Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-12
CHRISTMAS, THE GREATEST OF
ALL HOLIDAYS.

practically all Christian dsnomina-
lions fer the celebration Of the birth
Of Jesus Christ, is the greatest OF
all holidays in Christian lands.
Though il has not been so very long
ago since the Scotch Presby'erians
and English Nonconformists deplcred
the idea of religious observance OF
Christmas Day. holding that such
things were human invention" and
smacked of the articles of papistry.
nowadays the tendency toward relig-
ious observance of the day is strong
in all Protestant bodies, and through
out Christendom the holiday is ceie-
brated by nations and people almost
without regard to religious belief. So
general has the custom become that
the man who never darkens the door
of a church and who. perhaps, makes
no pretence OF Christmas belief. would
resent the idea OF working on Christ
mas Day Why, even the average
Chinese laundryman would risk losing
his trade rather than put collar in
the tub during the holiday.
Hence Christmas Day has a double
meaning. To the true Christian II rep
resents the anniversary of the coming
of the Saviour to redeem the world
from sin. hence 1t is the most sacred
CT all festival days. time fer prayer
ana thanksgiving and devout cele-
bration. To the Christian world it
merely Is the greatest of all national
hoiidays-greater even than the
Fourth of July-and an occasion for
no work. joIlifcation and the ex-
change OF gifts among friends
There is more or less dispute about
hw and when the celebration OF
Christmas began. Many years ago
:he Roman Catholic church claimed
that the observance OF the day be-
gan with one Teiesphoras. who held
forth during the second century Of
the Christian era. Historians say,
however, that this is nct in accord
ance with the facts. and no one seems
20 be able to give an authoritive an
swor to the question Of when the OBJ
servaucc was instituted. Some time
during the latter part OF the fourth
century. pr badly. festivals commemo-
rating the birth OF Christ were in
sttuted by the churches generally
though even then there was no uni
sormity as to date Some OF the
churches celebrated December IS. the
Christmas O. today, while others held
their festivals IN January. April OF
May.
I; is not contendcd that the De
cem5eT Is indicated by cur calendar
actually IS the anniversary Of The
savicET's coming. nor was thai Ga,
selected gader that impression. Prob
avis since the earliest days the winter
scls:ice hrs bcs- regarded By man
kind as the most important point o
the year. marking the beginning Of th'
renewed life and the activity OF tn
powers % nature Among The OF
heather Of the northern countries th'
season vas observed with eiabcsat'
festivals. The Germans held thei
great Yuie feast IN commemorative
Of the return Of tue hery sun-whee
during the season. and believed tha
during the twelve NIGHTS from Deem
her g to January they could trac
the movements q their dse;ies q
Earth.
u = not especially strange TIA
the early churches. having no cxac
knoricdge of the date Of the saviour
birth and being unable 70 agree amcG
fheusciYcs or this pciut. sbculd hav
fallen frto tbe custom Of obscrv.n
December = In commemoFafiou o
a. ~~~-t T-1r custom q rn1nV &