New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-25
MODERN SHEPHERDS And MAGL4Ss.

| Suppose on hat first of Christmas days the
| shepherds bad chosen not 30 leave Their t0cks
| to find the Child il The mangerg Some prac-
ical herder among them might reasonably
enough have urged that to take care Of sheep
was their business, End not to sc0ur the lime
stone hills about Bethlehem in search of an un-
known infant, who, 10 doubt, with the angels
and their song about Him, were but parts Of a
Gistempered vision OF the night. Suppose tie
Maeian pi tests, who had followed the star or
comet across the sandy plains and marshes of
Chaldca had chosen 10 end their journey III
Hefods Court Here Was real King, with
real wealth and power, TO receive their gifts
an4 homage what folly to go searching for a
pauper child just born among the cattle i'll the
stable of a village inn! Her0d had received
them with respect; ordinary prudence and
common sense dictated that they should make
the bt st of their chances with him.
II shepherds and priests had stayed away,
the Saviour would have been born all the same;
none the less would civilization, freedom OF
thought, and elevation for debased human
nature have spread from that inn-stabie
throughout mankind but the shepherds and
priests would have los5 their immortal share i'll
that miraculous drama, and the story OF the
found significance, would nave Decn l0s5 IOr-
ever TO the world.
This morning we are each one of us very
much IN the condition OF the Magians and the
ehephe,ds. There the star stands again oyer
the Child in the manager; and If we do not hear
the angels singing, we hear that song echoed
10 every land ard tongue in the chime OF Christ
mas bells, in the glad thanksgiving of dey0ut
worshippers, and childreh's happy laughter
round and round the world. From frozen
Arctic seas to burning deserts, one thought
flashed this morning, making all men kin {:
that once in Child, born in EXTREMIST want,
the good God had taken shape to teach men
how to live and how to die. Now II is left TO
our own judgment Gust as 1t was to that OF the
priests and the herdsmen) whether we snail Jcn
in this rejoicing to-day or not. Nothing can be
easier than for us to take part i'll 1t. We need
not Journey from home, like the MagIans. There
is TOW no actual inn stable in SYRIA with its new
bonn babe to which we can make pilgrimage.
But beside us, wherever we are--in New oTk
at sea, in China, III ball -rOOm or howell
We can give our gold and myrrh to Him who lay
! i'm the manager there. Wherever there is v
| little Child whom we can make happy, wherever
| there are the poor or sick to whom we can give
| bit OF Christmas cheer, or prisoner or a
| negro or any other human being worsted by
circumstance, there are His brothers, of whom
| He SAYS: "Whatsoever we have done TO the
sleast of these, We have done unto Me- In the
| face of every man we shall meet to-day who
| needs help or friends, or whose soul crles out Tor
any strength which We can give, the eyes OF the
| Divine Child look upon ours anu summon us.
| Over every home where there is blessed little
| baby or honest deep love and happiness to-day,
! there the Star shines and there He waits, as lie
| did that first Christmas Day, to make us better
| and puIer men and women III we are wise we
| will follow the Star like the Magans 10 the
| hapDy home or TO the sick and poor and re-
| ioice at seeing it, as they did, with great joy.
| But we can, if we choose. take care OF our sheep
or shops or stocks instead; or we can spend
| cur time in currying favor with the HeIods OF
| the world. All the same, Christ Will be born
into the world, and His work will go on, only
we shall be left out OF 1T.
| Probably We think it very trilling matter
| whether we take part in Christmas rejoicings
| day or not, or if we 90, what part we take.
We NAV comprehend its real meaning and 20
| honestly out to do our part in lifting the
| thought of mankind for one day up to broader,
| purer heights, to add little genuine pleasure
| and friendliness and brothcrly kindness to the
worlds stock always scanD OF these things.
| Oh We NAV take tia h.lckncyed view OF the feast