The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-18

grass begins to grow again and the flowers
reappear. The severity of the
winters varies very much, and
some especially fine days oc-
cor, even in The very heart Of the colo
season. when the shepherds OF Bethlehem
would so down into the plain with their
hocks, as the Arabs do now in good sea-
son.
The gospels tell us that when the shep-
herds were surprised by the angels they
were abiding in the fields, keeping watch
over their dOcks by night The night
was always divided into three so-called
watches. The shepherds changed guards
every three hours during the short night
Of the summer and every four hours dur
ing the longer nights Of the winter. In
the latter case the first watch ended at 10
aud the second al 2, while the third lasted
al day5reak. The shepherds on guard
gathered round the camp fire while walt
Ing their turn 20 rest and it must have
been TO those thus watching that the an
ge.s appeared. They no doubt Wakened
their comrades to tell them the wonderful
news, and afterward an went together to
Bethlehem where they found and wor-
shiDed the Holy Child.
The other personages mentioned in
Scripture in connection with The birth of
Jesus are the Nagi Magi or soothsayers
are mentioned in the book of Daniel as
being in the service Of King Nebuchad-
nezzar. They studied astronomy and in
terpreted dreams. Those referred to in
the Gospels seem to have been not only
wise men. but kings. or sheiks of Chaldea,
and its neighborhOod. They, too, engaged
in the study OF the heavenly bodies and
perhaps also worshpped them, a fact
which explains the immediate attention
accorded to a sign appearing in the heav-
ems al the moment of the birth of the
Messiah. The color of their undergar-
ments, yellow. indicated their profession.
The star of Bethlehem.
WHAT was the star referred to in the sa-
cred record? There is absolutely no POSI-
tive evidence on this point. Some think
il was a comet or some other similar body;
others are Of the opinion that it was a me-
teor, resembling more or less a shooting
star, which trailed slowly along at a little
distance from the ground, so as actually
TO guide the steps of the Magi. The gos-
pei seemed to sanction the latter interpre-
tation when 1t says: The star came end
stood over where the young child was"
A star. properly so-called, would not have
indicated the spot with such precision.
Nevertheless, IL is clear that the signih-
canoe of the sign was revealed in some
way TO the Magi.
Had the travellers exchanged ideas pre-
vlous to their arrival? It is very prOba-
bic that they had No doubt their cara
vans, though they started from different
points, met beyond the Jordan on the side
Of the mountains of Maob, whence they en-
tered the promised land, still preceded by
the star.
The word house" used by the Evange-
lists to indicate the place where the Magi
found the Messiah seems to point to the
conclusion that during the journey of their
visitors from the east, Joseph and Mary
had left the cave of the Nativity for a more
comfortable dwelling.
1t is impossible to convey the ideas
aroused in the breast OF the devout Chris
ton by the sight of Bethlehem and its
sancdfied spots any better or more clearly
than in the pictures in which / have tried
to express my Interpretation Of those stir
ring scenes as they must have taken place
IL, by my pictures and book, I have been
able TO bring the Christ nearer TO the minds
and hearts of Christians Of all lands, am
more than repaid for all my labor
J. J. Tissot.