The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1909-12-24


tual Institution OF Christmas as the celebra.
ton Of the nativity OF Jesus Christ dates from
the second century Of the Christian era st
Nhtysoslom says that II was observed from
the beginning according TO western practice.
from Thrace to the Straits OF Gibraltar, and
no calls Il THE most venerable. the mother OF
all the rest"
But MS TO the time OF the celebration there
was diversity OF observance The early
Christian church naturally kept Easter as com.
memorativo OF the resurrection OF Christ,
which the apostles were especially chosen and
Instructed 10 proclaim. and the feast OF Pen.
tecost which became the birthday OF the
church. came next IN order. Then to these
were added two others the one commemora.
tive OF the baptism Of Jesus Christ and the
other OF his birth The first OF these. the
Epiphany or Manifestation. came from the
east 10 the west The second. Christmas, or
the nativity. came from tho west to the east.
The two were officially recognized and quite
widely kept In both the east and west In the
fourth century In n sermon preached by the
GoldenMouthed In Antioch on December 20,
a. d. 1856. he speaks Of the festival OF Christ.
mas as having first become known there 10
years before and on another occasion he In.
yitos his hearers to participate In its APP
preaching observance
But as to the reason for the selection OF
December 20 as Christmas day, first arrived at
by the Hippolytes. there Is much difference OF
opinion II Is held by some that the German
name Of the festival "Weihnacht" II a literal
translation Of the Hebrew "Chanuka" the
Jewish festival OF the publication OF the
temple by Judas Maccabeus. which begins on
December II, aud that as the Passover and
Penteoost were perpetuated In Easter and
Whltsuntidc, so the festival Of the Publication
has been preserved in Chrlsmastide and the
practice OF burning candles on the Christmas
trees has come from the old Hebrew feast.
EARLY Festivals.
But the Publication can hardly be mum.
bored among the greater and important festi.
walls Of the Hebrews and. as Schai says, there
is really no Old Testament feast correspond.
ing to our Christmas. The weight OF opinion
as to the time Of year chosen by the Chris
tIan church In the west lies In another and
entirely different solution OF the question and
links the Christian observance to the ancient
practice OF the heather world
II must be remembered In this connection
that the particular date was first fixed upon
by the Roman branch of the church, and at
that season of the year a series OF pagan fes-
rivals occ1. red which were closely interviewer
with the civil and social life OF the Roman
people These festivals had an import which
lent itself to the growth Of the Christian
faith, and they may have been spiritually
adopted by the church In order to counteract
their evil tendencies and at the same time ad'
vance the cause OF the new religion.
Tue samrnalla for instance, represented
nc u,accful tines Of the golden age and abol'
he'd sharp distinctions between citizen and
serf But II was time of wild aud unholy
revelry. Then the Brumalia-the feast of the
shortest day OF winter solstice-was the com
memoration OF the birthday OF the new sun
about To return to the earth. II was the dies
natalls lnvicti soils" In the old mythology OF
the sun worshlpers II was the birthday Of
Methras himself and in fact the time OF year
when from unnumbered ages before the Chris