The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-12-16

Bethlehem in Palestine some
nineteen centuries ago there would
have been no Christmas to be cele-
brated each year, hence no Christ
masses to be characterized as historic"
What those events were have best
been recorded by ''the beloved physi-
cian," st. Luke, who, more than any
one of the four apostles who have
written the story of Christ, has given
the historic background of those
events. And this is the story of that
first historic Christmas, as st. Luke
tells it,:
And it came to pass in those days,
that there went out a decree from
Caesar Augustus, that all the world
should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when
Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one
into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from CAL
lice, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judea, unto the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem; because he was of
the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary, his espoused
wife, being great with child.
/ And so it was, that, while they were
there, the days were accomplished that
she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her first-born
son and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in manager; be-
cause there was no room for them in
the inn.
And there were in the same country
shepherds abiding in the field, keeping
watch over their flock by night.
And 10, the angel of the Lord came
upon them, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them: and they
were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear
not: for, behold, bring you good It'd
ings of great joy, which shall be to
all people.
For unto you is born this day in the
city of David a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swad-
ding clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the
angel multitude of the heavenly host
praising God. and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels
were gone away from them into
heaven, the shepherds said one to an
other, Let US now go even unto Beth
lehem, and see this thing which is
come to pass which the Lord hath
made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found
Mary, and Joseph, and 1.-The babe lying
in a Manager.
And when they had seen ii, they
made known abroad the saying which
was told them concerning this child
And all they that heard it wondered
at those things which were told them
by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and
pondered them in her heart,
And the shepherds returned, glorify-
ing and raising God for all the things
that they had heard and seen, as it
was told unto them.
Those were the events, then, which
were destined to bring about the
worldwide celebration of December
25 of each year. However, this OBJ
servance did not begin at once, for the
very first evidence of a feast having
been held in honor of the birth of
Christ was in Egypt about The year
200 Although the regular observance
of Christmas began sometime in the
Fourth century, it was not until the
Thirteenth century that the celebra-
tlOn became general custom.
1t is interesting to note that the
first Christmas celebration in the New
world took place only little more
than two months after that event
which is usually referred to as "the
discovery" of America. Soon after
Christopher Columbus set foot upon
the soil of the New world he started
upon an exploration of the group of
islands which he had found. During
this time he anchored his ships in a
harbor of Eaiti, to which he gave the
name Of saint whose DAY is cele-
brated on December and who in the
minds of children is inseparably con-
nected with Christmas day-St.
Nicholas.