The Irish standard., 1919-04-05
HOW PRIVATE JUDGMENT HAS COR
RUPTED CHRISTIAN NAMES

NO1 k%D S<1Ek4SxxAN NAMES.
Writing upon the havoc wrought upon Christian
nomenclature by the Reformation" BENJAMIN
Francis Musser calls attention to the luxuriant vul-
garsms, barbarisms, solecisms and kindred atroci-
ties rhetorical pathological and chronological, un-
warranted contractions and authorizations as well
as Celebrations, irreverences. transplanted sur
names and metronymic Interpretations, resur-
rected mythoplasms and pagan classicisms. home-
talent buffoonery and billingsgate given loci caus-
IN IN short, ;, the horrible hodgepodge smugged into
the English language as triumph of the blessed
Reformation" From this picturesque assortment
OF adjectives and epithets it will be seen that Mr.
Musser is some" authority the question of
names. He protests strenuously and withal enter
names that started with the "Reformation," and
pleads that "our children's names be kept unsul-
lied and sweet and fragrant for their Christ and
for His Church.
The Puritans, says Mr.. Musser were the most
notorious early offenders in this direction, and
brought with them to America their antipathy to
many OF the old Christian saint Names which was
one of the fruits of their doctrine of private judg
ment OF the Scriptures. He adduces many ludicrous
results of this by-product of Lutheranism in Eng
land and America "Tathacumi" was the name
given to the daughter of Baptist. "Alas" was
the name requested for boy by his parents who
had read in the Bible the passage "Alas! my
brother" and privately judged that "Alas" the
proposed by family claiming it as an ancestral
heritage. 1t was found to be "E Librs," the Latin
inscription Cfrom the books) used as a book-mark
Classical celebrities, family names and abstract
qualities chosen to supersede the discarded
patron saints whose names savored too strongly of
the old fashioned Catholicity which was then taboo
sometimes these sources combined so as to
give astonishing and weird combinations, such as.
'Turnerietta de Johannah Jane de Faith" all of
which was superimposed on the surname Turner
Lutheran calendar published at Lancaster, Pa.
contains "Saint' for each day of the year. but
the title Saint" is given to only twelve, not all of
Judgment exercised by the learned publisher.
Some of the new saints thus introduced to the
world are:
Abel and Seth on Jan. l.; Enoch on Jan. 2, and
Charles on the 18th; Jodocus on Mar II; Eliza on
Sept 2; Charlotte on Nov. 4; Abigail on Dec Is,
and Adam and Eve on the 24th.
The festivals of the saints are also reformed"
to dates far removed from those set down in the
orthodox publications, doubtless in the interest of
Christian unity. Our Lady's Assumption be-
comes an Ascension" and John Huse, Wickliffe.
Zwinglius, Martin Luther and Melancthon are
given dates for special remembrance in the new
hagiography.
Mr. Musser concludes his study of this interest
ing theme with the appeal: -
Because this iconocastic ruin is due to the
Retormers" themselves, and not wholly to their
descendants, who but received the incentive from
their sires, may still hope for better things to
come-a Second Spring." rejuvenation of the
sanctheld old names of yore, bossoming again of
fragrant nominations above the putridity that
usurped their place. True, the outlook isnot
auspcious, but the faith that moves mountains will
tian Church to all who call themselves Christians"