Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1911-12-21


centuries of the Christian era, owing
to frightful prosecutions under the
Roman empire, there were no church
celebrations in public. From this
source also arose much confusion In
the earliest Christian
chronicles, so that definite dates OF
the birth of Christ and other import
ant event could not be given b fore
the fourth century.
St John Chrysostom, archbishop
of Constantinople,, in Christmas
sermon delivered at Antioch in $50
saws. at is not ten years since
December 18th was clearly known
to us as Christmas day, but 1t has
been familiar from the beginning to
those who dwell in the West" i. e.,
the Roman Church.
In the lapse of time, with the eX-
tension of Christianity and the rise
of nationalities, Christmas began to
be celebrated with splendor. A first
mass was celebrated at midnight the
hour of the birth of Christ second
at dawn and a third on the day. 1t
is related that during the Christmas
mass celebrated at "Cock-crow,' the
great Charlemagne in the year Soo
stood in the church sanctuary with
drawn sword and read the gospel,
beginning with, "a decree went forth
from Caesar Augustus"
In the first century of the existence
of the Christian church, when thou
sands of pagans became converts,
many pagan customs centerlng
around January to which the peo-
pie were greatly attached, gravltated
toward Christmas. The Streunae OF
the Romans. one of them, celebrated
January /, with presents and un-
seemly orgies, SO much so as to De
condemned by Tertullian and othe1
Christian writer's OF the second ant
third centuries, became purified u
time, and they are now represented
by the pleasing custom of Christmas
presents, cards and boxes.
The Yule log, in it's many forms
was originally lit on account of thu
cold season. Only in 1877 did it be
come a public ceremony in England
whence it spread rapidly to othe'
countries. In England a tenant hal
the right to feed at his lords eX
pense as long as a wheel, l. E.,
round of wood, would burn. In 164
the English parliament, under con
troll of Oliver Cromwell, forbade tn
further existence OF the feast o
Christmas. plum pudding and mine
pies.
The Christmas crib, a representa-
ton of the manger and stable 0
Bethlehem, was introduced i'll ~
by Saint Francis of Assist, one O
the hottest men of the church.
is most attractive and delightful t
children aud calls forth many quei
tions about the infant Saviour. SeV
eral thousand dollars are spent b
wealthy congregations on the Christ
mas crib
: The Christmas tree is more moe
! ern inspiration and is perhaps NOR
genera. in Pro est;nt CHURCHES, Whef
the tendency II to limit Jfe celebra
ion to children, than in the CathoJ
church, from the fact that nothln
of the kind is allowable in a Catholi
) church building and the spirit of tt
! church calls for the dominance
the religious feature. The Christina
! tree among Catholics is left largely
;;,... :,;e, and societies. The advent
the Messiah and birth of the Son c
God on earth in the person OF Jesu
Christ is regarded by Catholics q
the central event of the worlds hls
tory and every means is taken
make it's spiritual character predon
inant. 1t is only on Christmas da
that priest is allowed to say thre
masses, the first sometimes at mic
night. the second at dawn and tn
third near noon. The first mass
the favoriie mass of the people.
it is at dawn, and it will be at a.