I understand that for those observers of all holidays, but holy and secular, persevering a whole week between Christmas and New Year’s Day without a party can be an ordeal. I also know that for those vinegary Presbyterians who don’t observe the nativity of Christ in late December, non-observance can look downright acidic. The remedy for the neo- and paleo-sanctifiers of days is the birthday of Charles Hodge, who came into this world in that little burgh of Philadelphia on December 28, 1797. The great appeal of Hodge’s nativity is that for the strict Reformed it functions as a festive day close to Christmas and thus provides an outlet for all of that cooking, spirituous refreshment, and commercial enterprise bubbling up at years end in this greatest nation on God’s green earth. And for the not-so-strict neo-Presbyterians, Hodge’s birthday functions, midway between Christmas and New Year, as a way to turn the last week of the year into one long party.
Hodge’s birth has added significance because, as I am learning from Andrew Hoffecker’s fine biography of the Princeton theologian (forthcoming in the American Reformed Biographies), Hodge himself was not an observer of December 25th, like most low-church Protestants prior to the commercial success of Christmas, Mother’s Day, and Easter during the Victorian era. Hoffecker observes that when Hodge was preserving his thoughts and whereabouts during a period of supply preaching in the early 1820s he never mentioned Christmas.
Further evidence of Hodge’s silence on the Roman Catholic holiday comes from a letter he wrote on December 25, 1825 to his mother. In addition to demonstrating Hodge’s non-observance of Christmas, the letter has the Old Life advantage of making a plug for the two-kingdom that provides a proper understanding of days holy and common during a pilgrim’s life in this world. Here is the letter (which can be found in The Life of Charles Hodge, p. 97):
My Dear Mother:
Your dear little Mary Elizabeth was baptized this afternoon in the Oratory by Dr. Alexander. Notwithstanding the rain, the place of service was so near we found it easy to take our dear little treasure out to be consecrated to God in this delightful ordinance. I never appreciated so highly before the privilege of thus giving to God what is dearest to us on earth. We feel now as though she were not our own, but something lent to be cultivated and prepared through our agency for heaven. To be instrumental in thus training up one of the children of the Lord to be presented before Him without spot or blemish, is so delightful and honorable a task, that we cannot help hoping that He who has made the prospect of the duty so pleasant, will aid us in its performance. There is, too, so much ground to hope that our efforts will not be in vain that we can address ourselves to the duty with all possible cheerfulness. The application of the pure element of water is not only designed to represent the purifying influence of the Spirit upon the heart, but it seems to be the appointed pledge on the part of God, that if we sincerely devote our children to Him, and faithfully endeavor to bring them up for Him, He will bestow upon them the blessings signified by the ordinance, and contained in that gracious covenant to which it is attached. Hence the ordinance is represented as so important in the Scriptures. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. It certainly never was designed to be an empty form. And as it imposes the most solemn obligations, so it contains abundant encouragement to fulfil them. Our dear little children we have promised to educate for heaven, and as God shall enable us, we mean to perform our vows. To this every thing must be made secondary. To gain this world is not what we have promised to aim at. It must therefore never be the direct and primary object of pursuit. I have lately, in reading Bonaparte’s Russian Campaign, and the Life of Sheridan, been very much struck with the truth of the remark how little they really enjoy the world to whom the world is every thing. Bonaparte says the happiest part of his life was when he was a poor lieutenant. And Sheridan said the happiest part of his life was the short time he spent in a cottage. There is nothing lost, therefore, even as regards the present world, by seeking first the kingdom of God; that is, by making it the primary object of pursuit, seeing that godliness has the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. We feel, therefore, determined, if God shall render us faithful to our purposes, to bring up your dear little grandchildren, as we are sure you would have us do, with the one object supremely in view of fitting them for heaven. I have great confidence in the effect of religious truth upon the infant mind. Children are so susceptible, their associations are so strong and lasting, that it does not seem strange that the effect of early education should so frequently be felt through life. And if we add to this God’s peculiar promises to those who endeavor to bring up a child in the way in which he should go, we shall see that there is abundant reason to hope that exertions properly directed will be crowned with success.
Your affectionate son,
C. H.
So if you go out tonight, hoist one in honor of Charles Hodge and his paleo-Presbyterian piety.
Old Life 
Your posts have been most amusing lately. How unfortunate, however, that Hodge had to miss out on the joys of celebrating what the Synod of Dort confirmed in article 67 as one of several holidays to be celebrated- the nativity of Christ. Perhaps this is one instance in which the Presbyterians ought to have been in greater harmony with their continental brethren.
LikeLike
Darryl,
I am very surprised that Dr. Hodge would refer to the sacrament of holy baptism as does a Baptist, as an “ordinance”. What gives here? Unless I am mistaken, it appears that Dr. Hodge appears to consider the public reception of our children into the bosom of the church, and the granted of them of the gift of the Holy Spirit, as more a dedication of parents than a sacramental sign.
Am I reading this letter correctly?
LikeLike
Evan, that’s what happens when the “godly” magistrates are overseeing the church.
LikeLike
Bob, first, Hodge was young. Second, Hodge was always a bit of a low-church Old Schooler. He stayed clear of most forms of sacramentalism.
LikeLike
WSC. 92. What is a sacrament?
A. A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.
So, no, Hodge is referring to baptism like a good Presbyterian. He knew his catechism. To bad being a good Presbyterian today doesn’t include favoring the Scripture authorized weekly holiday and skipping those authorized by the commandments of men.
