The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-03-12
$l,50 Per Year.
THE CHRISTIAN YEAR.
What the Many Divisions Signify and tha
Events TbNy Commemorate,

tw, l.. Alden, IN lIarper's Young Poople.l
Nearly all religious bodies have In the
course OF tho year period when thoy give
more than usual attention 10 religious de-
yotion. Many Of them have no fixed timd
for these revival seasons, but tho older
Churchea-the Roman, tho Greek, and tho
Anglean-set apart forty days preceding
Easter for special religious services; and
this season, which Ia also meant TO remind
people OF tho forty days during which our
Lord was tempted In tho Wilderness, ID
called Lent
Lent Ia one OF the divisions OF the
"Chrstlan year" Whether or not wo boz
long 10 religious body which In any way
regulates It's services by tho Christian
year, every educated person ought 10 know
what II means,
Tho Christian year means the system by
which tho older churches commemorate
tho chIoI events In tho llfo Of our Lord and
In tho history OF tho oarly church. II boz
gins with Advent. In tho Roman and
Angelcal churches tho four woolSs procod-
in Christmas are called Advent season,
and during this season deyout pooplo ara
expected 10 think not merely Of tho birth
OF Christ, but Of His second coming prom-
isod In tho Scriptures tho word "adyenp
being derived from u Latin word meaning
"tho approach" or "th0 coming,n Christie
mas'day representing tho brrCh of our
boslod Lord, noeds no explanation.
II Is followed by Epiphany, from q
Greek word meaning manifestation" and
used by the ancient church 10 denote tho
appearance or manifestation, by the lead
ing Of star, OF Christ to tho Gontlles.
This Is celebrated ON tho 9th Of January,
and not only reminds US that Christ waa
sent 10 both Gontllcs aud Jows-that s, 10
tho whole world-but Ii also rofors TO the
visit of tho three Magl TO tho infant jesus.
Tho next important day Is Ash Wedncs-
day, tho first day Of Lent. IL IL called,
ASH Wednesday, because In tho primitive
or oarly Church ponitonts on that day
strowod ashes on their head, Tho last sun-
day In Lont, called Palm.Sunday, reminds
US OF the entry Of our Lord into Jerusalem,
whom tho people who were 80 soon altor-
ward " cruelty Him strewed palm
branches before Him In Ills honor.
Thon comes, on Friday Of the samo week,
tho day which many Christians regard as
tho most solemn day Of tho whole yoar-.
tho day on which wo commemorate tho
crucilixon. This day is Good Friday =
"good because through tho oruciaxion Of
our Lord our salvation Is made possible,
Tho week which begins with Palm Sunday
Ia called Holy Week, and Is Immediately
followed by astcr-Sunday, on which day
tho resurrection Of Christ Ia celebrated.
Curiously enough, tho word Easter ID
supposed 10 bo tho same as Eastro-a
hcathon goddess whom tho Saxons wor-
shipped when thoy sottlod In England, and
whose festival occurred about tho timO
when Eastor-Sunday now occurs. Tho
French, the Italians, the Spanish and Por.
tuguosO call Easter bya word which means
"tho passover" because IL takos tho place
Of tho jewish foast Of tho Passover.
castor docs not occur on any particular
day Of tho month, but on tho Sunday aftor
tho full moon which happens on or next
after tho 2lst of March, Easter IL tho
greatest .and most glorious day of tho
Christian yoar, and IL comes at tho worry
limo whom, In tho budding of tho trees anu
tue sprlnging up Of tho grass, naturo giycs
us tho beautiful symbol of tho Rosurroc-
tlon Of which ~, Paul has made uso. Forty
days aftor EOstor, Ascension Day COM
mOmoratoa tho ascension of Christ, aud
ton days later WhItsundOy Is celebrated
In momory Of tho 0utpourng Of tho Holy
Spirit on tho day OF Pontccost, whom tho
Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles,
giving thom tho gift Of many languages,
and boldncss and zeal TO preach tho Gospel
10 all nations, Tho Sunday after Whit
suntido Is cNllod Trinity Sunday, and on
that day especial reverence s paid 10 tho
Holy Trinity,
There Oro also other days Of tho Chris
tlun year, such ~ tho days called after tho
apostles and martyrs, ST. Androw, 81
Thomas, ST. stephen and othors; tho Inc
nooontS' Day, whom wo read OF tho
slaughter by llorod Of all tho children In
Bothlohom; All.saints' Day, whom wo are
reminded OF tho bcSsod souls now In Par
adiso; tho days which commemorate tho
wonderful conversion Of ~, Paul aud other
oycntS recorded In tho Now Testament,
aud for all those Holy Days, as we'll as for
all Sundays throughout tho year, special
selections from tho four Gospels aud tho
Epistlos aro appointed to bo road In addi-
ton 10 tho regular lessons from tho Old
and Now Tostumonts, aud tho roeItations
Of tho Psalms,
Thus tho Christian year Is sort of his
tory OF Christ aud His Church, aud wo can
imagine how valuable tho recurring roos
ord must havo boon In tho days when peo-
plo had no books from which 10 loarn Of
sacred things, aud how oIllciont IL may DO
os continual instructor In Gods Holy
| Word.