Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-01-17
Elder Mages on Chris tmas.


the one point of view, to the ex-
clusion of the other, though it has
steadfastly refused its adherence to
any form of suberdinatlon. To
walk in the ligll. we must accept
truth from every source.
We have not hesitated to set
forth the historic sequence Of the
facts IS they appear to us, and
have treated the history of Christ
mas day just as we would the his
tory of any other day.
The one great article of belief in
the primitive church was thatChrist
would soon come again. The res
direction day was regarded as not
far off. Numerous quotations could
be made from the various books of
the New Testament, showing how
strongly this belief entered into
their life and feelings. l. Thes.
4 II; James 5: s; |. John =: IS,
etc. This being true they never
thought of establishing His nativity
as day to be observed or celebrat-
ed. Why should they?
AS the Apostolic era receded in
time. it became necessary for the
church to clear up their concep-
tions in regard to Christ and what
he taught. Now doctrinal dis
putes begin. Excluding from con-
sideration Christ and His Apostles,
we say that the leaders of the early
church, the trainers of its dogmas,
the writers of its creeds, It's teach
ers of theology, were men subject
to all the frailities of humanity.
Factional disputes of the greatest
violence We're engendered. When
it came to be believed. that the
elders or bishops in Council assem-
bled represented the true church,
and that their decision was au-
thoritative on these points, the
Roman Catholic Church was es-
tablished. This was the central
point around which it's develop
ment was to proceed. 1t was a
long while, however, before the
churches lost sight of the fact that
the elders were but rulers in par
lty.
But we must take into account
the religious culture OF the age.
Now We observe with surprise an
emperor, but recently converted
to Christianity, debating 10 the
Council at Nice what it should be-
lieve, threatening obdarate bishops
with loss Of office and punishment;
the vacillating conduct of this
same emperor in subsequent years
abundantly showing that he had no
real understanding of the matter.
This was just at the time when
Christianity first began to bask in
the sunshine of royal favor.
The student can easily see the
tendency of development. From
the very first it has tended towards
concentration Of power. We can
already foresee the end. This
power was purchased at any price.
Compromise with Pagans was a
small sin, comparatively speaking.
Heathenish rites. frasta, costumes
were introduced and Christian
ized(O. In this state of the church
there were to be no liberty of con-
science. The doctrine of the seven
sacraments, of transubStantiation
of the power OF the priest, of the
heavenly treasure of merit, and
the prerogative of the church to
dispense it; of purgatory, of the in
vocation of saints, of the honor due
to Mary, OF her assumption and
| immaculate conception-were all
reduced to a system, were bound to
one another by argument and anal
!
ogy, were followed out to their log
ical consequences.
| In religion, Christianity had be-
come largely an objective religion.
By paying undue reverence to the
past, its forms of worship had stiff
! fened into fetters. A vast ma
chinery of mediation-sacraments
priesthood, discipline, ritual--hasi
been interposed between the indi-
vidual soul and its God. Ascen-
sion Day, Ash Wednesday, Lent,
Easter, Christmas and every other
! day III the church calendar were
put there by Romanish power. A.
this time, ali these days, and es-
pecially Christmas, were celebrat-
ed with great pomp. Why should
| they not be? 1t would be worth
ones head to object!
| The primitive disciples knew
nothing about any of these things
The power that founded every
other foolish fast, feast and notion
in the calendar originated Christ
mas. Therefore, as Christmas pure
and simple, We cannot countenance
it in respect 10 its religious Oh.
servance. S. MAGEE.
Several years ago Chamberlain
| & Co, OF Des Moines, Iowa, com,
menced the manufacture OF cough
remedy, believing it to be the most
prompt and reliable preparation
yet produced for coughs, colds ant
Group, that the public appreciate
true merit, and in time it was Ger.
l x.r,,far TIL,