The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-24
DxLY REPUBLICAN, 1893.

hSm wsrS not Tie only angels around that
night. I think there were some who In
steaA OF holding librettos Of celestial lnu.
do stood ali - and down the sleeps Of
heaven With drawn swords, keen and two
edged. That cradle must be defended.
That nt6ht into Egypt must be lowered
over by winged 0ohost. That humble
stopplns place in Cairo must bo watched
by celestial bands descending amid the
Egyptian pyramids and the sphinx which
had already stood there for ages celebrat.
ing kings none Of whom ever had such
glory as will be won BY that Prince sleep
Ing in his mothers arms under their long
shadows. Hear ii oil, 70 people-in that
babes survival our heaven was involved.
And shall we not add to our usual Christ
mas congratulation at q Saviour's birth
the joy at the babes rescue?
A Time For Joy.
Now let the Christmas table be spread.
Let it be an extension table mado up OF
the tables Of your households, and added
to them the tables of celestial festivity,
all together making a table long enough
to reach across henisphere-yea, long
enough to reach from earth to heaven.
Send out the invitations to all the guests
whom we would like to have come and
dine Como all the ransomed Of earth and
all the crowned of heaven. As at ancient
banquets the king who was to preside
came in after all the guests had taken
their places at the table, SO perhaps it may
be now. Let the old folks who sat at
either end of your Christmas table 10 or
20 or 40 years ago be seated, their aches
and pains all gone. Behold they sit down
In the exhilaration Of everlasting youth!
Come brothers and sisters who used to re-
tire with us early on Christmas eve so
that the mysteries of bestowed gifts
might be kept secret and who rose with
us early on Christmas morn 70 see what
was to be revealed. Come all the old
neighbors of our boyhood and girlhood
days who used to happen In toward the
close Of this day to wish us merry tins.
Come all the ministers Of Christ who have
in pulpits for many year been telling
the story Of the star that pointed to the
worlds first Christmas gift and at tho
same time Weakened Herod's apprellen-
sions. Gene ard sit down 70 hefafis Of
1.-THE glad tidings," whether you were
sprinkled or plunged, whether your thanks
today be offered In liturgy Of ages o.
prayers spontaneous, whether you bo
gouned In canonioals or wearing plain
GOAT of baokwoods meeting houas. Come
inl Room at this Christmas table for all
those who have bowed at the mangsr u
whatever world you now live:
Part Of the host bays eroessd the food,
And part are crossing now.
Yea, come and sit at this Christmas Ia.
bic, all heaven. AFohangel at that END Of
the table, and all tho angels under him
adjoining. Come down. Come inI And
take your places al this Christmas ban
quet. The table 10 spread. and the King
who will preside 10 about to enter He
comes--him Of Bethlehem, him Of Cal.
vary, him of Olivet him Of the thronel
Rise and greet him. FIJI all your chalicss
with the wine pressed from the heavenly
Eschol and drink at this CHI y tlnas ban
quot to the memory Of the babes rescue
from Herodio pursuit, and the memory Of
those astrono rhers Of the east who defeated
the malice and sarcasm and irony and in
fernal stratsgem Of the monsters mani
festo, go and search diligently for the
young child, and when ye have found
him, bring me word again, that / may
come and worship him also" ''Given at
the palace. Herad the Great.