The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
WHEN THE STAR sHONE.
'Twas the Signal for Bethlehem's
First Christmas.

First Christmas.
Two thousand years ago, less four,
witnessed one of the most remarkable
epochs ever known to secu!ar history,
and the most remarkable period. OF
which spiritual man has ever con.
ceived From the secular, standpoint
these are the conditions: The mighty
empire of Rome, which had as it's CEN
ter the single city standing on the
Tiber, had planned for years the con.
quest Of the earth, and of this time
had so far succeeded that she sat
among her seven hills practically mis-
tress Of the world. The adventurous
Julius Caesar. had lived his day and
passed away, and in his place sat Au.
gustus, patron Of the arts, and gifted
with an executive capacity well suited
to control the empire which had been
created. From Rome, IS veritable
hub, spokes OF granite roads, built to
convey armies, radiated to quell any
insurrection that might threaten the
welfare of the imperial domain.
Each department of the Government
was organized and directed by the
Emperor himself, and this is import
ant because it was by the decree of
Augustus himself that the prophets.
words were verified and the Christ
born in the,town of David. The cir.
cumstances were these: By en- official
order census of the territory OF Pal
estine was called for. .4and to that end
from every part Of the province the
inhabitants betook themselves. accord
ing to the Jewish custom. to the town
from which they claimed their origin.
From Nazareth in the north to
Bethlehem in the south was long
journey, eighty miles over wintry
roads and up and down the hills OF
the rolling country. But Joseph, who
was as good subject as he was He
brew, obeyed the command and start
ed for the city OF David at the bid
ding. The first stop was probably at
The house of Chimhsm at Beeroth,
which is fifteen miles from Nazareth,
where, 1000 years before, Ruth CLEANED
for Boaz and where Jesse and David
had rested. The remainder: of the
journey was made by. easy stages the
humble couple stopping to rest at
such quarters as their means could
afford. .a:@
They arrived in Bethlehem in the
afternoon and found the little city
crowded with host Of people bound
on mission similar to their own.
Every caravansary was filed. The
very streets were thronged with peo-
pie seeking accommodation, and after
repeated efforts to obtain quarters in
the city proper, which numbered at
that time only about 5000 inhabitants,
and was, therefore, unprepared
for any emergency of this sort, the
footsoTe wanderers struck out into the
country. After travelling about mile
they found the little khan, which is
now known as the chapel of the
Nativity and where silver star set
in white metal, with sixteen ever
burning lamps, commemorates the
mightiest fact in the story OF the
human race. The motto which these
lamps illuminate reads: 'Hic de vir-
gine Maria Jesus Christus natus est. "
The little inn which was thus des-
sined to be famous over the round
world was set in hollow over which
waved the branches Of an olive grove.
It was built around court whose
open sides, cut in the limestone rock.
were .designed for the, stabling OF
horses and cattle which belonged TO
the guests who patronized the estab-
lishment. The roUms in that tavern
were all bespoken, and the sole place
of shelter left to the travellers was one
of these cell.like apartments, in which
there was neither couch, table nor
chair.
It was understood that any guests
who would accept these lowly quarters
should provide their own bit OF carpet
as protection against the damp and
would be content and satisfied with
the bundle of straw which served as o
bed. These were the surroundings OF
the Virgin Mother on the night OF the
advent Of the Son of God.