The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-12-18
Christmas
ID ay
ron
Its EARLY Massacres by
..History the Romans
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

: History the Romans I
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1t Is generally accepted belief that
OH the date that we call Christmas day
Christ was born. This is questioned
by some chroniclcrs, but the doubt does
little harm. says the Brooklyn Eagle.
Every one Is satisfied 10 take this date
rs The nativity of Christ, and 1t mat
tiers little whether it Is historically cor
rect or not one day in the year, 1t is
believed by all good Christians, should
be set aside for the celebration Of the
birth of Jesus Of Nazareth, and the
10Th of December is rs good day as
any on the calendar
1t is necessary to go back to the
Roman era TO find the first recorded
reference 10 festival ON the date
known to us rs Christmas day, so that
1t need not be cause for surprise II
through all the past ages the record OF
the exact day on which Christ was
born should have become lost. History
fells us that the first feast TO be celc
brated on the 18th of December was
established by Commodus emperor OF
Rome, who nourished about $50 years
after the birth of Christ.
After TINT there are many references
To the meetings of the new sect called
the Christians, who gathered on this
day to celebrate the birth of the God
Man. 1t Is not until century after
- a, Gt,1
particular reference to the persecution
that the Christians underwent Mt the
hands of the pagan empef0rs having
eliminated in grand Christmas day
massacre.
DioeletIan was the Roman who de
Cded to celebrate the date by killing
off II few Christians. lie did SO with
vengeance. The most horrible deed
perpetrated during the festival was ON
Christmas day, when the assembled
Christians. gathered In their place OF
meeting, were set upon and slaughter
ed, while the Romans looked ON in
great glee ut the sight Of nntipagnn
people being put 10 death for their re
ligion's sake
W ilfli iAOlllt Nda nv iphH'l At PA'Bf'Ai
state, the feast began TO be celebrated
In the Christian style, although some
of the songs TINT were sung and some
of the rites of the festival would great
~ shock the strictly orthodox church
gocr of the present day. At that time
there were no excursion trains 10 carry
those who wished to take part In II
Ill, nnini a npipt
and The electric telegraph had not been
thought of, Consequently those who
celebrated the birth of Christ in early
days did So in widely separated coun-
tries, sometimes at widely separated
periods of time and according to no
set programme. 1t was every com
muultY fer itself, and no one to eritl.
else the others for not being careful
about the date
As a matter of fact. the ancient Ccle-
bratiun of Christ's nativity was left
entirely to the discretion of the differ
ent bodies, and rs every community
had divergent interests the time was
arranged to suit the eXigencles of the
case. If Christmas day happened to
come upon time when there was too
much work To lie done to permit of Il
holiday. then 1t would he postponed
until more suitable season. Owing
10 this Indifference to presidents the
exact date when the birth of Christ
ought TO be kept was hopelessly lost.
ON only one thing were all the an
clients agreed namely, that the festival
in commemoratiun of the birth of
Christ ought to be the most magnitl-
cent of the year. In some cases 1t was
kept up for days and the meaning OF
the festival was forgotten long before
the jewellers returned 10 their homes
again.
1t Is interesting TO observe that the
custom of giving presents mt Christ
mas time which has survived to this
day, was begun la the first days of the
Christmas feast. SO was the custom
that is known rs carol singing. The
songs of today are based ON the event
that makes Christmas day II time of
rejoicing, hut ut that time they We're
not oVerparticular rs to the subject
chosen by the singers. In fact II would
he difficult 10 lind in some of them an
excuse for the singing of such ditties at
religious festival
1t Is striking feature of this Christ.
mas celebration that from its earliest
recorded history there Is no sentiment
in connection with II but those of kind
illness and good feeling, However
much the old style Of celebrating
Christmas might be Objectionable TO
the twentieth century critic of orthodox
tendencies who frowHs ut the frlyolity
of some of the customs, 1t WAS always
time for the better side of human
nature to I've exhibited and for people
TO take gifts TO each other in spirit of
peace and good will. This kindly spirit
has been maintained until all over the
world today II is seen In the merry
making. the happiness conveyed by the
glorious institution of Santa Claus, the
ateaming hot dinners presented to the
poor, the rrolic and the funmaliing in
almost every home. and the gathering
together for the yearly reunion of those
whom circumstances separate for the
greater part of the year. May the sea-
son never cease to be famous for its
power to bring out the better attributes
of men and women, as II did OF old,
n.fnlu Ae NtIa.. PIE