The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-25

theme, Christ, the Coming One, ana
in the evening his discourse was of
THE Angel Message" Speaking from
the former thought, Mr. Cleland said
When John was in prison and heard
of the works of Christ, he sent two of
his disciples and said to him: Art
Thou He that should come. or do we
look for another?-Matt. XII, 3.
Il have chosen this text that the
Christmas might bring the real Christ
gladstone time should not exhaust it
self alone in festivities and in gift
giving and receiving. We do welcome
it's return as a day when friendships
are cemented when the fireside is
gladdened and when old and young re-
joice together But also we should
wish that we might ponder to-day the
great coming of Christ to earth. so as
to regenerate and lift up our whole
life. We need something more than
what shops can sell and dear friends
may give. The bitterness in this life
can be sweetened only by importation
of a divine and lasting spirit. Dark
ness about us can be dispelled only by
the true light.
1.-The Baptist was in prison. AS he
languished there, awaiting death, MS
soul wrestles with the doubt. If He
can be the Christ, can He allow me,
His friend, His forerunner, to languish
apprehension. We. too have doubts;
we, too, walk in darkness; and al
| though we may have seen the dawn,
the MONDAY splendor has not yet APP
| peared. We have not yet seen the
devil in chains.
fright forever on the scaffold,
| Wrong forever on the throne.
"Christ's incarnation a mystery, yet
| a fact. There are not many of US
but have been deeply perplexed over
| the mystery that Jesus was born Of
| the Virgin Mary, and yet was one Of
| the Trune Godhead; born Of the Holy
| Ghost and of woman God and man.
| We shall not try to explain, but point
| to facts. Jesus was born of Mary and
| was human like as we are. He was
| born of the Holy Ghost and was God
| with power over municipalities and the
| kingdom of heaven and earth. At
Bethlehem His feet first touched the
| earth in the village stable; as the di-
| vine Son of God He was lifted from
earth's surface to His home on high.
| These are facts as Christ Himself
| claimed and apostolic witnesses who
| knew Him best well testified.
"A second answer to one perplexed
| as John the Baptist. is to behold the
| works of Christ. To Johns messen-
gers Christ replied: ]. Go show John
what We hear and see. The lepers are
cleansed and the deaf hear. The dead
are raised up and the poor have the
gospel preached unto them These
works of wonder are greater proof of
| geunineness than a categorical an
| swer. The great answer to the truth
| of Christs divinity is the same one
Philip gave to Nathaniel: Come and
| see The Persian magi must make a
| long desert march to where the star
| rested over manager cradle. The
| shepherds leave their flocks and go
even to Bethlehem and examine into the
| thing which has come to pass.
| Come, then, at this Christmas time
and see if there is any evidence that
| The Coming One born of the Holy
| Ghost. has set foot on this planet. Is
this the same old world it was when
the Star of Bethlehem hung over a
| darkened world? Here where the pless-
ed advent is known, Christmas carols
ring out on the air and echo among the
stars. The church bells chime and
| hallelujahs are sung in praise of His
name. Our God has been put to an
ordeal by fire. Let the God who an
| swers by hospitals, by lives redeemed.
homes frightened, men and women up
| lifted-let Him be God.
Contrast Burmah, Siam and Africa,
| where the angels son has not yet been
fully heard. with America, where Beth
| lehem's story is familiar to every child;
and then tell us If He that was to come
| mas been mere, or 90 we look Tor an
other?
Christ gives another confirmation
to the doubter. Put this Coming One
to the personal proof: The life Of
Jesus because more real when we
| know Him and have experienced His
power
Does this message we bring you to-
| day mean that the Son of Mary, Son
| of God, born in the lowly town of
Judea, can be really my guide and reli-
ance in the brisk, materialistic 18th
century? Yes! Your guide, your Sa-
vior has come and We need not look
for another. Let us be won by the
cradle as well as the cross. Oh. that
we might comprehend that the one
| thing needful to make this Christmas
| complete is to receive and accept the
Savior we delight to know! Swell the
| anthem! Chime the bells! Let the star
shine! Let gifts be poured out! Let
men rejoice and angels sing! For He
that was to come has come, and if we
receive Him we need not look for an
other. Clear the way. Make ready for
the coming of the King of Days. the
| light of the world. Give Him not the
| manager in the grotto, but prepare the
choicest room in the inn. Let Him come
into your lives; give Him your richest
| offering-that of a redeemed soul, a
| vessel fit for the Masters use"
The Rev. Mr.. Cattermole. pastor of
the Methodist Episcopal church,
preached yesterday morning a sermon
on 'WhatChristmas Means to U.s." and
three sermonettes on these themes:
THE Wise Men, THE Star" The
Angels Song" At each service speci-
ally prepared Christmas music was rem
dered by the choir, led with cornet by
Mr.. Martz. Following is an excerpt
from the sermon Of the morning.:
| What Christmas NJannS
Break forth into Joy; sing together,
We waste places of Jerusalem; for the
Lord hath comforted His people, He
hath redeemed Jerusalem. lisa lii-9.
christmas is the happiest day of all
dening of hearts, the Frightening of
homes, the scattering of good cheer and
sunshine. Who does not thank God for
Christmas? The ancient seer of Israel
was speaking of this day when he ut
tered the words. Break forth into Joy.
He caught a glimpse of the Goth cen