The Portland daily press., 1897-12-27
AT STATE STREET CHURCH.
The Christmas Sermon of the Rev. Dr.
Jenkins,

| SURETY ClurCu s1tbuTudy AuoInAne -
O'Clock, and the spacious sanctuary was
filed and most appropriately Decorated
for the occasion. Banked up against
the chancel rails was large mass OF
ferns and green with two large evergreen
trees in the back ground. while from a
point high above the altar, festoons OF
leaves were carried around the gallery to
the large railing on front of the organ
and also entwined the pillows beneath.
The pastor, Rev. J. Il. Jenkins, ID. D.,
oficiated and preached very effective
sermon, taking his text from Luke, chap
ter 2:15: "Let us now go even unto
Bethlehem and see this thing which Ia
come to pass which the Lord hath made
known to us. !"
At the outset DR.. Jenkins referred to
the visit of the angels to the shepherds,
and thought it not a matter of surprise
that it caused wondernent, for men are
not so accustomed to angels as not to be
considerably discomposed by visit from
them and cited the Cases of Gideon,
| Daniel and Cornelius. the Roman centu-
sion, who looked upon the angels and
were afraid.
| shepherds from the fields to the City Of
David, and the haste with which they
| travelled. If there was ever an occasion
for haste, this was one. When an angel
speaks, his message is presumably i'm
portant and should be attended to at once.
| Let an angels message relate to SUI
preme human interest and it would be
investigated at tbs earliest practicable
moment. Hence it is mark Of truth on
the record that the Shepherds of Bethle-
hem were in haste to find out whether or
not what the angel said was true. And
what did they find? More than the angel
said they vocabulary and Joseph and a
babe lying in manger.
| The speaker then made mention of the
tradition, old as the time of st. jerome,
who lived at Bethlehem the last of the
| third century, which reports that in the
place where Jesus was born were an OK
and an ass. For thousand years-from
600 A. d. to 1600-there was never re-
presentation Of the nativity without the
OK and the ass. tradition of such en-
durance either stands for fact or is con
sistent with facts. The tradition has
consistency and deeper appropriateness
is discovered in their presence in the birth
place of Jesus. In some of the earliest
pictures the animals kneel confessing
the Lord, and thus fulfilling the prophe-
oy of Isaiah, "The beasts eff the field
shall honor me.' The OK has been in
terpreted as a symbol for the Jews, and
the ass for the Gentiles. Another interpre-
tation has been suggested by woman,
| who writes: 81 confess satisfaction in
deep, beautiful sentiment in it" The
| whole creation groaned, and if one part
| morethan another, the poor dumb beasts
who bore mems burdens in town and
| field. They had a right to welcome the
Great Deliverer who comes to set at liher-
ty the bruised and to inaugurate reign
of universal gentleness.
It was a wonderful story which the
shepherds of Bethlehem had to tell, and
they returned to their focks clarifying
and pralsing God. Some wonder at 1t.
A strange, strange story quite passing be-
lief, but its beauty dawns upon men as it
has during centuries for painters and
poets, but they only wonder STILL Earnest
deyout men hear it, wonder at it and
ponder upon it. Others accept the story
as true. glorify and praise God.
Let the story forever be wonderful.
We're men ever harmed greatly by Won
dering? In our prosaic, material age
when everything is reduced to what is or
binary, when it Is a mans boast that he
was never surprised, when miracles are
denied and the supernatural forced from
human recognition. it is we'll to rehearse
tho wonderful story of the birth Of Jesus.
| Let no number of cares keep US from
keeping the shepherds story in our
hearts and from bordering it.
| Let Us think of the wonderful story
mora than once year. Thanks be unto
God for his unspeakablo Gift. He has
visited US. The Day Star from on high
has shone upon us. The promises are
kept fulfilled. The prophecies fulfilled.
| A Son Is born. The desire of all nations
is come. Let US express our JOY in every
fit way, I'LL our homes and our streets
with every token of gladness, put good
wishes upon all lips, charity in all hearts
Do what has been done for centuries.
beautify the Lords house with the pine
and the fern and fill the cities with
praise.
The music was well selected and grand
" rendered. The regular full choir was
assisted by Mrs. White, Mrs. Fellows
Miss King, DR.. Nickerson, Mr.. Hall and
| Mr. Kimball A most notable mum Der
was Max Vogriohs anthem, There were
Shepherds and Mr.. Murrays organ
numbers were Lemmens's "March Move
mont, !" NOEL by Dubois, and Gull,
mapt's Christmas Hymns" all of
which were executed in his usual artistic
manner.