The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-23
MASONIC TEMPLE.

THE CRADLE ASD THE CHILD THAT LAY IN
Ir-sERMoN BY Mr.. o. b. FGoTHINGHAM
The members Of the Independent Association were
present In goodly numbers at Masonic Temple TO
listen 20 Mr.. o. u. Frothinghams discourse on The
cradle and the child that was laid in IT," He said
that the return Of the Christmas brings the
preacher 10 talk ~ the subject the cradle and the
Christ. The celebration. he continued was not in
favor u Jesus. for Jesus was only man;
Christ the idea worshipped. Jesus was
born In Judea at Nazareth. He had brothers
sisters and relatives of different degrees. Christ
had His origin ia human ideas lie was a creature OF
the mind. emanation OF thought; not indivd-
ual. but theological postulate. Jesus lived but
little more than thirty years and only the ast three
or four OF His life in public. He was execut d "a a
malefsctor al the Tyburn 81 His nation. Jesus was
short lived. but Christ has existed for nearly two
thousand years and likely to exist the abstract
tor a much longer period. Half hundred years ago
the theory that each child born into the world
as tho beginning 81 new creation. but now the
people think that D child IL born take up and con-
tinue the thread ~ life The public mind i beginning
10 doubt that child could be- born without having
transmitted 70 IL in the constitution the conditions
Of mental or bodily hoalth prepared for IL In pre-
oeding generations. Applying TINS standard 70 meas
tho qualities Of Jesus It will DE found that they
given 70 Him by His descent from the house Of
David For generations before the time OF Christ
the Jews had been following a most extraordinary
faith IN coming political Hcdeumcr who should
brush away the power 81 the Syrtans and of Rome
who should rebuild their temples and raise them to
their former grandeur and glory. Jesus entered into
this hope; II burned shining flame IN His bosom.
II came b. HIM in the " Hts life that he was
to be the R.deemer. the Lords elected and
anointed. II entered into His mind that Christ
more than man, He the Son of David Prince,
Ruer-haying power - work miracles. clothed with
supernatural authority to decide who should 20 into
ttAftlI
PAuL's INFLUENCE cnRfsrfASITY.
Jesus died on the cross; His hopes were thwarted,
and lie. Individually was not the christ. But there
wonderful being who took no the idea ~
Christ Now mark the change. Jesus sinks more
and more ont OF sight. aud Paul surrounds with a
halo OF supernatural glory the idea ~ bccom-
ing after death the Christ The child of the cradle
In Bethlehem is now no longer III. Son of David. He
IL unpolluted out ~ the order ~ human kind. more
than mortal being who could float In the air, an
incarnation of divine idea. This was the ideal Of
Paul. IL was reserved for the Western Empire OF
Rome 20 set Christ crowned and sccptrcd on
the thrones OF the world That Empire,
which reminds MS OF all things great in the
world. was in those days described 10 be weak and
wicked Not So however, were the provinces or the
the Emperor Augustus Cesar. man who
owed his title o. no virtue. He that one 81 the
wealthiest of the provinces showed a disposition %
lift up Christ and place Him al his side the peer ~
Caesar. Christ made King. President, Emperor
the world. deciding what should be law aud
purity. childhood. aud compass these ambitious
aims Yet this i the lesson that viii be taught on
Christmas Day. II history IL true u tells how Christ
became King and Emperor.
cHRfsr GAVE TIE wnofD.
Christ gave to tins Western World three qualities