Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-12-30


kingdom of heaven, he took a child and
said, "Ofsuch is the Kingdom of Heaven"
From that day the conception of childhood
has been changed, and children are loved,
cherished and cared for as never before.
Christianity as yet only in part appreciates
its duty. Kindergartens, and all wise
work for the children should be earnestly
carried on in Christs name.
Under the leadership of the Christ child
the character of religion has been changed.
Its basis is no longer fear, but love. Its
expression is no longer that of torture and
mutilation but intelligent, prayerful, UNI
selfish living. The Christ child has chang
ed the ideal of true craftsmanship, by
showing to us that above party, and coun-
try, is the coming kingdom, for which all
true craftsmanship will plan, that "He
may reign, whose right it is to reign"
He has written the word duty on the
national conscience. Duty and the love of
humanity-these are the great forces
which are to give America the foremost
place among nations.
The Christ child has changed the litera-
ture of the world, by gradually purifying
it, by pouring into it his divine revelation,
which in turn has inspired innumerable
writings of faith, love and hope. Finally
the Christ child has led the way to the
Fathers house. 81 go to prepare place
for you" Glorious words of light and
Immortality are these, to comfort the af-
flicted, to make strong the weak and timid.
Yonder he stands to welcome all who have
served him worthily, and to greet them
with the Come We beloved of my Father"
And such things as he has in store for his
| loved ones, one might well die TO see. So
let us today, and always, worship the
Christ with all our hearts. The platform,
| pulpit and choir gallery were handsomely
decorated with hemlock branches and
southern moss. The children gave an eX-
cellent concert at o'clock Sunday after
noon, which was largely attended, as were
also the exercises at the Christmas tree
! Saturday afternoon.
The Methodist Church.
Mr.. Beeman took as his text the follow
ing from Isaiah: "For unto us a child is
born, unto us a son is given and the gov
eminent shall be upon his shoulders and
his name shall be called Wonderful, Coun-
cilor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting
Father, the Prince of Peace He said in
part:
This prophecy in regard to the birth of
Christ was uttered 742 years before his
birth. 1t speaks of the birth of Christ as
if it had already taken place There are
many prophecies in regard to the birth of
Christ when he should come and where
he should be born. These were literally
fulfilled when Christ was born in Bethle-
hem of Judea. When the disciples were
troubled with doubts he took the scripture
which they had land beginning at Moses
and all the prophets he expounded unto
them in all the scriptures of things con-
corning himself" "And he said unto them
These are the words which / spake unto
you while l was yet with you that all
things must be fulfilled which were writ
ten in the law of Moses and in the proph-
cts and in the sons concerning me.
While the shepherds watched their flocks
at night the angel of the Lord came down
and announced to them the birth of Christ
at Bethlehem of Judea There the shep-
herds found Joseph, Mary and the child,
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a
manger. Wise men from the East, guided
by the star, came and laid at his feet gold,
frankincense and myrrh. God in some
way made known to the wise men that
Christ was born, and by the star guided
them to the place. In this way and by
the herald angel God made known to the
world the birth of his son, who is the re-
deemer and saviour of the world. In him
was united the human and divine nature.
He was the son of man and the son OF
God. As the son of man he lived as a
man as the son of God he was worshipped,
for God said "Let all the angels of heaven
worship him." BY him were all things
created and without him was not anything
: made that was made. He came as the re-
deemer and saviour of lost men: he came
, as the saviour and redeemer of a LOST
world. "For God sent not his son to con
denim the world, but that the world through
him might be saved. There is one God
and one Mediator between God and men
The man Christ Jesus who gave himself g
ransom for all"
Paul exclaims, "Thanks be unto Goo
} for his unspeakable gift" May we gladl!
receive the great gift of God to man as w
7 receive Christmas gifts from our friends.
e No special service was held Sunday eve
ming but on Monday evening the children
, of the Sunday school had their Christina
l tree and celebration. A short cantata wa
; produced in which different members o
| the school took part, and a number of tn
g younger children recited and sang.
= Christmas Sermon by Rev. e. q. S. Os
a good.
$ The life of Jesus of Nazareth was no I'm
4 real life. Devout aspiration, CLOWN
s fancy, every poetic instinct, may some
! times color it with hues not its own, ma
; idealize it, may transfgure it. But it wa
!, real life after all, lived in a sorrow-laden
y Sustained community, among tried an
# tempted men. 1t had its birth, its child
i hood, its dawning youth, its manhood, it
e closing hours, its death. "Peace on earth
e good will to men," is the burden of tn
h angel song, which ushers in the glad Christ
e mastde. Yet with what rare grace
|, these two words, 'peace" and "good will
Is typify the bonds of love by which tn
IS Master would fain have been united to hi
n fellow men.
?. Christ, however, though living a mortf
If life among men, was ever conscious of tn
N divine presence. His soul was with tn
n spirit that is eternal and omniscient. A!
l. pirations for higher service and the heart
,e tenderest pleadings for that "peace whic
" passeth understanding, found their con
Re plete answer only as the Fathers natuI
h became clearly revealed. While, in exaC
4 proportion as he believed he was carryin
If out Gods purposes in the world, did ths
d sense of nearness to the Almighty al
or proach perfection, until at last the exalte
cry of Jesus was, 81 and my Father al
ID one." The Master appears to have taugl
4. his disciples, as if knowing all the tin
T. that another, mightier than he, was in
i, parting the inspiration and disclosing IL
4 fitting word. The sick he healed becsul
a. of God working with him. The sorrowfu
LII h.