The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-31
A VILLAGE BARN
The Place Where Christ Was Born.
1t Gives the Subject for DIR. Tai
IMAGES Sermon Yesterday.
Deliverers OF tho World Who Had
Barnlike Birthplaces.
Virtues That Were Born In the Man
ger at Bethlehem.
Good Will to Men-Encouragemen for
the Poorly started--Sympathetic I'M
ion-The Offenders Hope-The
Worlds Redemption.
spccIal Dispatch to Tho Appeal.

Brooklyn, N. Y, Dec. 30.--In addition
20 congregational singing at the Taber-
nacle today, Mrs. Florence Rice-Knox
sang two appropriate solos. The Rev. T.
Dewitt Talmage, DID,, preached, taking
for his subject: "Barnlike Birthplaces. 1"
His text was: "Ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in q
manger. And suddenly there was with
the angel a multitude OF the heavenly
host Luke il, 1918.
Atsmidright from one OF the galleries Of
the sky a chant broke. To an ordinary
observer there was no reason for such a
celestial demonstration. A poor man and
wife-travelers, Joseph and Mary by name
had lodged in an clubhouse OF an unim-
portant village. The supreme hour Of
solemnity had passed, and upon the pallid
forehead and check OF Mary God had Sc
the dignity, the grandeur, the tenderness,
.heeverlasting and divine significance OF
motherhood.
But such scenes had often occurred in
Bethlehem, yet never before had a star
been unfxcd, or had baton of light mar
shaled over the hills winged orchestra.
II there had been such brilliant and
mighty recognition at an advent in the
House OF Pharaoh, or at an advent in the
House OF Caesar. or the House OF Haps-
burg, or the House OF Stuart, we would
not SO much have wondered; but barn
seems too poor n center for such delicate
and archangelic circumference. The stage
seems too small for so great an act, the
music too grand Tor such unappreciative
auditors, the window Of the stable too rude
10 be sercnadcd by other worlds.
No, sir No, madam. 1t is my Joy this
'-4-elnng TO tell you what was born that
night in the village barn, and as ! want TO
make my discourse accumulatvc and eli.
mactorir, ] begin, in the flint place, by
telling you that that night in the Bethle.
hem mangcr was born (l) announcement
forall the poorly started. lie had only two
iricnds-they His parents. No satin-lined
cradle, no delicate attentions, but straw,
and the cattle, and the coarse Joke and
banter Of the camel drivers No wonder
the medieval painters represent the oxen
ms knccling before the infant Jesus, for
there were no men there ut that time 10
worship From the depths OF what pow
crty lie rose until today lie Is honored in
NIL Cmisiendom, and sits on the imperial
throne in heaven.
Whalna is mightost todayin Christen-
dom7 Jesus. Who has more friends on,
earth than any other being2 Jesus. Be.
fore whom do the most thousands kneel
IN chapel, aud church, .ind cathedral this
hour Jesus. For whom could one hundred
million souls be marshalcd, ready 10 fight
or dic2 Jesus. From what depths OF pow
erty 10 what hight Of rcnownl And 30 let
nil those who arc poorly started remember
that they cannot be more poorly born, or
moro disadvantagcously than this Christ.
Let them look up 10 his example while
they have umc and eternity 10 imi.
tate Il.
DO you know that the vast majority OF
the worlds DELIVERIES had barn.like birth.
places? Luther, the emancipation OF reli-
gion, born among the mines Shakespeare,
the emancipation Of literature, born in an
humble home at straliord-on-A Avon. Go.
lumbus the discOvcrcr Of world, born In
poverty ut Genoa. Hogarih the discoyercr
OF how 10 make art nccumulativc and al
AhAhAnhNAANN VI NAAANhT NNAN w "
home ai WOstmoreland. Kitto aud
Pridoaux, whose keys unlocked new apart.
s.icIiis in the Holy Scriptures which had
IaAg been entered, born In want. Yea,
4 havcto tell YOU that nine ont of ten OF
the worlds dcliycrcrs, nine out OF ten OF
the worlds mcssiahs-the messiahs OF
science, the mcssiahs OF law, tho mcssiahs
of medicine, the mcssiahs Oi poverty, the
messiahs Of grand bcnoyolcnce were born
In want
suppose that when Hcrschel, the great
astronomer, was born in the home OF
poor musician. not only one star, but all
the stars he ailcrwurd discovered, pointed
down 10 his mangor ! suppose when
Haydn, the German composer, was born
IN the humble home Of poor nillwdght,
that all the angels OF music chGnted over
the mangcr. Oh what announcement
for those WHO are poorly siaHcdl We who
think youraclycs lar down, aspire 10 10
high upl
! stir your holy ambitions today. aud |
want To tell you, although the whole world
may be opposed To- you, and inside and
outside Of your occupations o. professions
There may be those who would hinder
your ascent, on your side aud enlisted la
e'Nt HNitfit wv AAlh liathNliA NNslNA AAitl
the almighty arm OF Ono who one Christ
mas night, about 1883 ycnn ago. was
wrapped Ia swaddling clothes and all in
a mangcr. Oh, what magnificent oncoui.
ngcmcnt for the Poorly siaucdl
. Again, have 10 tell you that Ia that
village barn that night VIZ born good viii
10 mon, whether you cilf II Kindness, or
lotbcar1noc, or forgiveness, OF gcnialiiy,
or affection, on love. II WIS no Sport Of
hiIi Heaven h. scnd ils lavoritc TO that
humiliation. II was sacrifice Tor rcbcll.
iogs world. Ailcr The calamity IN Para.
sliac, not only dill thuoX begin 10 gUru, and
tho adder 10 sting and the elephant 10 smiie
with hls iusk, aud the lion TO put 70 bad
uso tooth and paw, but undur the very
tree lroa which the forbidden fruit was
plncknd wrrc matched out wiz and ~.
Nenrc. and malice AMI envy, and Jealousy,
aud dc whole brood ~ cJukalrcgs.
Int against That scene ! SET too Bcthlc.
hem inangcF which says "liloas rather
than flrc, endure rather than nssiult."
and that Chriylmasuiglil put ont sind.ciiec.
uc5s. II aayG "Sheallic your ~ ord. dis.
mount your guns, aiamaniio your h1-
torres, iufn tiic wamhlp Constellation,
that carried slot and shell, into gr.in. !
hip 10 take food " !aiDis,ps lrpsni,
I.a.t sltuf AGILE. t..s.... IN lh. ..l.... A..