The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-12-28
A CHRISTMAS TALK.
REV, WILLIAM GEORGE rRowER.


Year. One soes on the streets the
happy faces of children, the thought
full and pleasant countenances of pa
rents. Everyone seems to have u Sc
cret and it isn't anything sad either.
Little boys and girls are making aud
buying as we'll as their parents. What
does all this mean? What is all this
fuss about? christmas is coming"
you say.
What is Christmas? 1t is the an
niversary of the birth of Jesus. Dear
friends, young and old, let us walk
into the country where Jesus was born.
About ono mile from Bethlehem is the
plain where, it is said, there were
shepherds keeping watch over their
flock by night, when, 10, the angel of
the Lord came upon them, and the
glory of the Lord shone round about
them" These humble shepherds were
taking care of their sheep to protect
them from the wolves and the robber.
1t is cold wintry night; the sheep
are quiet; there appears to be no dis
turbapce, and perhaps the shepherds
are nodding now and then. Suddenly
amidst the darkness an angel appears
and from the heavens come q multi
tude of bright ones. The shepherds
are wide awake now; they wonder at
the strange light, they marvel at the
appearance of these angelic messen-
gers. They are frightened, but the
angel tells them not to fear for he is
bringing them tidings Of great Joy,
1--WE bring you peace, for Jesus is
born in the city of David" and with
the announcement the angelic chorus
strikes the note of praise and in one
grand, sublime anthem never before
Or since heard, sing, "Glory to God in
the Highest, and on earth Peace and
Good VIII to men,"
Another picture: The associations
of our Lords birth are all of the hum
blest character, and the sceuery of the
great event are connected with pOv-
erty and toll. "COme now, and let us
60 unto Bethlehem and see the thing
which has come to pass" The shep-
herds go over the hill and through
the starry and moonlit gardens until
they reach the summit of the ridge
| where the little town and village inn
stands. 1t is low structure built of
rough stones and only a single story
III height, a square inrlOsure, where
cattle can be tied up at night; the
paved floor is raised a foot or two
above the level Of the court yard. Oh
course, these are perfectly public and
everything that takes place is seen by
| every other person. They are totally
devoid of even the most ordinary fur
niture. The traveller may bring his
carpet if he likes and sit crOss-leygcd
upon it for his meals, and lie upon il
at night. Of course, he must bring
his own food and feed his own cattle
The occupant paid the merest tribe
If the traveller arrived too late anC
the leewams were occupied by earlier
! guests, he must go to the court-y
below among tie cattle and dogs
amid filth and the crowded animals
Away up north in Nazareth lived /
ineal descendant of David. 1t was
Joseph the village carpenter. JOSEPH
and his wife are obliged to GO to Je
rusalem to register as members Of thu
House Of David. It is an eighty mile:
journey and indeed, a very unpleas
ant one, for it must have hurt til,
pride of Jew to have to bow to tn,
Roman power. But perhaps he wa
consoled by the thought that through
him must come the promised Messiah
who would deliver them from thei
bondage to Rome. Travelling in tn
East at the best is very slow and te
dious, but it must have been especial,
so with this family, for they were poo
and unable TO have the best convey
ances, and besides, Mary was unfit 70
such hardship. They arrived at BetE
lehem later than the other travellers
and when they looked about for
place to rest they found every leewal
occupied, SO they had to go out int,
the courtyard with the animals. Sc
weary with their journey, and far from
home, on a chilly winter night, uttcrl,
devoid of comfort, in so humble
place, Christ was born. The Lord O
Heaven and earth was not born annie
flourish Of trUmpets, amid the shout
of subjects, but among the cattle; anC
, methinks that they, too, must hav
lowed as if compromising what hat
happened to the world. The cattl
stables were more fitting birthplace
for Him who came to reveal that tn
soul Of the greatest monarch was 0
j no more value in Gods sight than tn
peasant. But He who was born poo
was destined to rule monarchs. Poe
and word painter have sung and toll
: of myriads of bright beings hoverin;
} around, of the halo that encircled tn
, head of the babe, of the alteration O
man and beast.
; Diyinely human, Gle was made hu
man that we might be made divine.
Amid such unpromising circumstance
poverty-humility itself-My Savior
YOUR Savior, made His advent int
this world. He became poor that tn
penniless might have Comforter. FL
was born amid the beasts that they
too, might be benefited by His work
) for the Gospel means love to all God
, creation.
E We do not celebrate the birth G
many great men. Shakespeare i
l hardly remembered on his birthday
Hannjbal's. birthdayis forgotten; VIII
| ever thinks of celebrating the birthda
of many men mighty in war. literatur
and science? Nations relnemberthei
, heroes sometimes, but the whole worI
uniteS IN one ovation on the annivel
) sary of Christ's birth. The angels i
, Heaven are to-day III one grand che
rus praising God, Cherubim and Sel
aphim shout Hallelujah. Let us cate
the strains dropping over the battle
ments Of Heaven and make the hill
r and valleys ring.
) Joy to the world the Lord ha
= come, let earth receive her King.
Long years before Christ,s comm,
= Isaiah pronounced "He shall be Gale,
S Wonderful" Let us enquire eva
| / Il, L I.