Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-12-15

-- HE twenty-tifth of Decen-
Der, rather the week about
y that time has beep cele'
AWNK brated for many ages with
~s@e- rejoicing. Long before the
~ Christian era, the pa
gan astronomers decided that these
were the shortest days before the sun
returned to northern lands to bring
another spring and seed time and har-
vest. The dreary winter was at It's
worst, and the coming days would
have longer hours of light and sun
shine and the reawakening of ma
ture. Therefore sing and be joyful
The Egyptians held festival in honor
of the birth of their god Horus. The
Romans called it 1.-The birthday of the
invincible sun" and dedicated it to
Bacchus, rejoicing with him that the
sun was about to return and revivify
the vineyards. The Persians held
festival OF uncommon splendor as the
birthday of Mithras, the mediator,
spirit of the sun. In the north coun-
try among the worshipers of Odin it
was nature festiva! of riotous feast
ing, because the fast OF winter was
approaching it's end. 1t has been a
time of universal celebration accord
ing to ancient written history since
the beginning, and obscure tribes in
remote nations have legends of their
own about what we call Christmastide,
the feast of peace and good will
AS Christianity brought it's blessings
to follow the good Of past religions, it
seems only right that the birth of Christ
should come at a time of general re-
joicing. 1t made it easier for the pa
gans to turn to the Saviour of Light,
at time when the returning sun
shine in the skies was symbolical of
the feeling of brotherly kindness which
was taught in the love of little
child And so as carly as the second
century the church celebrated Christ
mas day when the heather were hon.
oring their gods.
The Christmas celebration, as we
know it, is but a reincarnation of the
Yuletide of the Anglo Saxon tribes.
Singing Is a proper way to manifest
JOY 1t delights the singer and gives
OILS we're not enough for the hearty
feeling. The pagan feasting remains.
And so with that divine old carol,
"Adeste Fidelis." are convivial songs.
Come hither, We faithful;
Triumphantly sing;
Come, see the Manager,
Our Saviour and King!
To Bethlehem hasten,
With joyous accord!
Oh. come We, come hither,
To worship the Lord!
The contrast lies in "A Carole Bryng.
ing in We Bore's Heed
Capri apri defero,
Reddens laudes domino
The Bore's head in hand bring l,
With garlands gay and rosemary:
Ard pray you all sing merely.
Outs estils in convivio
The church of he early days had
some Of the wisdom Of modern social
service 1t entertained its parishion-
ers in a worldly way as we'll as in
sti'}ed religious doctrine. The mys-
enacted under the direction of the
clels. rehearsed the scene in the
stable These plays gave rise to a
number OF legendary carols The
CHERRY Tree Carol was popular in
London in the last century 1t related
the story of the Virgin begging Joseph
to pluck some cherries Tor her, and
when he refusing, the unborn babe
speaks and tells his mother to reach
out her hand and the tree will bow
before her, and the caro-, GOES on to
say; E.,.. 49,. 1>@
II Then bespake Joseph,
have done Mary wrong" etc.
Another carol of this time is full of
beautiful imagery
LAS Joseph was a-walking,
He heard an angel sing
This night shall be born,
Our heavenly king;
He neither shall be born
In house nor in hall,
Nor in the place of Paradise.
But in an ox's stall" etc.
This is in the same spirit as our t.
miliar:
while shepherds watched their focks
by night 81
All seated on the ground.
The angel Of the Lord came down
And glory shone around.
.Fear not. : said he (for mighty dread