LikeLike
: ) I strenuously object to Papist Hodge-Mass observances, with St. Hart descending my chimney, eating all my Nestlé, Lindt and Suchard chocolates, leaving ripe theological tomes under my sacred lighted Hodgemas vine, and then bounding off with eight horned Swiss Ibex. I suppose calling it the Feast of Hodge’s Nativity is right out, but I’ll not be sitting on anyone’s lap or imbibing wine to excess. A note to my dear mother on the other hand…
LikeLike
Andrew,
It still appears that Hodge seems to view the baptism of infants as more a dedication of parents to raising children in the admonition of the Lord than a means of grace, a remission of sins, a reception of the Holy Spirit, and an ingrafting into the church.
Also, both for Darryl and Andrew, the recognition of December 25 does not necessarily mean a disregard for the Lord’s Day. I learned the importance of the Lord’s Day from my Baptist parents (both morning and evening worship were strictly observed), who never had any qualms about taking the family to church Christmas Eve (or on Good Friday, Thanksgiving Eve, or New Year’s Eve). Those special services were never considered holy obligations but aids that strengthened church and family life. I still do not see that a recognition of Christmas (or Easter) is incompatible with the Reformed understanding of the sanctity of the Lord’s Day.
Here is a weakness of the regulative principle: what’s considered “in” or “out” is often the eye of the beholder. It is a great in theory, but doesn’t always work in the rough and tumble of parish ministry. Look at any church bulletin of a church that claims to uphold the regulative principle, and you will inevitably find the church sponsoring activities, programs, or services that aren’t explicitly commanded in Scripture.
LikeLike
Bob, your comment about the RPW is a bit like saying the U.S. Constitution is great in theory, but look at the activities of the executive, judicial, and legislative branches and see how unworkable it is. Isn’t the point of a theory or an ideal to set limits so that churches and governments don’t do things they’re not supposed to do?
LikeLike
Bob,
Well, I would recommend re-reading Hodge’s letter. It reads (to me at least) as a pretty much standard expression of what a Presbyterian father would think and feel at the baptism of his child.
Now with respect to your attack on the RPW, The only thing not related to worship you would find in my congregations bulletin would be reminders of the meal we share after worship has concluded on occasion. But then that is not worship. So the RPW does not apply. Don’t fall into the mistake of Frame that all of life is worship — it’s not. Doing all to God’s glory is one thing, “worship” is a very special category of service. So special, that God devoted an entire commandment in the Decalogue to it.
As for the 25th of December, the name that is ascribed that day, “Christmas” necessarily means worship. Too bad that nearly all of what is involved is rooted in paganism, including the choice of the day. Since there is no command in Scripture, nor one that can be deduced by good and necessary consequence to commemorate that day so you must be doing it according to the commandments of men. Too bad that Christ says that it is in vain that you worship, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men. Why would you voluntarily take the accusatory prophecy of Isaiah upon yourself and your family and church?
As for “Easter” where did Christ command that one Lord’s Day a year should be different from the other 51? By making one more special than the others you necessarily diminish the other 51 Lord’s Days. Why call it that after a pagan goddess? We know of the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles that the first day of the week is the holy day for Christians. Where did Friday get called “Good” in scripture? The bottom line is you don’t do these things because Christ has commanded or asked for them, but rather because you want to. Christ supplies everything we need for his service, why is that not good enough for you, that you have to add to it?
LikeLike
Darryl and Andrew,
You both raise very good points and weaknesses in my argument about the regulative principle. I’m not attacking RPW, just trying to think this through. So does this mean that we don’t have wedding services in our churches or funerals since they aren’t explicitly commanded by Christ? And does it mean that a Session can never call for a service of public worship on a day other than Sunday?
LikeLike
Well, it’s going to be a day late, but I’ll certainly hoist at least one tonight in recognition of Hodgemas.
Here’s some Charles Hodge trivia for you. Hodge would take leave of the oppressive Princeton, NJ environs and summer outside Philadelphia in Abington, PA. Per Clair Davis, back in my WTS student days, Hodge would stay in house on Susquehanna Rd, cross-corner from the Presbyterian Church Cemetery, almost adjacent the Presbyterian Church (current PCUSA church). Probably 6 miles, tops from current WTS campus.
Now, on Feb 6th, who’s going to celebrate Robert Nesta Marley’s natal day with I – how about you, Darryl?
LikeLike
I think it was Ken Myers when he was writing monthly columns in the 90’s for TableTalk magazine spoke how sad it was for Reformed types to think of holidays only in terms of obligation and not in terms of festivity. While my local Presbyterian church places right emphasis on keeping the Lord’s Day, listening to the conversations around the church coffee pot you would soon discover that men most likely mark time by the sports season (women by the school or TV season). I can see the wisdom in marking time by the great acts of salvation history.
LikeLike
Bob, I’m no fan of funeral services so I won’t object to giving them up. A burial service with plenty of scripture and prayer works just fine (that is if Christians have not let their bodies be burnt to a crisp). Weddings are generally secular affairs anyway. And sessions can call services whenever they deem pastorally beneficial. They have trouble though disciplining for non-attendance at worship other than the Lord’s Day.
LikeLike
Cris, when did Marley teach at PTS?
LikeLike
Mark, here, here, and that is what Easter Sunday does for us every blessed week if we do keep it holy and don’t discuss our worldly and secular activities over bad coffee.
LikeLike
Glad to hear of Hoffecker’s forthcoming bio. on Hodge in the ARB series. A decent bio. on the great Princetonian has long been sorely needed.
LikeLike