Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-01-03
Elder Magee ana Christmas.

20 the Editor of the Ledger.
MEXICO, Mo-, Dec. 81, 1sSS.-
Without any desire to enter into
controversy with Mr.. Magee, as
controversy doesno good, l would
refer him to an article which APP
peared in The Republic of Dec. %,
from the pen of DR.. Foy, minister
OF his own church, as an answer to
that part of his communication
which has reference to Christmas
day being the birthday of our
Blessed Lord.
As to his keeping the anniversary
of the day of his baptism and con-
version, I am very glad that he
does. 1t is well to keep such days.
1t does one good, helps to wean US
from the environment of the world,
the flesh and the devil, and to
center our minds upon the one
thing needful-Jesus Christ.
But, then, | am surprised that he
should imagine that because the
word "Christmas'' is not what we
call an English word, but composed
of two foreign words "Christ,"
which is Greek, and mas" which
he seems to suppose is Latin,
therefore the word must be
''poplsh," but granting hat the
word mas" Is of Latin origin must
the one using it therefore be a
Romanist? Surprising We carry out
this argument and say that when
ever we use the words "history'
or frenzy or monogram" that
we are Greeks, or when we use the
word "cabal" we are Jews, when
| say ''calico,i I am a Hindoo,
"bosh," that | am a Turk, o
almanac" that | am an Arab, as
the word is Arabic. Now, Mr..
Magee says the word has Gear
Marks" hat is, that it's compost
ton denotes its origin. Well the
first is "Christ," and | am sure
that he does not object to that, it
is a very good mark. l am not
ashamed Of 1t. And as to the mas,
what does it mean, where does it
come from, what is its ~etymology
Now | do not suppose that the
Roman Catholics have taken out a
"copyright' IN the word, nor have
they formed "a corner as to its use
for the simple reason that it was in
use long before "'Romanism' was
heard of, in fact, many scholars
believe long before Christ ap.
J. peared in the flesh.
The following eight - different
ways of deriving it are given by
various scholars of comparative
2, ~philology
First. From the Hebrew wore
Wassah, a debt meaning the dtb
It or service We W Almighty God
Second. From the Hebrew
h Natssah, meaning unleaUeneG
le bread, referring TO the kind o
i bread used by our Lord when in
stituting the Holy Communion.
80 Third. From the Greek "My
IL esis' or Muasis, meaning the an6tia
er ton.
s.. Fourth. From the Greek wor,
ne Madza or Ma==a, meaning a cake
ID Fifth. From the old European
in word "Mes' or Messe, which tn
m Germanic races used for banquet
20 and the latter word is still use
r. by the French.
of Sixth. From the Latin wor
l.. Hasa, meaning the lump, tn
whole, as the whole congregatio
was present at the Holy Commur
IN ion.
o. Seventh. The English wor
ze Nass, meaning that the service c
og the Holy Communion, containe
of in itself all other services.
Eighth. That it comes from tn
ed Latin tie Mise, est, go, be dismissed
ee and that it is one of the remnant
n of the time when Latin was th
o, vulgar language of Europe. Eve
H. to-day the Latin Bible is calle
Ve the Fuigate. and surely Bro. NJ;
he gee will not call me poplsh if on,
ng in a while ! say q thing in vulga
vn Yours, J. A. MATTHEWS.