NOTES AND QUERIES.

Evening Star, Issue 7093, 23 December 1886, Page 4 (Supplement)

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Anno Domini (a.it), the year of our Lord, ot Grace, of the Incarnation, and of the Circumcision (Trabeationis). The Christian era commenced January 1 in the middle of the fourth year of the 194 th Olympiad, the 753 rd year of the building of Rome, and in 4714 of the Julian period. It is now held that Christ was born on Friday, 6th April, 4 b.c. This era was invented by a monk, Dionysius Exiguus, about 532. It was introduced into Italy in the 6th century, and ordered to be used by bishops of the Council of Chelsea in 816; but was not generally employed for several centuries. Charles 111. of Germany was the first who added “in the year of our Lord” to his reign, in 879. Christmas Day, 25th December (from Christ, and the Saxon mcesse, signifying the mass and a feast), a festival in commemoration of the Nativity of our Saviour, said to have been first kept 98 ; and ordered to be held as a solemn feast by Pope Telesphorus about 137. Diocletian, the Roman Emperior, keeping his court at Nicomedia, being informed that the Christians were assembled on this day in great multitudes to celebrate Christ’s Nativity, ordered the doors to be shut and the church to be set on fire, and 600 perished in the flames. This was the commencement of the tenth persecution, which lasted ten years, A.D, 303. In the Eastern Church Christmas and the Epiphany are deemed but one and the same feast. The holly and mistletoe used at Christmas are said to be the remains of the religious observances of the Druids, A Misapplied Sermon. —A most brilliant preacher gave an eloquent discourse on the subject of the captives who were placed in the burning fiery furnace. The history of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was not, however, very fascinating to a servant-maid who was one of the congregation. When she went home, her mistress said : “Well, Mary, what was the sermon on this evening?” Mary replied: “Well, ma’am, I couldn’t right'y understand it all, but it was something about make the bed, shake the bed, and into bed you go.” Sham Abraham.— A slang expression used to indicate a feigning of sickness or distress, derived from Ahraham-monger, an ancient cant term fora beggingimpostoror one who pretended to have been mad.—Burton’s “Anatomy of Melancholy,” vol. 1, p. 360. The Abraham Ward in Bedlam had for its inmates these mendicant lunatics. When Abraham Newland was cashier to the Bank of England, and signed their notes, a song was composed in which it was sung—

1 have heard people say That sham Abraham you may. But you cannot sham Abraham Newland.

A Relic of the Past.— The Rev. Fanshawe Bingham, rector of Horfield, has in his possession a watch which has been in his family for generations, dated 1597, and said to be the first watch made in England. It once belonged to Queen Elizabeth. It has but one hand j it also marks the day of the month by means of a gold ring with a slight projection. The ring passes round the face of the dial, and the figures one to thirty-one are engraved round the dial at the rim. A watch-key attached to it, but undated, is unique, serving the double purpose of winding the watch and also marking the day of the month on one side, and on the other, apparently, the age ot the moon, the figures on a dial moving "when the key is used. Father Time, with sickle and hour-glass, is represented on one side presiding over the date, and the moon on the other side.

Hllelujah and Amen ( praise the Lord and so be it J. Expressions used in the Hebrew hymns; said to have been introduced by Haggai the prophet about 520 B.C. Their introduction into the Christian Church is ascribed to Jerome, about a.d. 390, Haydn. Catchpenny.— Any temporary contrivance to obtain money from the public—penny shows or cheap exhibitions. Also descriptions of murders that have never taken place.