligent min
nv think more of New Years day because 1t
CIV a reality.
- The custom OF giving Christmas preser
De is of heather origin, in the celebration OF
re birth of Sol-the Sun-in his starting up
,y bis northern tour, to the dispersion whit
Let the clergy, and laity who firmly belle
ey aud so preach and so practice, that Je'
on Christ was born on the 25lh OF DecemD
an produce their. strong, irrevocable eviden
Until this claim tnat no man knows WI
Jesus Christ was born. Let Us remem
IN our calculations that Christ was born Il
years earlier than the common RECKON
Ammo Domino