The Newtown bee., 1893-12-29

spot where soon some celestial anthem | shall break upon them that shall thrill their lives with joy. While you are do- ing your ordinary work, God may bid His angels sing to you the sweet song of His assured help in time of trouble and of His comforting love. A richer echo of the angels song is the thought of the text, "When they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying" The shep- herds had heard good news, had seen the Christ-child; and, to the very best of their ability and to the limit of their power, they extended the angels song. That is what you are to do, be bearers of this Christmas message to sin-cursed world. There's redemption, brother, for you. For you and yet for all. The gos- pei is individual in it's character, intense ly so, and yet it is universal, it IS made up of whosoever. It is to us that it may be to all. We have heard the good news ;what are we doing with it to-day?" The choir rendered fine program.
 AT ST JOHN 5.
 The Christmas eve services at St Johns church was largely attended. The psalter and responses and spec al carols were sung by the choir. Rev MT Wright took his text from Luke ?: 6-7, from the revised version, "She wrapped him in sWaddling clothes, and laid him in manager, because there was no room for them in the inn.'' Every event in the life of our Savior is of divine signifi- canoe, and every incident attending his birth, and every step in his earthly mis- sion has been studied with greatest care. The preacher dwelt upon the manner of his coming and the conditions of his life. There is something for us at Bethlehem. The manager there is full of meaning the Shepherds may teach us lesson the heart of all men turn toward that star in the East, tonight. It is simple story, and diVinely simple, that all the children of men may find in it touch of sympathy. The glory of the incarnate sanctifies all that is human. The ser mon was largely pen-pictures of Bethle- hem, of Joseph and Ma. y, their family history, the inn, the cave in the Lime stone bluff, the shepherds and the con- ditions of life in Palestine at the time of the Nativity. Joseph and Mary were doubtless common people as the world would class them. They were not rich. they were not very poor. They were good people without any doubt, and common good people are the best part ot he world, always. All the great move. nents of the world depend upon the common people. They both belonged tt he royal family of David and the best blood of all Israel coursed ia their vein, and still they were common people il the eyes of the world, and Joseph was { carpenter in d little country town anC earned his daily bread by his labor. Per maps the family owned cottage and { 1 garden. It was the time of the Roman census and everyone in Palestine wen Co the place of his birth to be enrolled and enumerated. Hence the inn wa
 
 | they were kindly taken to the cave There was no need of apology. Tn guests were simple folks by habits 0 life easily satisfied. It was the bes place then at disposal. Living in cave ,aS common to that people. Neithe Aa- there any offence in the fact tha Gue cave had been or was stable | They were the descendants If herdsmen | No doubt their great ancestor, David
 l,d been sheltered in tnI~ very cave ,, humble vas the birth of the SD
 t m4u, tht son ot God, the Savior U
 ".,~ld. Su common tfe circuuI Ot.c.' If His earthly lie that 'all sort .nd conditions of men' might feel ant
 lln hl- kin-hip with them. Stught 0 b- Hi-e men, guided by star; the iii
 ' he pruphtt-taughU and in-pired o
 very land; the expectation of the de
 'ut ones of Israel, bora in stable ar;
 -adied in manager; and yet, this prime
 f the house of D ,vid, nay, now tn Prince of Heaven. whose ''name shall b called Wonderful, Councillor, tn
 tightly God, the Everlasting Fath CT, the Prince of Prace," the "Lor of Lords and King of Kipg~" who cam to conquer the world, waS God-announc ed in d blaze of glory, by "a multitude " rhe heavenly host" to few simpl hearted shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock tha
 light. "Glory to God in the highes1 md on earth peace, good will toward men," The holy child Jesus, lying in
 manager is the divine sign and proof to u
 hat all human life W hatever the worldl conditions by which it may be surround ed, is ever precious in the.eyes of the II finite Love. Everything about the Hol
 Family teaches us.thaG however humble pr however exalted our earthly estat may be, our common humanity is sanct fled and lifted up by every touch of syn
 paGhy with that which is divine and etc
 nal. The Blessed Virgin and the infar
 Saviour make us all akin to each othe and to all the family of God both 0 earth and in heaven. The child lik -pirit of the humble trusting heart now as ever the medium of heavens ricl est blessings to the care-worn children ( this world. Let the holy babe in tL maDger at Bethlehem teach us that . l poor man may he just AS near to tE