Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-12-24

Peace to the earth. good will 70 men,
From heavsn's eaternal ktng!
Light dawns on thee Jerusalem!
The Saviour now is born!
Ths bright on Bethlehem's joyous plains
Breaks the frat Christmaa morn.
-
CHRIST WAS BORN ON CHRIST
MAS DAY.
"For the birthday of our Lord Jesus
Christ, which day was unknown until a
few years since, when some persons
coming from the west, made 1T known
aud publicly announced it," Such is
the title of a homily preached by st.
Ghrysostom on December 25, A. ID. 1856,
IN the church at Antioch, Of which he
was then presbyter in charge. He
makes therein the following assertions:
"Althongh it Is not the tenth year since
the very day became surely known to us,
through your zeal, it hath been so cele-
brated, as if it had been from the be-
ginning handed down." "This day,
known from the beginning to the
jewellers in the west, and but lately
brought to us" your LOVING care of
this day is the greatest proof of love
to Him Who was this day was born" ~
know that many are eye yet disputing
with one another ahout it, some calling it
in question, others defending it. On the
mi hand. some argue against it, as
being new and recent; others defend it
as ancient and primitive, because the
prophets had predicted concerning His
birth, and from the beginning it has
been clearly known and greatly cele-
brated by those who dwell from Thrace
to Cadiz."
The preacher then proceeds to declare
three proofs, by which it might be
surely known that Christ was born on
December Goth.
l. This festival hath been every
where proclaimed 30 rapidly and hath
grown TO such q height. That which
siamaliel said concerning the preaching
OF the apostles. Ismlght also confidently
assert concerning this day; that because
6od WIG WIN ~ VI NV, tHSISlolS ~
shall not only be overthrown. but every
year be moro widely observed and more
clearly known"
II this were q valid argument in the
1urth century, what shall we say of il
IN the nineteenth, when it has become
a prophecy fulfilled. How has Christ
mas forced itself into the heart of the
world aud made all men kin? How hal
its divine arom secured for it the glory
OF being the one universal holiday
How has it's signal triumph borne wit,
ness to its heavenly character? Those
who believe, as did Gamaiiel and
Ghrysostom, in Gods sovereignty. may
we'll declare, only because it is "the
day of God has il thus nightly pre-
vailed. -444
How is it that they who base all theil
belief upon absolute p~redestinatiop
should ascribe the choice by the church
Of the birthday as the Son Of God, tt
haphazard and guess work. Ii ovei
anything an over-ruilng providence hai
clearly thrown it's care and sanction, it il
the observance of Christmas day. Its
theme, it's origin, its acceptance, it's
blessed Influences, its unique magnia.
cent sway--if these r not OF the will
and work of God, what is there that is
Q. ut is manifest that Christ was
born at the time of tho first enrollmen,
under Cyrenius; and it is lawful for any
one who wishes to know accurately to
search the ancient records publicly
deposited in Rome, and there learn the
time Of that enrolment. But what is
that to us, it is said. who nre not, and
never have been there. Listen and be
not nnbeliaving, for we have been In
formed Of this day by those who have
accurately examined these things and
are inhabitants of that city. For they
who have resided there, having celebra.
ted it from the beginning, and from an.
cient tradition, have now transmitted
the knowledge of it to u.s."
1T was documentary evidence, laid UP
in the archives OF Rome, which had
made the western christians 80 sure oil
December 25th being the birthday OF
Christ. 1t was the same which at last
brought the O~rientals to adopt the same
day, as the festival of the nativity. This
was the law and tha testimony which
compelled conviction and secured uni.
formity. And in the name of the doc.
trine of cause and effect, we challenge
any lesser cause to produce SO vast an
effect.
{. "zachariah was high priest and
sawsthe vision and received the promise
of the birth of John, as he was entering
the Holy of Holes on the Day of Atone.
ment. This occurred about the end Of
September. Thence he departed, and
the conception of his wife began.
When she was in her sixth month,
{March) ths conception of Mary began