Graham guardian., 1901-12-27

~ OMNEMt.a-a teN OF the De-
IS ginning oil t.a year is senti-
IMMmN mental. u. since the first
| | VYNEH day OF Ja. makes no special
NVWDI epoch in History, uor is it the
- anniversajy oh t-e birth OF death
of any hero. 1t is .a- set apart for the
performance of any -sr4e duties, nor the
teaching of any particular lesson; yet New
Year is observed, Qugay ID is true, and
without any ceremonial in all parts Of the
United States.
In looking for the beginning of this prao-
tice, one must 80 into the prehistoric past,
for New Year is the most uueient Of all the
days which men have pc q part for special
distinction. In the former days, though, it
began with the advent OF spring, when
the buds and leaves began To- open and the
voices of the song birds were heard again,
The Latins, from whom came the months
now used, celebrated their New Year as the
nations older than they aal done, in March.
This explains why Eayember, meaning
"tenth" month, should be twelfth in our
calendar.
The day, then, neither q festival nor
fast; not one to keep alive the fires of pa
triotism, as the Fourth ot July, or to bear
in remembrance, as Christmas, the sublime
life of Christ is, nevertheless universally
observed, because al one time it did stand
for a most beautiful alnl4eHt-the revivi-
flying of nature. II Aarlmsered the banish-
ment Of cold and ol gla sterile winter; it
gave assurance OF a harvest for man, who
could see in the bursting Of the seeds au-
tumn days of fullness
Thus was it with the ghaldean, oldest Of
the civilized peoples, whence came Abra-
ham, the founder Of the Jewish nation.
They were as puzzled as maderns are over
the mystery Of death, and that greater
mystery, life. OF the elneIative principle
they made a god and w1rshiped it. The
presence of their god vas felt, seen, as they
taught, in the new garb pu. on by the trees
in the tiny spears Of green grass which
peeped through the sore blades Of the pre-
vious year, and in the mauycolored little
flowers that nestled couGdiugly beside the
grass-blades.
Theyknew their cod lived and was pleased
with his people. They broke forth into re-
joicing which lasted many days. There was
worship in the temple and the groves, and
infinite gladnes5 everywhere. Through CEN
fury after century this religious and fes-
tival observance was Lad, and the remains
of it are seen to-day in the chief holy day
of the great Cath0l. church during the
vernal season, although now held in COM
memoration of a granJcr and more glorious
event.
The New Year obssryapce then, is the
survival of day beyond the period of its
effective use. Once a sublime object les
son, it remains solely as record of the
beginning of a new year. arbitrarily fixed
by man. Its position is peculiar one. 1t
is neither the beginning Of any one of
the four seasons, nor the end of any one
of them. 1t is not the commencemeat,
necessarily, of a week, even. 1t does but
as;srt for man that by his choice Of oompu-
tation New Year hes begun.
Yet, as to the ancient go to the modern,
New Year teaches after aa, ghe same les
son. 1t tells that thee g.8l. Is dead, and the
New Year is born. ir declares the mortal
ity of all things, and j. proves that the
mortal shall put on immortality. Itteaches
the higher lesson that out of death comes
life; that the dying vear does but make
way for the living year end that the chasm
is invisible between Che dying and the
dead A single tick just one tick of the
clock, and in the minute interval the Old
Year was and the New Year is, and from
this lesson one may learn chat the sum
of all the lives that re been is but the
expression of the lives that are, just as
the result of all the years that have been
is found in the New Year Just begun.
WILLIAM RossER CoBBE.
oreetiag to the New Year.