The times., 1899-12-25

Al the II o'clock service of the Metro
politan NJ E. Church yesterday morning
there was large congregation including
the President. Rev. Frank NJ. Bristol
preached a sermon upon the humanity of
mankind today as compared with the cold
ness Of heart as displayed at the time of
the birth of Christ when Mary the mother
of Jesus. was turned from the public inn
and sought refuge in the stable. The chan
ce' and rear OF the pulpit We're tastefully
decorated in greens and flowers and the
music was appropriate to the Yuletide sea
son. Dr. Bristol took for his text the
words Of Apostle ST. Luke: And there
was no room for them in the inn, ill.,.
DR.. Bristol said: There is no other his
tory in which mankind takes so much
interest as in the gospel narrative of Jesus.
We cannot, with all our admiration for the
cCnquests of Caesar and his Roman legions,
feel Our pulses quicken as when we -urn TO
these pages Of the life OF Jesus In reading
mis- life how quickly We seem to be in
the midst Of it all. We cross the hills and
wander through the streets Of the towns
and cities upon which his feet trod. We
arc in the Holy Land and seem to be q part
of it. We sit with the rabbis in the
temple as did the boy Jesus. We stroll by
the streams with the master as he reveals
his thoughts to us and in every line our
hearts warm and We are carried back
through ages 10 the time that he lived
and suffered.
1t is a history upon which all other
histories are based and without which they
could net be Wr-,tcn. 1t is strG-gely bsau-
tiful. so fun 1t is CT mystery and bsauty.
Il Cces Loc seem to be real history but a
living reality. TEz pictures which time ard
inspiration have thrown upon ttc walls Of
pos =Tity. which show so viyidly the beauty
and humbleLess of ChTist's life, remain to-
day and Let US a. this Chris. mas time bring
our prayers and pTe-e.t5 tE5m in the same
Spirit Think CT the picture. For the new
born king Jlsre w2s 10 room in the inn.
The rich slumbsring upon their couches
and the king Of mankind consigned 10 the
msuser. But had aL5cIe known in the inn
that night that the Son of God was near,
surely there would have been one 10 give
him place
we yct worship position. The tired
scsnstress Is allowed 10 stand in The
crowded ssreet car. but lst the society belle
en-er and there is always place offered her.
So tEs mother OF Jesus krocked at the door
Of tee inn. ard was s5rt 10 the stable.
The first great sin. TIE oIly great sin OF
humanity was revealed az the birth OF
Christ VIXEN tte human heart was SO lost
10 all sense OF shame thSt E5t C1'5 Offered
Mary a robe Iheir hearts were indeed hard.
II that poor mother hal fallen or tns door
step Of the wealthy, would she have received
any better tr5atn-el. than at the inn
d.. sF,n rrfr Of r.. s-rr md
tie rich OF the palaces WzIs TIE same IA
heart
Glory to God and good viii toward men
is the teaching Of Christ and there is no
better religion 10 follow than these words
Glory 10 God is not enough good viii to-
ward men is not enough, but together they
form the bright wings which rise in the
hearts Of men today. Good will, kindness,
m4uliness, womanliness, were needed at
that time and are today found in the hearts
OF the disciples Of Christ. Thousands of
homes are opened to Christ today. and
needy womanhood would not be driven
from the door and sent to the stable. The
true religion is that which opens the heart
OF man 20 God, and by so doing opens to
humanity. Everything that is good and
divine comes with the coming of Christ in
the heart. Today there is room in the
business world, in politics in the homes.
in the churches. and in our nationalism for
God and humanity al the same time. One
OF The most profound and blessed lessons
is the love Of man for man.
The sole necessity Of earth and heaven
is love and humanity. To crowd these out
is 10 crowd out Jesus. Where man has
closed his heart 10 love and humanity he
has closed il TO the skies. 10 the divinity,
and 10 tho heart. Christ knows as you
treat your brother man and sister woman,
so you viii treat him. Lei rs be human.
Let there be room in our hearts for the
poor. Remember the sick and the halt
and the blind. and TO all who need a kind
hand or cheerful word give il them.
Let heaven and earth come near together
once more in the love and brotherhood OF
Christ at this glorious Christmas time.
and let the glory to God and good viii
toward men be ever present.