Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-12-23
ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS.
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for the appearance of this article;
but who al deal satisfactorily with
such u subject within the limits Of Il
half column or so?
AS TO THE ORIGIN or CHRISTMAS.
The word meant in its primary
usage, the mass of Christ, SO called
because upon this day an especial
mass was said in post apostolic times
to commemorate the birth of Jesus
of the Virgin Mary. 1t appears that
the writers Of the New Testament
did not consider the date Of this
birth as of any value; hence nothing
is found in the New Testament that
will lead to any definite conclusion
as to the exact time when he came to
earth to begin to live and work
among men. This may be said not
only Of the day, but also of the year.
Scholars nov generally concede that
he was born from four to seven years
prior to what is denominated the year
one Of the Christian era, and that the
present year, instead of being a. D.,
1886, is really a. D., 1890, or 1898.
4 German writer Of note, Fabricius,
gives 3 catalogue of not less that one
hundred and thirty-six different
opinions as to the year of u Lords
birth of the Virgin.
The same doubt and conjecture
exists as to the day of the birth. The
day has been placed by learned
Christians in every month of the
year. The amount of guessing and
speculation to be found on the sub
ject is quite confusing, and many is
sues of the LEDGER would not con,
tain what has been written. In the
case of the Eastern Catholic church
there is no certain evidence pointing
to a general celebration Of the Ma
tiyity on the 18th of December, prior
to the time of C~hrysostom, who was
born about A. D., 347. 1t has been
claimed by some jealous adherants OF
the Latin or Romish Catholic church
that the festival Of the Nativity had
been celebrated on the 25th of Dec.
from the beginning ; for the truth OF
this we have nothing certain or
definite. Since Chrysostom's day,
or since the latter portion of the
fourth century, Christians have gen.
orally fixed upon this date probably
from the influence of the Latin church
In the fourth century, Pope julius.
the second, designated Dec. %, as
the day Of the Nativity, and Chris
tendon seems to be willing to let 1t SC
ISIudlI. Lit IeU!lldLi SdtuOiIC CAuiCu
from this date has accounted the
festival of the Nativity as one of its
most important feasts. A Sacrament
airy of Pope Leo, which is among the
earliest, contains nine masses for this
day.
AS TO IT'S OBSERVANCE.
In the Roman Catholic church
three Christmas masses are usually
performed-one at midnight, one al
daybreak, and one in the morning Of
the 18th of December. The day is
also religiously observed by the En-.
glish and American churches, and by
the Greek Catholic and Lutheran
churches, but the Presbyterians and
some others reject it in its religious
aspect. This may also be said of all
Christians who take the Bible as then
only rule of faith and practice, re-
jectitg the authority of the councils
and refusing to accept the traditions
of men. There is but one day hello
up by the New Testament as of prime
importance, and this occurs 80 times
in each year. This is the first day OF
the week the Lords day, commonly
known as Sunday-kept by the
Apostolic church, not to commemor
ate Jesus birth of the Virgin, but in
memory of his birth or resurrection
from the grave; thus bringing life
and interruption TO light through the
gospel. This is the Christians true
holy day for the observance of which
he has divine warrant. The Holy
Spirit does not consider it important
that we know either the year or the
day of the first birth, but places
great stress upon the day of the
second.
But leaving out of sight its relig
ious aspect 1t is now observed owe
the whole Christian world, so t.
speak, as a eason of great rejoicing
of amusement and of the giving o
gifts. The secular complexion o
the day, as it is observed in TIN
United States, may loyaly be attrlbu
ted to tue method of its observanc,
in England. A paragraph upon thi
point from the Encyclopedia Britain
ca will give you a pretty clear view
of the secular festivities of the day
Says this eminent authority: III
all civilized countries the annual re
currence of Christmas has been ceie
brated with festivities of variou
kinds. In none, however, was i
more joyfully welcomed than in Eng
land, where ever still the old honor
has not altogether fled. In tina
country it was the custom on Christ
mas eve after the usual devotion
were over to light large candles ant
throw on the hearth a huge log, call
ed the Yule log or Christmas block
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