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OCTOBER.

THIS month was called Domitianus in the time of Domitian; but, after his death, by the decree of the Senate, it took the name of October, every one hating the name and memory of so detestable a tyrant. It was called wyn-monat, or wine-month, by the Saxons.

Remarkable Days.

1.-SAINT REmigius.

REMIGIUS was born at Landen, where he so closely pursued his studies, that he was supposed to lead a monastic life. He converted to Christianity not only King Clodoveus, but also a considerable part of his subjects; hence he is honoured by some devotees with the title of the French Apostle. After he had held his bishopric seventy-four years, he died at ninety-six years of age, A. D. 535.

6. SAINT FAITH.

This virgin martyr suffered death under Dacianus, about the year 290, the most cruel torments being inflicted upon her. Vows of celibacy were highly esteemed in the early ages; and, even in our own times, many rites still exist in honour of the virgin state. Upon the decease of a virgin, flowers are yet strewed before the corpse by young girls dressed in white, as emblematic of innocence. Garlands also are, in some places, woven and attached to the beams of churches in which virgins have been buried.

On the morning of this day (the new year), the Jews go to the Synagogue as early as six o'clock, and say, besides the usual prayers, several others peculiar to the festival; as, according to their received traditions, this is the yearly day of judgment, when the Almighty judges the universe, both as nations and individuals. They then take the book of the law,

and read the portion for the day from the first verse of the twenty-first chapter of Genesis to the end; after that, they read the Mophter, or portion for the day, from the first of the twenty-ninth chapter of Numbers to the end of the sixth verse. The portion from the Prophets is from the first verse of the first book of Samuel to the end of the tenth of the second chapter.

This festival of the Jewish new year is also called The Feast of Trumpets, from Numbers, chap. xxix,

And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have a holy convocation, ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing trumpets unto you.' And, therefore, immediately after this portion of the law is read in the Synagogue, and the prayer said for the prosperity of the government, they blow the cornet, or ram's horn, in the Synagogue, saying, Blessed art thou, O Lord our God! King of the universe, who hath sanctified us with his commandments, and commanded us to hear the sound of the trumpet. Blessed art thou, O Lord our God! King of the universe, that he hath let us live and subsisted us to this season.'

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The reason why a ram's horn is used for a trumpet, is in remembrance of Abraham's offering his son Isaac, when Abraham, seeing the ram caught by the horns in a thicket, took it, and offered it for a burnt offering, which is supposed to have happened on this day. After the blowing of the cornet, they say, with a loud voice, Happy is the people that know the joyful sound: O Lord! in the light of thy countenance shall they walk.' The law being returned into the ark again, the Musoph, or addition, is again said, which makes mention of the additional offering of the day; concluding with prayers that generally last till after twelve in the forenoon.

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When they sit down to dinner, they say the following grace, as the Kodush, or sanctification: Blow the trumpet for our solemn feast-day; for this is a sta

tute unto Israel, and a law unto Jacob. Blessed art thou, O Lord our God! King of the universe, the Creator of the fruit of the vine.' Public prayers are also performed in the afternoon and evening of this and the following day, those two days being the two days of holy convocation, on which no servile work is to be done. This festival is likewise preparatory to that of the Day of Atonement.

9.-SAINT DENYS.

Saint Denys, or Dionysius, the Areopagite, was converted to Christianity by St. Paul. See Acts xvii. He was, at first, one of the Judges of the celebrated court of the Areopagus, but was afterwards made Bishop of Athens, where he suffered martyrdom for the sake of the gospel. There are several books which bear his name; but they are, no doubt, forgeries of the sixth century. The French say, that he was the first that preached the gospel among them, and, for that reason, consider him their tutelar saint; but for this supposition there is no ground, as Christianity was never preached in France until long after his decease.

At St. Denis, a little town near Paris, now, perhaps, well known to many of our readers, is the antient Abbey of St. Denys, one of the finest pieces of Gothic architecture in France, and, formerly, one of the richest abbeys in the kingdom. When the allies entered Paris, Saint Denis was cannonaded by the Russians at a distance. Several of the balls struck the roof of the Maison Imperiale, and others entered the garden, where two or three men were killed. In this building about five hundred females, relatives to the Legion of Honour, are maintained; but, owing to the prudence of Madame Dubouzet, no accident happened to any of them. The Emperor Alexander soon after granted them a guard for their protection. The island of St. Denis, known also by the name of the Isle d'Amour, is exceedingly picturesque, and is famous for its excellent crabs.

October 9, by the Jews, or the third day of the

month Tishri, is kept as Rush Hashona, a strict fast, in commemoration of the murder of Gedaliah, who was appointed governor over the cities of Judah, by the King of Babylon. Gedaliah and fourscore other persons were treacherously assassinated by Ishmael. This fast the prophet Zechariah calls the fast of the seventh month. See chap. viii, 19.

October 11.--Jewish fast for the death of Rabbi Akeba.

The Jews observe the 12th of October in remembrance of judgment of death pronounced upon the persons concerned in making the golden calf. Exodus, chap. xxxii.

13.

TRANSLATION OF KING EDWARD THE

CONFESSOR.

He was the youngest son of King Ethelred; but as all his elder brothers were either dead, or had fled away, he succeeded to the crown of England in the year 1042. He collected all the most useful laws made by the Saxon and Danish kings. The additional title of Confessor was probably given him by the pope, for settling what was then called Rome-Scot, but now better known by the name of Peter's Pence.—See T. T. for 1815, p. 281.

The monks ascribed a number of miracles to Edward even his vestments were reputed holy. His crown, chair, staff, spurs, &c. are still used at the coronation of our English kings.

October 16.-This is the Jewish Fast of Yom Kipur, or the great Day of Expiation, though every day between the Jewish New Year's-day and this is called a day of penitence, and the sabbath which falls in these days is called the Sabbath of Penitence, when the Rabbi of every Synagogue preaches a sermon to the congregation on the subject of repent

ance.

The Day of Expiation, called, by way of eminence, The Great Day,' is most solemnly observed from the rules prescribed in the sixteenth chapter of Leviticus; but now, though there is no Temple,

nor High Priest to officiate, the observation of the day is thought strictly binding upon the Jews for ever, from the words, And this shall be a statute for ever unto you, that in the seventh month, on the tenth day, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you.' Leviticus, chap. xvi, 29, 31. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of the seventh month there shall be a day of ATONEMENT,' &c.

This fast commences on the eve of the ninth day, previously to which the Jews hold it a duty incumbent on them, if any man has offended another either in word or deed, to ask pardon; for though they assert that sincere repentance will insure pardon for sin on the GREAT day of atoneMENT, that is only to be understood of sins between a man and his Maker; but for one man that has injured another, the Rabbins hold there can be no hope of a pardon till the offending party has reconciled himself and made restitution to the party offended. This festival, as hinted before, commences on the evening of the ninth day after the new year; when the Jews leave off eating and drinking, and, having cleaned and dressed themselves in their best apparel in honour of the day, they go to the Synagogue, where the evening prayers of the fast last upwards of three hours. They afterwards return home, but are not allowed to taste any manner of sustenance. They attend again next morning at six o'clock, and continue their devotions till dark. But, after they come from Synagogue, they are obliged to repeat as follows, before they break their fast: 'Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who with his words created the heavens, and with his breath all the hosts thereof; a statute and a time he gave unto them, that they should not vary from their order: they are glad, and they rejoice to obey the will of their Maker: the Maker is true, and his works are true; and to the Moon he said,

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