Mt. Pleasant Pyramid | 1918-11-29 | Page 7 | Declare "Xmas" is Proper

DECLARE "XMAS" IS PROPER Milwaukee (Wis.) Clergymen Say Abbreviation Ab-breviation Has Origin in Greek Spelling of "Christ." Use of the word Xmas in abbreviation abbrevia-tion of Christmas is not irreverent or sacrilegious, but is of ancient and classical origin. "This was the consensus of opinion expressed by representative clergy of a number of denominations throughout the city, says the Milwaukee Sentinel. Senti-nel. The letter "X" as used in connection with the word Xmas to express Christmas Christ-mas is the first letter in the Greek name for Christ, which in English letters let-ters is spelled "Xristos," explained Rev. Herbert C. Noonan, S. J., president presi-dent of Marquette university. "Because "Be-cause of this, the letter "X" long has been a symbol for Christ, and has been used as such for generations since the Christian era. "An illustration of the common use of the term is the custom, still prevalent preva-lent among some men, of signing letters let-ters 'Yours in Xto,' in this case the 'to' following the letter being the Latin ending of the name of Christ." A similar opinion was expressed by Rev. R. S. Donaldson, pastor of Perseverance Perse-verance Presbyterian church. "I know many ministers who use '"he letter 'X' to express Christ' in writing their sermons," he said. "The custom is of ancient and honorable origin." "It is a quite common practice among theological students to use the letter let-ter in preference to the full, name," declared Rev. E. Reginald Williams, rector of St. Mark's Episcopal churchr always write it that way myself." Rev. W. T. Dorward, pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle, declared that he did not consider the term irreverent, tut personally preferred the us- of the full word.