Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1917-12-21

an Abbot OF Mtsruie," who was
created for the purpose, who made
much sport and did right well In his
high office-a kind of cIown-not
very much like Jesus. In Scotland he
was termed the abbot OF Unreason, /"
but the ONCE was suppressed by act
OF Parliament In 1855. The Puritans
regarded these diversions with Cody
indignation.
Pryme said, "Our Christmas lords
of Misruie, togather with dancing,
masks, mummeries, stage-players and
such other Christmas disorders now
in use with Christians were divided
from these Roman Saturnalia and
BacchamalfRn festivals, which should
cause all pious Christians eternaIly
to abandon them" The dishes most
III vogue were formerly, for break
fast and supper on Christmas eve, q
boar's head stuck with rosemary,
with an apple or an orange in the
mouth, plum porridgo and minced
pies. Eating the latter was a test Of
orthodoxy. but as the Pilgrim Fathers
conceived 1t to be an abomination
they originally made them long In i'm
itation of the manger in which our
Lord was laid. Tho dwellings and
church buildings were hung around
with evergreen and the former with
mistietoe-a custom as old as the
Drutdicle worship. Whether this fes-
tival was always held on the 18th of
December is a subject of dispute II
was not until the sixth century that
the whole Christian world concurred
in celebrating the nativity on the
same day.
The birth of Christ was Just as pre-.
dicted by the Prophets OF the Old Tes-
lament. He was born Of virgin, of
the house OF David, and tribe of
Judah. Everything concerning his
birth was above the ordinary-mirac-
ulous. The place of his birth was
Bethlehem, whittier his parents were
in wonderful way conducted by Di-I
vine Providence. The time of his
birth was to be before the scepter, or
civil government departed for Judah
The exact year of his birth is not
agreed on by chronologers, but it was
about the four thousandth year of
the world inhabited by man; nor can
the precise season of the year, the
month and day in which He was born
be ascertained The Egyptians placed
1t In January, Wagenseil in February,
Bochart in March, Clement OF Alex
andria in April, some others in July;
Epiphanfus in June, others in July;
WagenseiI thought he might be mis-
taken and fixed IL in August, Light
ger, Casaubon and Calviscus in Octo-
Der, others in November and the
Latin church in December.
II does not appear to US that this
differentiated and vulgar account is
reasonable, not to say right. The
story of the shepherds watching their
fiocks by night does not agree with
the winter season. 1t seems more like
ly that autumn-tne mild September,
NV KNzl
the time, but especially so when we
consider the unreasonableness of
staying in barn manger, thru a cold |
winter night. But be this as it may, |
II matters but little as to the exact
day or month, for the Holy Scriptures
tell as that 1t was in due time. The |
wisdom of God is displayed as to the |
time, as we'll as the end for which |
Christ came. It was a time when !.
the world stood in great need of the |
Savior and was best prepared to re-
ceive Him.
The early Church observed as a
holy day the supposed day on which |
the Redeemer OF the world, In fieshIy
clod, first beheld this mortal sphere. /
Christ's birth was kept with the same
generation and solemnity as the Sab |
bath when there were always sermons
preached, OF which there are many /
stom, Nazianzen. Basil, Ambrose. |
Augustine and others. Nor did this
day ever pass without the solemn
communion for Chrysostom, one of
the most prominent and venerated of I
the early Christian Fathers, in that
very place invited his people to the
holy table saying to them that while I
the Infant Savior was not there in
his swaddling clothes, he was clothed |
with garments of spiritual sp1endor
by far transcending all the rest: And I
not only did he do this, but far as we
have the light on those dim, distant
days It was generally the custom
That the solemnity might be more
universally observed, liberty was
granted on this day to servants to
rest from their ordinary labors as
on the Sabbath This is particularly
mentioned by the author of the Apos-
toIical Constitutions: Let servants
rest from their labor on the Cay of
ChTist's nativity. because on this day
an unexpected blessing was given
unto men. in that the Word of God.
jesus Christ, was born of the Virgin
Mary for the salvation of the world.
To show all possible honor to this day
the Church Obliged all persons to at
tend religious assemblies in the city
houses Of worship and not to 20 to
the smaller ones in the country. ex-
cept when infrmity or sickness. or
some unavoidable circumstance com
paIed them to do 30 The laws OF
the state prohibited al public games
and shows and dances on the day on
n "A = /