The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1902-04-25

II was tll44 4l NaaMdl k.itltu
that told the great Syrian warrior
where he might 20 and get cured of the
ieprosy, which at his seventh plunge
I'm the Jordan was left at the bottom
Of the river. ID was 20 the cradle Of
leaves in which a child was laid. rocked
by the Nile, that God called the atien-
ton OF history. II was sick child hat
evoked Chrisi's curative sympathies.
II was child that Christ set iu the
midst o. the squabbl'ng disciples 90
teach the lesson Of humility. 4 child
+ decided Waterloo, showing the army OF
Blucher how they could take a short
cut through the fields when II The old
road had been followed the Prusaan
general would have come mp too late
20 save the desiinios Of Europe. Itwas
a child that decided Gettysburg be-
having overheard two confederate gem
erals In conversation in which they
decided TO march for Gettysburg in-
stead Of Harrisburg. and. this reported
10 Gov. Curtin. the federal forces
started to meet their opponents az Get
tysburg. And to-day the child is 10
aecide all the great battles. make an
the laws. settle al the des'inics and
usher in the worlds salvation or de-
struction. Men. women. nations. al
earth and all Heaven. behold The child,
Notice also that IN this Bible night
scene God honored science. Who are
the three wise men lneeling before thc
Divine Infant? Not boor. not irno-
ramuses, but Caspar, Balthaser ard
Melchoir, men who knew an that was
TO be known. They were the Isaac
Newtons and Herschela and Faradavs
Of their time Their alchemy was the
forerunner OF our sublime chemistry
their astrology the mother Of our mag
nificent astronomy. And when ! see
these scientists bowing before the
beautiful Babe 7 see the prophecy of
the time when al the telescopes and
microscopes and an the Leydcn Jars
and all the electric batteries and an
the observatories and all the uriversi-
ties shall bow 70 Jesus. j. IS much that
way already. Where is the college that
does not have morning prayers. thus
bowing at the manger? Who have
been the greatest physicians? Omit
ting the names OF the living lest $50
should be invidious. have we not had
among them Christian men Ike James
Y. Simpson and Rush and Valentine
Mott and Abercrombie ard Ahcr-
nethy? Who have been our greatest
scientists? Joseph Henry. who lived
and died in the faith OF the Gospels
and Acassiz. who. standing with his
students among the hills. took off bis
hat and said: "Young gentlemen. be-
fore we study these rocks 20. ua pray
for wisdom TO the God who made the
rocks" All geology VII yet bow bee
fore the Rock OF Ages. All botany viii
yet worship the Rose OF Sharon. AT
astronomy will yet recognize the Star
Of Bethlehem.
Behold also in that frs, Ch-'-'m mas
night that God honored the fields
Come in. shepherd boys. 10 Beih'ehcm
and see the Child. "No." they say.
'we are not dressed good enough 90
come in" "Yes. you are. Come in" .
Sure enough. the storms and the night .
dew and the brambles have made rough .
work with their apparel. but none has .
a better right 10 come in. They were .
the first TO hear the music OF that .
Christmas night. The first announce .
ment Of a Saviour's birth was made 10 .
those men in the fields. There We're
wiseacres that night In Bethlehem and .
Jerusalem snoring In deed sleep. and .
there were salaried officers of govern
ment who. hearing OF II afterward.
may have thought that they ought 10
have had the first news Of such a great
event, some one dismounting from q
witt camel at their door and knock
ng tin az some sentircrs question.
'Who comes there?" the great ones ~
The palace might have been told o. 'he
Celestial arrival. No; the shepherds
ieard the first two bars Of the music.
he first in the major key and the last
n the subdued minor: "G'ory 10 God
n the highest and on earth peace. good .
viii to men," Al. yes. 'he fields were
ionored.
The old shepherds. with plaid and
'rook, have for the most part vanished I
'ut we have grazing on our United
states pasture fields and prairie about
e. 100000 sheep. and an their keepers
ught to follow the shepherds of my
ext and al those who toll in fields
n vine dressers. al orch'disfs. Oh hus-
,andmen Not only that Christmas
light, but an mp and down the worlds
history. God has been honorirr ID.
ields. Nearly all the mess'ahs Of rc-
orm and literature ard c.oquerce 800
aw and bcuevolence have come frnm
he fields Washington from the fc'C-.
jefferson from the fields. The prc-'-
ential martyrs. Garfield and Lincoln
nd Mckinley. from the fields. Henry
lay from the fields. Daniel Wehs.c-
rom the fields. Martin Luther from
he fields. Before this world is right
he overhowing populations Of our
rowded cities viii have 10 take 90 the
eds. Instead Of ten merchants in
iyalry as TO who shall sell that one ap-
'e we want AZ least eight Of them fo
o ont and raise apples. Instead often
lerchants desiring TO sell that one
ushel Of wheat. We want at least eight
Z them 10 90 out and raise wheat.
he world wants now more hard hands.
iore bronzed cheeks. more muscular