The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-26


vested choir sang special music under
the direction of Organist ]. Willis Con-
ant The offering was for the aged and
infirm clergy. The musical programme
was as follows:
Professional. Hymn co. angels from
the Realms of Glory" ..........:. smart
Venite Observation-Disclosures. Anglican
Proper Psalms. .......................l9,4 45. So
Te Deum in D........................ Hodges
Benedictus in b tbl.. Williams
lntroit. "'Tis the Birthday. "........ Vincent
kyrie :::;:.......'....'...''. .Bennett
Gloria Tlbl.. ..................:.: Benhett
Hymn. No. ~. Adeste Fideles
Oifertory.. Behold l Bring" ...... .Barnby
Sursum Corda'' a''.''...'.....''..''.'';;b ;bsnnett
Communion Hymn, "Agnus Dei' Bennett
Ressssicnai. Hymn =, "Hark, ihs Hsr.
The birth of the Messiah was beauti-
fully described by Mr.. Israel as follows:
Men We're expecting savior. The eyes
of the mystic. dreamy East. retrospective
in all its tendencies, looked for this
Savior to be evolved from meditation.
gazed upon the growing light of the shiki-
ma year after year. and in keeping of the
law. demanded of God a realization of His
promises.
Hopes Were High and Lougines Profound.
This Savior no one seemed to compre-
his person or his work. authoritatively
Everyone had a vision, Il theory, want
which he hoped would be supplied. None
| dreamed of the Son Of God In human
| form, but hopes were high and longings
profound.
The fulness of time. as God only could
know, was come. The holy night Is at
| hand: all creation. animate and inani-
| mate. breathes expectancy. The hush OF
| myriad life intensties as time and etern-
| ity are merged into one. Matter and spirit
| appear entranced in sudden sleep in which
| visions of radiant brightness. of hope of
| life, sweep in glorious order. marshaled
| in dreamland and led forth by the prophe-
cies and longings of the ages.
Heavens gates are opened and minister
| ing spirits. messengers and servants of
| the Most High, singers and musicians of
| His court, hurry forth. Legions of spiri-
tual creations crowd the battlements and
| towers of heaven, and throng Its golden
streets. Upon wings of swiftness akin to
rays of light, special ministers go forth
and hover closer and get closer to the
earth.
All eyes are fixed upon the little town of
| Bethlehem, nesting amid its protecting
hills. A woman's weary eyes await the
triumph of her agony. A moment of the
most intense quiet on earth and In heaven,
amid the starry worlds and then there
| rang from a myriad sweetest voices In
heaven, on earth. and through all the
| glistening universe. song of holiest
melody which flooded earth and air and
paradise with the glorious words, Peace
peace. peace on earth to men of good will. y
All heaven is awake. Suddenly from out
the starry depths of infinite space a song
of everlasting joy breaks upon the sleep
ing earth. But few of human birth are
| privileged by spiritual life to await the
heavenly heralds' song and hear the words
| of holy promise.
Heaven at Last Had Opened.
A mother clasping her heaven-born in
FAINT to her throbbing heart, while memory
and thought are busy with angelic vista.
tion, wonderful divine communication and
gifts of prophecy and light; a father YET
struggling between Joy and sorrow, faith
and doubt. scarce realizing the majesty
and momentOus character of the events
transacted before his astOnished gaze: q
few humble men watching their flock;
and ministering to new born lambs, fl EN-
blems of the gentleness and love which
made of this the night of all nights to the
earth born creatures of time. After many
weary cycles heaven had opened and ir
prophetic fulflment the long expected
Messiah had come to earth.
Today the advent Is long passed and tht
second advent apparently afar off. Fai:f
has grown cold. Enthusiasm burns low
Love is turned into other channels. anG
many. while knowing the Lord in theory
are not impressed with the reality of His
presence by personal, heartfelt, unques
tionable experience. And so we keep the
feast as a continual reminder of our deal
Lords presence on earth In His body the
church. and in every earnest. human
Christian heart. For though faith, enthu
siasm, love he not what they were, there
is the general acknowledgment. in every
thoughtful breast. Of the power and pur
pose of the Incarnate God. And while ir
the present this. like the infant Jesus, ma!
be weak and HELPLESS. 1t needs but the
nOur,shment of the word and the spiri
to grow into absunding power for good
This same Jesus. whose birth we cele
brate todav might have renal ined in tho
glory which He had with the Father from
the heginnng. IF 50. our reioicings today
would be drowned by sorrows and hone
less cries. DesDair would now hang like
a pail upon tho human race. With no hnD'
of a renewed life, no wish for immortality
| no desire for purity and no model Of hu
man perfection. earth would he pande
monium, and horrid visaged vice woult
| sway the hearts and minds and bodies o.
races to deepest degradation.
Bccamc tho Son Of Man.
Thus the Son of God became the Son O.
Man-the word was made flesh "and Goo
and man were no longer two, but ont
Christ" We carnot Over-estimate thu
importance Of this union. Henceforti
provided bv which he might receive GOt
into himself and az the temple or resi-
! dence of God, have his own nature mad
Godlike-become. in fnct, n partaker q
typical eyceptional man th"t might ac
| complish this. hut every individual man
| Our Lords invitations were extended I,
everyone. "To everyone that .thirsteth
} Come unto me all ye that labor and al
, heavv laden"
Ard &c we gather TODAY at the commun
ion table in commemoratior Of the deaf
Of our Lord. we thereby celebrate the Tn
carnation as seen In the babe of Rethle
hem and may rejoice in that though bor,
| 10 sorrow end suffering ard 1aath as wa
the infant Jesus. we ave oil like Hir, an
through Him looking forward to A iovfu
| resurrection at the cncnOd advent Svhar
rnhorpered bv orr imperfertions and in
f~n''tier Tie shall annear in glory witt
on the to'v angels ard wn shall he witt
Hi", and like unto Him in our glorife