IS IT PAGAN?

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · April 1, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 14

A CORRESPONDENT of the Christian Union, Rev. Charles Wood, writing from Rome under date of Feb. 11, gives a spirited description of the Carnival as it had just been celebrated in that city during the nine preceding days. In the letter some statements are made relative to the origin and character of this festival which can hardly fail to interest those who are studying the Lessons on Prophecy, now appearing in the Instructor Supplement. One of the points made in these lessons a few weeks ago was that the Romish church borrowed many of her rites and customs from paganism. On this point Mr. Wood gives the following corroborative evidence:—

They [those celebrating the Carnival] have made the venerable old city look as if some more barbarous horde than Goth or Vandal had suddenly swept through her gates, and were dancing in triumph on her prostrate form. But the “mistress of the world” has not seemed greatly disconcerted by this invasion. She has grown used to it. Every year, for centuries, about the first of February she has been forced to submit to any liberties which this dancing, singing, shouting crowd might see fit to take. It is difficult to look back far enough to get beyond the time when those annual irruptions of organized insanity were recognized by the authorities, and christened with the mysterious appellation of “The Carnival.” It was perhaps, one of the many festivals which the pagans were unwilling to part with, and which the church baptized in order that it might properly be permitted to enter within her sacred walls. Whatever effect such a sprinkling with holy water may have had, it changed but little the heathen aspect of the old-time feast. Her ancient lovers would have no difficulty in recognizing her now. She remains, in form and manner, very much what she always was.

After giving a somewhat detailed description of the various processions and pageants with which Rome had just been entertained, Mr. W. says:—

But, after all, what are Carnivals and Lents but different forms by which the desire of escaping from one's self seeks expression? Men have always felt that they were happiest when they were able to forget for the moment the perplexities and worriments of life; to forget for the moment themselves. The pagan knew but one way—that of merriment, gaiety, pleasure; and alas! this in the end he found was but a delusion. The Christian, too, knows of but one way,—the way that leads by the cross, the way of duty, the way of love to God and man. Rome, still half pagan, has tried for ages to unite these two incompatible methods, and for centuries to come, it may be, she will continue to precede her Christian fast by her heathen feast.