Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-12-28


radiant host; in view of the fulfllment
of the old time prediction gave utterance
to their interest in the event in strains
of Celestial melody as they sang to.
gether, Celery be to God in the highest
on earth, peace and good will toward
, men"
, But inch were not prepared to receive
, Dispensation of f"Peace and good will. q
. The jew desired and the Reman feared
an earthly conquercr. And as the
strange and improbable story Of the
shepherds was hoised about, slight
sensation was produced in Judsa, while
the rest of the world slept on. Herod,
| fearing there might be something in the
shepherds tale; or more probably, that
the Jews would use it for insurrectionary
purposes, with the recklessness of ty-
rant, ordered the indiscriminate murder
of the children that he might make
sure of the destruction of the dreaded
one. For time there was sweeping in
Rama and then the world sunk into its
old routine.
A few years later, a singularly benig-
nant being, with a dozen humble follow
ers, who evidently did not understand
their master, was seen in the Villages
and along the highways of Palestine,
teaching the new doctrine of the univer-
sal brotherhood of man, and ineulcating
the love and forgiveness of enemies, in
stead of retaliation and war. ale went
about doing good. " He despised none
on account of their poverty, their ignor-
ance, or their misfortunes. Like the sun
shine and the rain, his yearning compass
sion fell alike upon all His was an exam
pie the world had not.seen before, and in
addition to the notice thus attracted,
startling tales were whispered about,
that from his presence and at his word
went out power wholly supernatural,
and beyond the province ce4of man to,ex-
ert. The multitude came to him,in un-
counted thousands and hung upon. his.
words in transport. The deaf, the dumb,
the blind, the halt, the maimed-the
sick and the possessed, were brought to
him in crowds, and were healed. The
hungry throngs were fed from his hands
with food procured. they knew not how
or where. Even the portals of death
itself unlocked at his word and acknowl- !
edged his power, while the winds and
the seas obeyed him.
But the mind of the age could |
not comprehend the Man or his
mission. They were ready to stake
him by force and make him their king"
because they thought his extraordinary
powers would enable them to subdae
their enemies and minister TO their pride
and love of dominion, by making the ma
ton of the earth tributaries to them
selves. And when he refused their prof
fered scepter and proclaimed that t'his
Kingdom was not Of this world, bat
consisted in life of humble self denial
of internal purity of thought aud
purposc-of ''new birth" and a regeE.
crate life, moulding the disciple into
a oneness with his Lord, they found '.hia
sayings hard, and many of his imm
diate followers ewalked no more with
him. Aud because his teachings and
his life were a rebuke to the proud :
Pharisee and the naughty Roman, the
priest and the politician united to accuse
him of blasphemy against God, and :
treason to the State, and by false wit
nesses secured his crucifxion with NAL
efactors.
But some day the fact will be learned
that to murder and advocate does not
necessarily defeat cause. No doubt
there was chuckle Of triumph when :
the mangled body was placed in the
tomb, and self-satisfed, conservatives J
each other that the new :
'fanaticism" was SO happily desposed of
Little did they know of the omnipotence
Of the new ideas, which they thought
hey had suppressed" <'The irrepress-
bile conflict has been going on ever since,
ind although truth has been. hated and o
he right trampled upon, although the o
Herods and Pilates of all the ages, have o
,emented their friendships under the a
crosses to which great truths have been a
lailed, yet is the truth ever Triumphant t
And under its banner, man has been S
slowly and painfully retraeing his steps S
pack toward the point from which he S
started. And although he has long $
md wearysome journey yet before him, .
'ull of conflicts, temptations and trials, :.
Tet in view of what has been accom- a
olished. how doubly sure seems to be
he promise of "a good time coming" 0
Then, while we all remember the event N
If which this is the anniversary, let us q
also, the character and exam I,
Die of him whose birth it commem crates.
He spent his life in doing good. His .
'ollowers should initiate His example.
And how better can this be done than t.
o Remember the poor and needy, the o
atherless and the widow in their afflec-