The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-28

Christmas services were tho order OF
tho day yesterday morning Mt the Sec
ond Presbyterian church and the audi
torium was comfortably tilcd. An
appropriate sermon WIS delivered by
the pastor, Rev. Joseph Spccrs, aud the
!, musical programme. M printed IN Fri
days IntclllGrnCcr, was rendered. The
choir, under the able direction OF Prof.
Hartman. did themselves great credit.
Special mention must be made Of the
solo, GLORY to the Lord" by Mrs.
George b, Caldwell, sopmno. and the
rendition OF Gouuod's "Nusaret," hy
MIR. Charles Hulaur. Professor Hart
man otilcIatcd at the organ
"The Redecmcr Christ" was the sub
icct OF the pastors sermon aud his
text was taken from Matthew H.:
Where Is lie that Is born King OF the
Jews, for We have seen his star IN the
east and have come tn Worship HIM"
LAll the promises OF God. and propho-
Cies OF His servants concerning the
worlds RedCcmer was fulfilled In Jesus
Christ. The word was made flesh and
dwelt among men" The uncertain WAS
made certain. The awful God; the DIS
tant potentatc IL made manifest In 4
little child, without In the least de-
tracing from His majesty and Omnin-
0tcncc.
The birth OF Christ IA familiar to YOU
oil and especially does It come home to
our hearts At this season % the year.
the season NJ JOY and Sladncsr. and tar
he Il tr1m me To mar the brightness OF
this festive time by any CrCwSomc tale
OF narrowing diStreSs,yc 1t will be well
to remember the Christmas tide brings
It's sornows as well ms les Joys.
To some the merry ChriEn0s and
happy New Year. Is the opening OF tho
wounds of sorrow not tullr closed, I;
brings 20 remembrance the vacant
chair NJ the family Reunion and there
wells UP the tear and the sigh We have
oil experienced this and It Is we'll for
MS that we do. for II draws US nearer
10 Jesus and Fen tho 1t be- cross"
It Is a blessing In mercy Tivcn guide
posts between oar enrih and Heaven.
The Lord Jesus Christ whose birth
we celebrate. WAS I man OF sorrow and
acquainted with grief. yet His advent
and the gospel ~ wood news which he
brought. Is a gospel. not OF sorrow, bur
OF joy While h" was i man nf sorrow,
1t, was on account Of the suffering ot
the world. The whole creation was
EroaninS and Travelling in pain. and
he came with healing To-: the nations.
~ Chri,ts Coming.
His coming had been looked to for
LOO years. SaGss and prophets had
foretold II. and when the fulIness Vt
time was come. God sent Ills Son into
the world "a bring peace on earth and
good will between mcn."
His advent WAS marked by Srandn.
aad more lasting display than that
which has recorded the birth OF any
of earth'S mOrarchs.
II was quiet. yet d"'nnnstralIvc.w while
there WAS M booming uf cannon. dis
play OF ilrcWurks.or fan fans " ,Tount-
cd hcralds through the streets and
country. Announcing Ills hi-th There
was a brightness which Sh0lc tarnuGh
the d5rkncSa. and SuidrG the wise men
from distant Lands to thr city AMI the
palace. and an TO the Khan. where the
yuuIIg chIlL lay. and their going about
{ earnestly cnQuirinS Where Is He thar
Is born king OF the Jews. for we have
seen His star in the east and have
come 10 Worship him. aroused as
much interest rs Il 1t had been an
bounced from th" Palace gates.
TAe adyen: OF Jesus Christ is the
event OF history. unnuti-cd except hV
tho few shepherds who were awakened
and alarmed. by The ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of
the Angelic messenger. that the incar-
nation OF the Son u; God had taken
place. and Immediately She whole
Heayens rang with the IIallciujah
chorus OF til" angels nf Cod. Peace
ION Earth. Coed WIN 20 Men" yet the
echoes OF the chorus has scarcely died
all the land weeping and waiting. "Ra-
chaei weeping FOR her children and
would not he COmf0rted. and choral
song and bitter wall have ever been
linked together. evn mt the Christmas
time
The old story cannot be improved
upon, as Il Is told By the writers Of tn.
gospel, we can stretch the imagination
and surround the birth OF nu" lord by
legend and story, COR fancy can paint
fantastic pictures or Cow-shcd and low
z j. oxen standing around the cradle Of
our Lord. We look upon the work OF
The masters Of art, We gaze nt tn" can.
vas on which Is painted group Of
lalf-clad shepherds lCauiug on their
slaves, blank wonder ON their fncc,
and fear In their hearts, gazing upon
IL little baby lying in its mothers lap,
yet We do not get II comprehensive
view OF the c"cni-
We need another piciur'. that of thc
wise men kncclnS in a!5rai ion pre-
scntlnG their homage and gifts
Coming OF the Wise Men.
s .T;le coming Of thcsc mcu attracted
attention for they crrulrri Al the city
gale and couct yard. on the street and
at the sanhcdrin. where Is He that
( Is horn King ut the .1cws? We have
seen his star In thc cast and are come
10 worship him; who IS to be- the glory
~ Israel" But lS"HCl knew not her
King, gross spiritual darkness rnvrl-
oped the people and Srw knew or cared
anything about his coming. There wax
an Intense caIncsiucss about these
men. They were rchufrrd and jrcrcd
AT, MS fools, but they were determined
20 find the Lord. md when the guiding
star stood over The place where the
young child lay. Il triumphant Joy
filled their anuls. They found the young
child and His mother and when they
had fcHSiCd their eyes. they fell down
and wOrshippcd Him. II was no ,ncrc
realistic service. no formal gcnuilcctlon
which hOd become u habit from con-
tinual practice. Il WAY spontaneous
NbulDhiht III HlH''i' N'lNHlF HWu WI
shipping Him their hearts grew tender
aud they gave gifts unto the Young
child. yet not all She gold and frank
nisCencc and myrh was 80 acceptable
as the honest heart worship IS the
Blessed God for Ills lmspcnkablc gift
ito the world.
Z All honest, cnrnc5t worship Is moro
acceptable 10 God than al the formal
sities that man can Offer. VIC can offer
sau eye service 20 tho lord, but hns
such n service ever been nble to bring
true joy. peace ana happiness 10 the
sgolIlY | delight tD wOrghln the Lord I'm