The Forrest City times., 1891-12-25
CHikInTNI As


 This IS the day universally observed and celebrated as that of the natiyi 1 ty "f the Savior. That there is al error in the chronology of the event O
 which this day is claimed to be tl, ahniyersary IS generally admitted
 ihe circumstances attendant upon t:Ie birth of Christ clearly indicate that if took place at another season than De cember. It is not probable-it i, hardly possible-that the sh. pheri. would have been attending their herds on the storm-swept hills Of Judes as they are represented to have done. And there were in the same country lJudeal shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by uigkt." Luke ii: 8. December is the Dleakest month of all the year in that country-cold, rainy and disagresa ble-and the herdsmen would probably have had their flocks safely under shelter instead of roaming over the barren hills, devoid of verdure at this t!me. Quite Il number of dates have been 6ot apart by different authorities as Christ's natal day, but December 70 owes it's place in the calendar to Phosphorus, who lived A. D. l2s. ! during the reign of Antonius Plus; but the first certain traces Of it are found about the time of tbe EmreYar Com n9dus t2sf SG5) While IL. held his churt st Niepmedia, It was learned : that large number of Christians had se'eme'ed in that ely .o celebrate the hirthf ay of Christ. This brutal ruler order the doors of the churches 10 be elosed and set fire to the build ings, the wolshipposs pefishing miser- atiy in the flames. Some contempo- raneous chronolagists declare this to have occurred at q time corresponding with our months of April or May. One reason, perhaps, for the fixing Hnpon December % was that the early fathers of tie church, in their efforts to convert tie heatheps to Chris.iani- ", wore obliged, from motives of poli- cy and necessity, to conform to cer- tain rites and ceremonies Of heathen- ism. These heathens regarded the winter solstice as the most important part of the year, ;,s the beginning of tlie renewed life and activity of the powers o!nature and of the geds, who Wera originally merely the synibolical per sonitietaions of these powers, and eel ehGated it with the greatest festivities. At the winter solstice the Germans held their great Yule feast. in com meInoration of the return of the fiery suE-1llerl, and believed that during ti;e twelve nights from December 25 Co January 6 they could trace the per sonai movements and irterfsrcnces on earth of their chief deities. Odin, l.srchts, ete. Many of ths beliefs xnd asages Of the ola Germans and of the Romans passed over from heathenism into Christianity and have partly sur '''NA " s-N IT Ns9t itt GGy.
 Taking advantage of these condi- items, the early fathers gradually merged these heathen festivities into q grand Christian annivesary, sacri- icing accuracy to expediency in the only manner possible at that time in or der to win over to their religion the bar barians by whom they were surrounded or every hand. How we'll this policy succeeded is attestsd by the result. While it is conceded that December 25 could not have been the birthday of Jesus, yet it is so observed wherever Christianity prevails, and by it's adoption as the anniversary of that sublime event the founders of the church showed infinite wisdom and far-seeing policy, as it enabled them to convert Europe to the religion of Christ in less time and with less trouble and sacrifice than if they had held out for the actual date.
 But no matter who fixed the day we CticDi dlc Nitu SidtcluI hooi Ao lu CViii- memoration of the sweet and tender story of Bethlehem, it is dear to every Christian heart that bows in humble adoration to the Christ-cbild who first saw the light among the bleak Judean hills. From every land upon which the sun shall shine today there will ascend p9ans of praise, hymns of thanksgiving to the Father who gave us the gentle Jesus for Savior and d friend. The long-absent ones will gather around many a rejoicing fire side and hearts will be made glad by restorstions whose delay has caused many a throb of pain. And 80, amid carollings of millions of worshipping voices, TIE TIMss wishes it's readers a merry, merry Christmas.
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 THE Cherokee Strip has at last been Ixx @lo IT,sfnI Stafao on1