Pasche and Yule.
James Dodson
[From The Original Covenant, Vol. III. No. 4., December, 1879. pp. 114-116.]
In the pages of our periodical we have more than once called attention to the idolatrous principles and superstitious practices associated with these antiquated words―Pasche and Yule. (See Vol. I, No. 9, p. 287.) These festivals, to deceive, are changed in name but not in nature. They are now known in the Romish calendar as Easter and Christmas. The former is a substitute for the Jewish passover; the latter, for the Pagan festival called Lupercalia. Thus the Romish apostasy, as young persons especially should know, consists in the diabolical attempt to combine in one system, Paganism, Judaism and Christianity!
Now, for any person to observe the Passover is to Judaize, to rebel against the light, to revive an abrogated ordinance, and virtually deny the Lord’s supper. 1 Cor. v:7: for the Holy Spirit very plainly calls “Christ our passover.” Let no person then be deceived by the change of name from passover to Easter―a Papal and Prelatic translation of the original word in the New Testament, and only once.―Acts xii, 4.
But however profane, antichristian and wicked to observe Easter as a religious ordinance―holy day―“holiday;” the observance of Christmas is still more impious and wicked, an obstinate rejection of Christianity and going back to Heathenism. Young ones should be early taught by their Christian parents that Christmas is another name given by the church of Rome to an idolatrous heathen festival, under the pretense of commemorating the birth of Christ; and that the holy Sabbath, which commemorates his resurrection, is thereby practically denied.
Among the “gods many and lords many,” 1 Cor. viii: 5, that were worshipped by Heathen nations, one was called Pan, supposed to preside over woods, &c. Their vain imaginations, destitute of the Bible, would not clothe this idol in the fascinating charms and attractive aspect of his modern successor―Santa Claus. Pan did not come annually from the woods bringing an evergreen, nor descend by the chimney laden with presents for children―“pleasant to the eyes and good for food,” as “devotedly pious young ladies” depict his successor. On the contrary Pan was a frightful monster, having “two horns on his head, his nose flat, with legs, thighs, tail and feet of a goat.” Now we are sure that if those young ladies who supply fiction to attract youth to the Sunday-school and train them for Rome, would honestly depict Santa Claus in his original aspect, instead of attraction there would be a―pan-ic among the children.
The policy of Rome to bring the Heathen people into the church was to adopt and christianize their idolatrous rites and ceremonies, in direct violation of God’s express prohibition.―Exod. xxiii:24, Gal. iv:10, 11.
The same policy is now pursued by most churches in imitation of Rome, and with similar consequences.
Our reforming ancestors in Scotland labored earnestly to banish all popish observances, and among the most popular were Pasche and Yule, Easter and Christmas, and therefore the most difficult to be eradicated. And since these superstitions are so extensively revived at the present time, and this number of the Original Covenanter will come into the hands of some young ones shortly before one of these Heathen festivals; we write this short article for their instruction and warning, and to put them on their guard against the seductive, bewitching and corrupting example of Christmas revelry. For however many professing Christians may unconsciously make light of popular festivals, baptizing them by the seemingly harmless name of holidays, they are in their essential nature soul-debauching superstitions. Yes, all history since their invention proves that among those who cleave to them with the most religious tenacity, they are mostly seasons of drunken carousels and cursed revelry―“excess of riot.”
Let none who observe any of these Pagan and Papal anniversaries pretend to have connection with the Reformed Presbytery.