The herald., 1897-12-27
Birth Of Christ a Type of
AlIegory
GIFTS AND GOOD INTENTIONS
CHRISTMAS GIVING GRACED
WITH GOOD WILL
Addresses Appropriate to the Day and
the season-Peace on Earth, Good
Will Toward Men

At the Unity church yesterday morn
ing Rev. c. W. Wendte said:
Rational Christians no longer ac-
cept the birth stories of Jesus as literal
fact and history A careful study of the
Bible itself shows that they are not such
and were never intended to be taken as
actual happenings in his life, much less
as dogma. We believe these stories to
be of later origin dating from about a
hundred years after Christ's death,
when the tendency to exalt and glorify
him as divine and supernatural person
was already in full headway. But while
not the record of actual occurrences they
have their significance and beauty and
permanent value. 1t would be a great
misfortune for Christendom to lose in
terest in them altogether. A reverent
rationalism will see in them rather the
beautiful and touching creations of the
inspired imagination and loving heart
of the early Christians, as expressing
their JOY and gratitude at the advent of
Jesus in the language of poetry and
symbol.
I'm the guise of type and allegory these
birth stories convey profound spiritual
truths. Under the night heavens Of
Judea the simple shepherds tend their
ffocks This symbolizes the dark pail of
ignorance and unbelief which rested up
on the world in that day, and expresses
the profoundly significant truth that the
gospel of deliverance was first revealed,
not to the high placed, wise and mighty
of earth, but to simple and lowly hearts,
to men of peaceful vocation and kindly
spirit.
when we read that the heavens were
opened and angelic voices made the glad
announcement of Saviours birth, we
understand the deeper meaning of the
sacred writer to be that heaven rejoiced
with earth over the advent of redeem
er and leader of mankind. The rude
surroundings Of the nativity, the manger
bed, set forth the familiarity Of the
Christ from his very birth with poverty
and privation. The meek-eyed cattle are
expressive of the sympathy Of the
animal creation. The tender mother,
bending over the child, Is henceforth and
forever type of all motherly affection
and care.
''The Magi from the east, led by the
mystic star of the heather astrology-
how evident by this is an allegorical
representation of the homage the pagan
religions were to pay to the new born
and Christian faith. The series of pic
lures ends with the graphic representa-
tion Of aged Simeon in tho temple the
type Of Israel's prophetic hope, recog-
nizing In the infant Jesus the long-ex-
pected Messiah Of his people, and sing
ing his swan song Of gratitude and Joy.
How plainly this also Is symbolic ex-
preston of the providential succession
Of the Christ and Christianity to the
Jewish church and religion! All this is
not history, is not doctrine, was never
intended to be such. 1t is sacred allie
CORY, poem to adorn and glorify the
birth OF Jesus and the advent Of the
Christian religion in the world.
''As such it Is singularly and endur-
ingly beautiful. 1t has been the inspir-
alton of art and song. Every child's
heart loves it. 1t appeals to the child
heart in us. We appreciate these tender
and beautiful stories the more when we
surrender them as actual fact and his
tory and accept them as symbol and
poetry"