The Garland City globe. (Garland, Utah) 191?-1925, 1918-12-21
2 CHRISTMAS DAYS.
Island Of Madagascar the Only
Country Thus Favored.
Queen RansvaIona II on Ascending
Throne Became First Christian
Ruler and Adopted "olory to
God In Highest Motto.

There Is only one spot In the whole
world where Christmas Is celebrated
twice each year and that is the Island
OF the southern end of Africa, and
which dominates that part Of the In
dian ocean.
Marco Polo. the great traveller, first
made this Island known to medieval
Europe IN 120S II was nearly two
hundred years later when q Portu-
guese traveller obtained the first ou-
thentic information about the island,
In i407. From that time on there were
attempts by the Portuguese, French and
English to settle the island, and they
met with defeut ut the hands Of the
wild and savage Hovns, who controlled
the Island. and many died from Mala-
On Christmas eve In 1872 oil the
Frenchmen ut Fort Dauphin were MUIR
1ered by the natives. In 1910 Hova
chief, Radama !, young man, allowed
the Christian missionaries to teach
their Bible doctrines In the island, and
by 1920 Protestant Christianity was
effectively introduced among the
Hovas.
First Christian Ruler.
Radnma died In 1928, and one Of his
wives became Queen Rannvalona l.
She was bitter against the Christians
and prosecuted them In many cruel
ways. and she had her warriors from
the interior mountains Of the island
massacre the native Christians, who
would not rcnounce the Christian God
and 10 back to the worship Of Idols.
The cruel queen relgncd until her
death In 1S61--a wicked record OF 80
years. Then her son. Radnma ii, be-
came king. and although he was a
great drunkard and led wild life
himself, lac allowed the Christian mis-
slonnrles 10 come into the island again.
He was assassinated In the palace In
1868, and his widow, Rasoherina, wns
proclaimed queen. Upon her death In
1868. niece OF Rannvalona ! assembled
the throne as Ranavalonn II. When u
girl. her gentle charities and sympa-
thles with the Christians during their
prosecutions had won respect and love,
md when she became queen II was I'M
ilerstood that Madagascar had the hrsi
really Christian ruler on Its throne.
Between 1890 and 1885 the entire b.
BILE had been printed In the Malagasy
language. also an English-Mnlagnsy
dictionary. SO. on the day Of her coro-
nation the idol which had been proml-
nent on similar occasions was bnnished
by Isanavalona II. and n copy OF the
Maiagasy Bible placed near the throne !;
while on the canopy above. In golden
letters. were the words: "Glory to God
In the Highest. Peace on Earth. Good
VIII to Men," With one hand on the
Bible. the queen addressed the people,
expressing the hope that they would
adopt the Christian faith. but added: :
'In this matter you shall not be com
PEELED"
Ordered idols Destroyed.
She ordered her own household idols
and the chief national idol to be burn
ed and gradually her example was fol-
lowed by the general destruction of
household Idols among the Hovas. She
married the prime minister the fol-
lowing year and made public profess
sion Of her faith. and from that time
on the Christian religion has been
growing fast In the island.
The words over the canopy ut her
coronation the queen knew to be spok-
en- by the angels IN the sky when the
shepherds heard the noise Of wings
at the time the Christ was born In
Bethlehem. Christmas Is celebrated
all over the island now. But the Hovas
have different way of computing time
and by their system Christmas falls
some time In November, and they cele-
brate II then. The Christian date OF
December % In also celebrated by the
natives along with the missionaries.
But II Is not Christmas Of snow
and sleighbells. II Is a tropical country
and Christmas day Is under a torrid
sun. but the sky is brilliant and the
magnificent Towering trees OF many
vivid colors are filed with many pc
culiar birds of brilliant plumage, while
the ground beneath is bespangled with
Wild blossoms of varied hues.
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