The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-12-27
NUMBER SO

Greece and Rome. The best OF them we're
taken over By the Catholic Church, stripped
Of their heathen rites, and sere converted
ihtn religious Observance Of the Church 0l
CaFlst The festival ID commemoration ii
tie Nativity of Our Saviour was, rs far a.
can Be ascertaiued, lirst kept in The wear %.
and L was constituted and ordained 4
solemn feast by 81. Telesphorus, a mnrtyred
Pope, ia l3I. Christianity, which, accord.
ing 70 the Venerable Bede, was taught IN
Britain with some degree OF succt ss IN the
year 81, led to the conversion OF the Saxons
about 597. The festivals OF the Church
were subsequently, introduced, and among
them the eommemoratiOn of the birth ol
our Saviour. To it was given the name Of
Christmas, from Christs and the Saxon
Nose, and Inasse, which signifed festival.
The religion of the Druids was superseded
bur their priests, who venerated the oath
were won't to celebrate the close OF the year
bur adurning their temples aud the dwell.
ings of their followers with evergreens, ol
which the holly and the mistletoe held the
chief place, and Christianity, in changing
the mere worship OF the Closing year int,
the celebration oi the Nativity, took alsu
the holly and mistletee, aud gave them s
prominent position among their floral deco
rations. Although pre-eminently a religi-
ous observance and festival of the Church
Caristmas day has gradually glided inte
one essentially social. Not simply for re-
joicing and teasting, but for the gathering
together beneath one roof those who are
united by ties Of affinity, and other bond,
almost equally dear. With Christmas the
time has arrived when those who have beef
separated for the chief portion of the year
from multifarious causes, are brought
together, when loved or welcome face i,
greeted with fond, delighted smile, ano
the memory of one which will no more ap.
pear is recalled with a silent tear. 1t is 8
time when all the trials, anxieties, and re
sponsibilities of the past year have been dis
counted and the coming year is looked
forward to at least with hope. Apart from
religious considerations, yet strictly in &C.
c1rdance with them, Christmas time, 4!
now observed, is period when the mind
assumes a genial tone, when the heart ex
paEds, and harsh or bitter thoughts take
Aght, when we are all disposed to forgive
.and forget, when animOsities are subdued
GOODNESS OF feeling is changed to a summer
heat, and 4 benefcent, CHEEKY, loving fra
Iternity prevails-nOt supposed to prevail,
but does prevails It may have mixed uI
with il much that is Pagan and carnal in
its feasting, its eating, aud its drinking, and
even its hilarity; but the consideration oi
those relics OF bygone ages, those selfish IN
dulgences, fade into insigni6eance before
the emotion of loving brotherhood, the feel
ings of family affection, the warm, generous
sentiments which, as If summoned by a
magician's wand, spring up into being, and
hold carnival during this brief season Of
happy reunion. For more than thousand
years it has been growing into the glad and
happy shape it has now taken, and while it
serves as a means Of drawing families and
friends into loving unity, of banishing strife,
and all selfish and evil thoughts, may the
Christmas festival, as now known to us
never losirg sight of the holy cause Of its
lebration--continue annually to live and
reign until "Time itself shall be no more"
London Journal.