South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-12-26
The Origin Of Christmas.

Long before the Christiane,s the 25tb
of December Was relih icusly observed
by the Sun Worehipers.' On that day
is about the first percep.ib.e return of
the sun to the northern hemisphere.
His return would drive away the
frosts and SHOWS, warm up tue frozen
earth and clothe the earth 10 beauty
and luxury. The people looked upon
the sun as a god. an intelligence.
withdrawing to the south Just long
enough to let the people see what
Their home, the world, would be
rithnut bis presence. His return
on the 25th OF December they
nailed with delight. They rejoice
ed. They sent presents to their
friends. They hell their religious
feasts, with music, mirth and dane
ing. Sometimes to great excess
these feasts were carried. When
ChrisL came and his doctrine ives
preached among the fSun Worship.
ers, many were converted TO Chris
'ianily. To break off their old habits
was very difficult, When the 10Th
OF December CINE il brought the
Sun Feast There was tho entice-
men. TO go and mingle. The Chris
tan leaders We're not slo0 to see
what the influence would be, so they
gave the day Christian significance
They met in their meeting .houses.
They gave presents to each other.
They talked OF Christ, the spiritual
sun, who had come to give lighL,to ana
warm the spiritual world. de was
the light Of the world The people
which sat in darkness saw q great
light and light had sprung up
The light shineth 10 darkness, but
the darkness comprebendeth il not. ,
The worlTs we're made by Him.
Therefore the sun was made by Him.
The Sul WorShipers '80rshiped the
creature more than the Creator but
the Christians 'worshiped the Creator,
who is blessed forevermore. Tue
superiority OF this over that was soon
made visible ami the masses were re-
leased from idolotry. II matlered
not whether the 25th OF December
was the birthday OF Christ or not, the
effect was the same.
The COLUMBIA CYCLONE CALxN.
DARBY far the most valuable busi.
ness calendar for 1891, and entirely
unique in design. is the Columbia
Cycle Calendar aud StRnd, Issued by
the Pope Mfg. Co, of Boston, Mass.
The Calendar is in the form Of q pad
containing 366 leaves, each 81 K %
inches one for each day Of the year,
10 be torn off daily, and one tor toe
entire year. At the lower end OF
each leaf Is blank for memoranda,
ADD as the leaves are only fastened
al the upper end, any leaf can be ex.
posed. No stub is left when the
leaves are torn OF. The pad rests
upon q. stand, containing pen rack
and pencil holder, aud when placed
upoo the desk the entire surface OF The
date leaf Is brought directly and kept
constantly before the eye. making IL
impossible TO overlook date or mem
brands. 9he stand 10 made Of stain-
ed wood, mounted with raised letters
ia brass, thus forming an ornamental
paper weight. The day Of the week
and the day Of the yesr, together With
the number OF days TO come, are civ.
en-, ADD each slip bears a short para.
gtaph pertaining 20 cycling and kim
dred subjects. These paragraphs
have been carefully cOllalod from
leading publications and prominent
writer's, the larger number having
been specially written for this pur-
pose. Although this is the sixth iss
Gus Of the Calendar, all The matter is
fresh and new, comprising notable
events in cycling, opinions Of pbysi
clans and clergy men, hints about road
making, and numerous other topics,
the whole being enough 70 make a
fair-sized volume when printed %
book type.