Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-01-06
From the New York Observer.
INTERNATIONAL LESSONS.
JASt AIRY ..
The Song Of Mary.

GotprS TrSr Ny .oui doth nszui', the Lord.
sHt my -fut hath r"Jg.esi iH God my saviour a-
Luke . ta.-i1.
C.utal T~sh The Lord remembers
his covenant.
The last lesson brought before US the
circumstances attending the promise TO
Zacharias and Elizabeth, that they
should have a son, and the great things
which were predicted OF him. SIX
months elapsed, and an angelic me-scu.
ger was sent to Galilee TO the city of
Nazareth, where dwelt a young Jewish
maiden called Mary, betrothcd to
mau named Joseph, q respectable He.
brew mechanic, who lived in that ciiy.
Thi. humble Jewish girl, about whose
family, pedigree. personal appearance
and general history so little ls told "a,
was to be the most iliustrious Of all
human beings. Her name was TO be-
proclaimed IN all ages and IN every land
as the earthly mother oi the Saviour of
the world. And for nearly 2OU0 years
she has been the object OF reverence,
admiration and affection the world over.
Her history aud character have been
celebrated in the finest strains OF poetry
and eloquencc, art has dedicated to her
its uoblest efforts, superstition has offer.
ed TO her It's proloundest worship.
miraculous powers have been claimed
for her IN every age, Holy Writ has
styled her Blessed among women.
aud no name but that nf God himself
has been 80 illustrIous IN the earth "a
the name Of Mary of Nazareth, the
virgin mother Of our Lord.
Yet very little Is told US of her histo.
rs, nor word Of her appearance,
scarcely more OF her character. 4 vast
edlhce Of superstition, vast pile of
legendary lore and vain tradition. has
been reared in her memory. She has
been represented a. of matchless, super
angelic beauty, divine loyeliuess OF
character, and OF power and influence
almost infinite. just whore 10 place
her. and how 10 estimate her Just posi-.
ton and the nature Of her claims on
the regards Of men. is perhaps not al.
together an easy task. We can but re-
gard her as pure and lovely maid
on Of the royal blood Of Israel, selected
by God To be the human mother Of our
Lord, and though Of the fallen race OF
Adam, one raised to no superior cxalta
tlon OF sanctity of nature above her
earthly fellows, furnished by divine
grace and influences Of the Holy Spirit
for the part which she was to act in
Gods great plan for the redemption OF
the world by his own dear Son. More
than this we are not warranted IN
claiming for her; Jess than this would
not give her her true place IN sacred
history.
The communication made by the an.
gel to the virgin was doubtless most uu.
expected and extraordinary. and we are
not surprised that IL was received with
some agitation and with some doubt as
10 its real and complete significance.
But she was maiden of simple faith in
lsrael's God. well trained in the history
Of Gods covenant with her people and
OF the promises Of the Messiah's advent
and work. and 50 on the repetition by
the angel of this statement. with some
| further particulars, she said. with
sweet and simple faith, "Behold the
handmaid of the Lord be it unto me
according to thy word.
Afterwards Mary went into the bill
country OF Judea, on n visit to the
house OF Zacharias, and had the in.
I terview with Elizabeth which was the
occasion OF her famous song. Eliza
beths reception of her young kinswo.
man was very striking. She calls her
"B!essed among women" and the
Mother of my Lord" This salutation
seems to have evoked in the virgin the
spirit of sacred poetry. and she breaks
forth into the beautiful hymn called
"The Magnihcat," which Is the subject
of our lesson.
This song OF Mary is called the
"Magniiicat' from the word with which
it commences in the Latin version. IL
is glorious ode. not unlike the song Of
Hannah q sam. l-l0), full OF intense
religious fervor. aud showing the exalt
ed tyne Of Mary's piety II is pervaded
10y the spirit of lofty and grateful
praise; shows an impassioned and ex
alted appreciation Of the periections Of
God, and esuecially Of his dealings with