The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-01-01
BILL ARP TALKS
ABOUT CHRISTMAS,
He Gives the History of the Great
Annual Festiva1-O1d Father
Times Problem.

Atlanta Constitution,
Nearly sixteen hundred years have
passed since Christmas was first ccle
brated by Christians. During all these
long centuries they have not failed Il
meet somewhere and pay reverence tc
the day that somehow was chosen as
the birth of the Saviour. 1t is not al
all certain that the 25th of December
was His birthday, but that does not
matter much, 80 that the Christian
people observe some day and show
their gratitude. Indeed, the Greeks
and the Russians still celebrate the 5Il,
of January and call it Christmas tor
they have never yet adopted the new
calendar established by Pope Gregory
XIII In the year 1852. Now, it is i'm
portant for the young people and many
of the old ones TO know that for nearly
sixteen centuries old Father Time has
been gaining little every year on the
exact time that it takes the earth to go
round the sun. This gain had amount
ed to about twelve days, 80 the Pope,
who was great and wise man, issued
his mandate that time should be set
back, and it was set back.
All the Roman Catholic countries
conformed al once to this new date,
but the Protestant countries were jeal-
Gus of the Pope, and 80 Germany
would not conform until the year 100.
Great Britain and Ireland refused to
conform until the year 1852, and the
American colonies put sit off few
years later. Greece and Russia have
not conformed yet, bnt they will.
They are getting tired Of having to
put two dates to all their letters and
commercial transactions with other
countries. When General Young was
our consul at st. Petersburg all his
letters that were written homo had
two dates that were twelve days apart.
One he marked "N. ST." for new style,
and the other 60. S.," for old style.
England had to abandon another
measure of time, for until about two
hundred years ago the new year began
on the 25th of March. Some coun-
tries began 1t on Easter day.
L tell you, my young friends, old Fa-
ther Time has had a perplexing prob
lem TO keep his calendar straight. The
day usedvo begin at O'Clock in the
morning. The week began on Mon
day. The Jews had twelve lunar
months of twenty eight days, and
every third year had thirteen to make
up for lost time. For centuries there
were only ten months il the year
among the Greeks and Romans, and
February had thirty-six days just like
all the other montho. But popes and
emperors ruled tho civilized world,
and changed the measures of time to
suit their own whims. Pope Gregory
was scnolar, mathematician and a
promoter of public education, and he
knew THAT the calendar was wrong,
and was getting more so every year.
1t was q bold stroke of power, but he
was backed by all the great astrono-
mers of Europe, and he set the clock |
back, and IL stands.
But what about Christmas2 1t has
to be written about every time it
comes round, for there is new gener-
alton of young people coming on every |
year, and they must be taught to know
as much as those who are older. This |
is the most important event that CIV, + |
happened in the history of the world,
and every man and woman and every |
boy and girl who can read should be |
as familiar with it as they are with the
spelling book. The word mass"
does not literally mean birth. 1t |
means " dismissed" and came into use
because after any service in the Ro-
man Catholic church the priest would |
say the congregation is now dismissed. |
In Latin, it is " mass" Hence, there |
was high mass and low mass and can
die mass and Michael mass and Christ
ter worship.
For two or three centuries after |
Christ His followers had 80 many ups |
and downs they could not establish |
holy days or feasts or festivals. some |
emperors were kind and tolerant and |
some were cruei and prosecuted
them. During the reign of the EN-
peror Diocletian the Christians of
Rome determined to celebrate Christ
mas in their own church where they |
had been permitted to worship, but
Diocletian had taken great dislike to
them, and after the church was full he
sent soldiers there and locked the |
doors and set FIRE to the building and
OuthOu thOth OH ttliNO--hCb3
and children. The wretch died soon
after, but it was many years before
Christians dared to celebrate Christ
mas again. This was about the year
$40. But the utmost efforts of kings
and emperors TO extinguish Christian
lty failed. The more martyrs, the
more Christians. They seemed to
thrive On persecution, and hence it
was said that s the blood OF the mar
tyrs is the seed of the church." just
think bow much we have to be thank
full for in this age and In this land of
religious liberty. No martyrs, no per-
secution, no inquisition, but every man
and woman can worship God accord
ing to their own conscience, with none
to molest or make them afraid. The
,urrets and spires of beautiful churches
adorn our land in every city, town and
village, and are silent guarantee of
good will and protection 10 every
stranger that comes.
/ But Christmas has had no good timo
in coming down TO US through the
agea. In some countries it was made
q frolic--a bacchanalian revel. The
gay and dissipated danced TO the music
/ of ally and prOfane carols anl desc