The Yale expositor., 1909-12-17

by many, it is a Christian feast grated ON tn
a pagan one, its history is age long. The ac.
tual institution of Christmas as the celebra-
ton of the nativity of Jesus Christ dates from
the second century of the Christian era ST.
Chrysostom says that it was observed from
the beginning, according to western practice.
from Thrace to the Straits of Gibraltar. and
he calls it the most venerable, the mother of
all the rest"
But as to the time of the celebration there
was diversity Of observance The early
Christian church naturally kept Easter as COM
memorative of the resurrection of Christ
which the apostles were especially chosen and
instructed to 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 to the west. The second, Christmas, or
the nativity, came from the west to the east
The two were officially recognized and quite
widely kept in both the east and west in the
fourth century. In sermon preached by the
Golden-Mouthed in Antioch on December rs,
A. D.. 3S6, he speaks of the festival of Christ
mas having first become known there 10
years before and on another occasion he in
vites his hearers to participate in its ap-
preaching observance.
But as to the reason for the selection of
December % as Christmas day, first arrived at
by the Hippolytes, there is much difference of
opinion. 1t is held by some that the German
name of the festival "Wehnacht," is literal
translation of the Hebrew "Chanuka" the
Jewish festival of the publication of the
temple by Judas Maccabeus, which begins on
December IL, and that the Passover and
Pentecost were perpetuated in Easter and
Whtsuntide so the festival Of the Publication
has been preserved in Christmastide 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 num-
bered among the greater and important festi-
walls of the Hebrews and as Schaff 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.
It 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 series of pagan fes-
rivals occurred which we're closely interviewer
with the civil and social life of the Roman
people These festivals had import which
lent itself to the growth of the Christian
faith, and they may have been spiritually
adopted by the church in order to counterfeit
their evil tendencies and at the same time ad-
vance the cause of the new religion.
The saturnalia, for instance. represented
the peaceful times of the golden age and abol-
ished sharp distinctions between citizen and
serf But Il was time of wild and unholy
revelry. Then the Brumalia-the feast of the
shortest day, or winter sostice-was the com
,memoration of the birthday Of the new sun
about to return to the earth. II was the dies
lnatals invicti Soils" In the old mythology of
the sun worshipers Il was the birthday of
Methras himself, and. I'm fact. the time of year
when from unnumbered ages before the Chris