Connecticut western news., 1890-11-05
THE CRADLE OF A GOD.

But standing there thought, though this is the place of the nativity, how different the surroundings of the wintry night in which Jesus came! At that time it was a khan or a cattle pen. I visited one of these khans now stand ing and looking just as in Christ's time. We rode in under the arched entrance and dismounted. We found the building of stone and around an open square without roof. The building is more than 2,000 years old It is two stories hign. In the center are camels. horses and mules. Caravans halt here for the night or during a long storm. The open square is large enough to accommo- date whole herd of cattle, flock of sheep or caravan of camels The neighboring Bedouins here find market for their hay, straw and meats. Off from this center there are twelve rooms for human habitation The only light is from the door. I went into. one of these rooms and found a woman cook ing the evening meal There were six COWS in the same room On little elevation there was some straw where the people sat and slept when they wished to rest. It was in a room similar to that our Lord was born.
 This was the cradle of king, and yet what cradle ever held so much? Civilization! Liberty Redemptionl Your pardon and mine Your peace and mine! Your heaven and mine! Cradle of universe! Cradle of God! The gardens of Solomon we visited this morning were only a type of what all the world will be when this illustri- ious parsonage now born shall have completed his mission. The horse of finest limb and gayest champ of bit and sublimest arch of neck that ever brought Solomon down to these adjoining gardens was but poor type of the horse upon which this conquer or born in the barn shall ride, when, according to apocalyptic vision, all the white horses"
 The waters that rush down these hills into wonder three great reservoirs of rock and then pour in marvellous aqueduct into Jerusalem till the brazen sea is full, and the baths are full, and Siloam is full are only an. imperfect type of the rivers of delight which, as the result of this great ones coming, shall roll on for the slaking of tho thirst of all nations. The palace of Lebanon, cedar from which the i'm perial cavalcade passed out in the early morning and to which it returned with glowing cheek and jingling harness and lathered sides, is feeble of architecture compared with the house of many mansions into which this one born this winter month on these bleak heights shall conduct us when our sins are all pardoned, our battles all fought, our tears all wept, our work all done.
 THE TYPE OF CHRISTIAN MOTHERHOOD
 Standing here at Bethlehem, do you not see that the most honored thing in all the earth is the cradle9 To what else did loosened star ever point2 To what else did heaven lower balconies of light filled with chanting immortalsa The way the cradle rocks the world rocks. God bless the mothers all the world over! The cradles decide the destinies of nations. In ten thousand of them are this moment the hands that will yet give benediction of mercy or hurl bolts of doom, the feet that will mount the steeps toward God or descend the blasted way, the lips that will pray or blaspheme. Oh, the cradle! It is more tremendous than the grave. Where are most of the leaders of the Twentieth century soon to dawn upon us? Are they on thronesf No. In chariots2 No. In pulp;+s2 No. In forums? No. In senatorial halls9 No. In counting houses2 No. They are in the cradle. The most tremen- dous thing in the universe, and next to God, is to be mother. Lord Shaftes- bury said, "Give me generation of Christian mothers and I will change the whole phase of society in twelve months.
 Oh, the cradle! Forget not the one in which you were rocked. Though old and worn out that cradle may bo standing in attic or barn, forget not the foot that swayed it, the lips that sang over it, the tears that dropped upon it, the faith in God that made way for it. The boy Walter Scott did well when he spent the first five guinea piece he ever earned as a present to his mother.
 Dishonor not the cradle, though it may, like the one my sermon celebrates, have been 8 cradle in barn, for I think it was Christian cradle. That was great cradle in which Martin Luther lay, for from it came forth the reformation of the Sixteenth century That was great cradle in which Daniel O'Connell lay, for from it came forth an eloquence that will be inspiring while men have eyes to read or ears to hear. That was great cradle in which Washington lay, for from it came forth the happy deliverance of a nation.
 That was a great cradle in which John Howard lay, for from it came forth a mercy that will not cease until the last dungeon gets the Bible and l light and fresh air. Great cradles in whic,1 the John Wesleys, and the John KnoHes, and the John Masons lay, for from them came forth an all conquer ing evangelization. But the greatest cradle in which child ever slept or woke, laughed or cried, was the cradle over which Mary bent, and to which the wise men brought hankincense, and upon which the heavens dropped song. Had there been no manager there had been no cross. Had there been no Bethlehem there had been no Golgotha. Had there been no incarnation there l had been no ascension. Had there