The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-22
OUR GIFTS 70 THE KING.


The Christian Endeavor topic is found
in Matthew H., 1-12, and relates to the
coming of the wise men with gifts to the
new born Savior. Who these wise men
We're, whence they came, or how God
led them to come We do not know In
genious Imaginary descriptions have
been given of them and of their meet
ing together and of their journey to
Bethlehem, guided by a star, but all
these descriptions are speculative. No
definite information has been given on
the subject, nor is it specially needed.
The fact that wise men did come from
the East to seek and to worship Christ
at His birth is enough.
The wise men gave themselves to
Christ. They gave themselves to Christ
at great sacrifice. 1t took time and
money, the endurance of hardship and
the, sacrifice of9comfort to make their
long journey to Bethlehem that they
might PROSTATE themselves before Christ
and practically offer first of all them
selves to Christ. If we have not done
SO, we should give ourselves to Christ.
Christ is our King, and the King wants
first of allsHis subjects the love of his
heart and athe conservation of his life.
All other giving to Christ is In vain
unless we first give ourselves to Him.
2. The wise men gave reverence to
Christ. We should also worship Christ
and in every way manifest our reverence
for Him: There is much irreverence in
the world today, and the spirit of our
age has invaded the realms of our relig
ious life. May it never be so of our
attitude toward our King, but may
reverence and respect always character
ize our attitude toward Him and all
that is His.
9. The wise men gave the best gifts
to Christ. They gave "gold, frank
incense and myrrh.' These were their
/ best gifts-gifts such as We're usually
given to kings. Christ wants the. best
best talents, our. best love, our best
service.
a. The wise men gave natural gifts to
Christ. They gave evidently the pro-
ducts of their own lands, for gold, frank
incense and myrrh were Eastern pro-
ducts. In other words, they gave what
they had. This is, all Christ would ex-
pect of. them and all He expects of us.
GIFTS TO THE YOUNG KING.
! The Epworth league lesson is fourd
in Matthew ii, LIP Wise men from the
East had come to acknowledge the Babe
of Bethlehem as king. They came with
gifts tso75r 4S
SIOlQETIneSe. sndRl fDrOuSHE' presents VI
princely value. They .honored Him in
their giving and were honorable in their
gifts And He had need. The flight into
Egypt and living there in a foreign land
would perhaps have been impossible, at
least most difficult, but for these
presents. So now the cause of Christ
needs our largest benefactions. Misery
goes unrelieved, sin unchecked. because
the gold needed for the service has not
been presented. Will you give of your
means as you can to help this cause?
Frankincense-Ths is incense used in
worship Bring all your inner powers Of
alteration and learn to worship. 1t is to be
feared that our intense life in seeking
gain in business and recreation OF mind
and body, after the strain of that strife,
dulls the sentiments of worship and rev.
erence until we lose the mystic sacredness
from life and all becomes common and
frivolous. You cannot afford to lose the
sanctuary from your soul.
Myrrh-That's for sorrow, symbol of
suffering-not pain for Him alone but
for US. If we are to be like Him, we
shall learn the ministry of pain and the
lessons which anguish alone each. There
is no escape from suffering in this
world The question of Importance is how
it shall be borne.
NOTABLE DAYS OF THE WEEK.
Dec. % is the fourth Sunday in Advent.
On this day the faithful pray for the
saving grace of God for the whole peo-
pie. This day is also the date of the
winter solstice, winter beginning accord
ing to calculation, at a. m. in the round
of the seasons.
Dec. % is the anniversary of the birth
in 1923 of Richard Arkwright, inventor Of
the spinning frame; also in 1906 of Joseph
Smith, the founder of the Mormons.
Dec. "a is the anniversary of the birth
of Benjamin Rush in 1745, eminent Amer
lean physician, philanthropist and author;
of Matthew Arnold in 1922, English poet
Dec. Is is Christmas, the greatest holl-
day in the Christian year. 1t is OBJ
served as the birthday of Christ, although
there is no authentic historical authority
for this particular date. 1t is observed
mere universally than any other day 10y
all the churches. 1t is legal holiday in
all of the States. 1t is also the ami
versary OF the birth in 1912, of Sir Isaac
Newton.
Dec. 26 is celebrated in the Catholic
church in honor of St. Stephen, the first
Christian martyr, who was stoned to
death. He is the patron of horses.
Dec. q is the day of ST. John, apostle
and beloved disciple, and writer of the
book of Revelation.
Dec. % is the)Iday in the Catholic
church of the Holy Innocents,' or Chill
dermas, in commenoration of the children
G hU fnI> of