The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-12-20
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1900.
CHRISTMAS.

there is none hailed with such general
and sincere satisfaction as Christmas
Day. Perhaps the nearest approach
to Christmas is Thanksgiving Day,
and there is similarity between
them. Both are festivals of rejoic-
ing and gratitude, but the former,
being of so much greater antiquity,
and of wider observance, it ranks as
most important and most popular of
the seasons of rest throughout the
year.
Christmas derives it's name from a
which was celebrated on that day,
and is the day on which the birth of
Jesus Christ is celebrated through
out the Christian world. This event
was in the eastern countries, in the
third century, set on the same day
of the year with His baptism, and the
two commemorated on January 6,
which, in the western countries, is the
feast of Epiphany. The Romans had,
like other pagan nations, a nature
festival called Saturnalia, and the
northern peoples had Yule; both cele-
brated the turn of the year from the
death of winter to the life of spring
the winter solstice-and as this was
an suspicious change, the festival
was very joyous one. 1t began
with the Romans on December II,
and lasted seven days. The giving
of presents and burning of candles
characterized it. Among the north
ern people the lighting of huge log
the yule log-with appropriate cere-
monies, was feature. The Roman
church finding the Yule festival deep
ly intrenched in popular esteem,
wisely adopted it and at the same
time altered it in intention and OBJ
servance. 1t was no longer natural
delight at the prospect of spring
the conquest of the sun over cold and
barrenness but peculiarly Christian
joy in the rise of the Son of Right
eousness with universal life and
warmth, which the feast set forth.
The day was put just at the close of
the heather festival, and the presents
and ceremonies were intended to SYM
bollze the unspeakable gift of God
the Saviour. Like many other popu-
lar usages, the exact course of
Christmas cannot be traced. The au-
thority and example of the Roman
church and perhaps the inconvenience
of celebrating two such different
events as the birth and manifestation
of Christ upon the same day, caused
the Eastern church as early as the
latter part of the fourth century. to
separate the events and keep the birth
of Christ on December 25.
1t is perhaps not too much to say
that Christmas and the festivities con.
nected with the celebration of the day,
are the strongest support of the Christ.
ian religion. The universal acclaim
with which the coming of the festive
season is hailedby the Christian world
and the zest with which 1t is observed
is stronger tribute to the hold that
the teachings of Jesus Christ have on
the popular mind, than all the church
es in the land. Joy in the memory
of the coming of the Prince of Peace,
and the message that he brought tn
mankind does not find its natural ex-
preston in dolorous and perfunctory
worship" in stately edifices. Nor is
the church service the sincerest form
of worship. The true religion which
finds abiding places with those out.
side, as well as inside the churches.
is the practical work in the VINEYARD
OF the Master. To visit the widow
and the fatherless in their affection:
to lend a helping hand to ones fel.
low man in word, to do good rather
than to profess goodness is the tru
est homage to Him whose earthly
coming was welcomed by a chorus