The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-29
AT EPWORfH NJ. B. CHURCH
FINE CHRISTMAS ADDRESS By
REV. MIR. HILER.
Other Services OF the Day-RendeFins
of the CantRta, the Holy Chiid-Ftne
Mnnfc-InrnA Considerations.

there was a fine Christmas sermon by
the pastor in the forenoon and a praise
service by the choir assisted by Fred
erick Berry, violinist. In the evening
the cantata, 1.-The Holy Child" was adj
mirably rendered. The music through
out the day was of high excellence, the
quartette, Miss Anna Treat, soprano;
Miss Flora B. Rawson, alto; C. A.
Morse, tenor, and F. R. Averill, bari
tone and director, acquitting them
selves to the high satisfaction of all.
The congregations were large and the
services were much enjoyed. In the
evening the pastor delivered an adj
mirable address as follows:
Merry Christmas has once mora
brought us it's greetings of love and
joy. Each year we celebrate with fes-
tive song the anniversary of the birth
of Christ and our hearts are filled with
greater cheer and gladness. The
strains which the angel choir sang to
the shepherds on the Judean plains
have. been caught up by mortal tongues
until earth and heaven are being filled
with the songs of the glad tidings of a
Savior's birth.
The alteration of the Magi who
brought their gold, frankincense and
myrrh to the cradle of our Lord is
typical of the worship of those whose
eyes have seen in vision the star that
flashed it's beams of light across the
hills of Bethlehem. We have no au-
thentic record as to the number or the
rank of the wise men who sought and
found the holy child. Numerous and
curious legends have come down
through the centuries as to these sages
of the east, and it is we'll that tradition
has kept alive the story of these sages,
be they few or many, who were guided
by heavens light to pay their tributes
of alteration to the royal child OF
Bethlehem.
Multitudes have followed and are fol-
lowing in the footsteps of these men OF
the East. To be sure they mark not
their journey by any visible star that
shines in the armament this night.
They bow before no manger cradle
that holds the babe whose face shone
with celestial glory. They offer no
earthly treasure to celebrate with fes-
tive joy the glorious coming of the
Prince Of Heaven.
The Messiah has come in the flesh
and dwelt among men but in the form
of man he lives no more. Men once
saw Him move amid the solitude of the
desert and the tumult of the city, but
His face has faded from the place of
His earthly abode. The multitudes
pressed upon Him to hear His mes
sages of joy and hope but His voice
of(admonition and entreaty is no longer
heard in all the earth. Those who met
Him on the highways of life felt the
magnetic thrill of His divine presence
but no one touches the hem of His gar
ments to-day.
Though not on earth in the likeness
of man the Son of God still lives in
human characters.
Though earth's sages are not led to
the place of His birth by the star Of
Bethlehem, the days of their pilgrim
age are frightened by the cheering
beams of the sun Of Righteousness.
Though no Magi bend the knee before
His manger cradle, they bow in spirit
before the throne of His authority
Though they present no gift of gold,
frankincense and myrrh to celebrate
His advent they give their hearts in
conservation to hasten the time of His
coronation.
DR.. Van Dyke tells a story he heard
in the Hall of Dreams. 1t is about
fourth wise man who saw the star In
the East and started in search of the
King. His name was Arteban and he
carried with him three priceless jewels
as an offering. On his way to meet the
other wise men suddenly in the dark
ness one night his horse stood STILL
Dismounting he found a man lying;
with the chill of death on him. His
heart rebelled at the thought Of delay.
But with a prayer he turned to the
sick man and ministered to his suffer-
ing during many hours. At length
when he arrived at the appointed place
the three other wise men had gone on.
He must needs now sell his first jewel
to buy a train of camels and proceed
on the Journey alone, In time he came
to Bethlehem but the man of Nazareth
had fed with the young babe and his
mother to Egypt. The soldiers of
HerOQ are Ill tie SIAeSta' at IiiS SoNiiNi
of the soldiers on their mission Of death
from the court Of Herod a mother is in
an agony of despair. With the second
Jewel Artaban persuades the captain
not to enter the house and the child's
life was spared. Then followed years
of wandering in Egypt. Though he
found none to worship, he found many
to help Thirty three years passed. He
had not forgotten his quest One jewel
only remained At least he had come
to Jerusalem worn and weary and
ready to die, but still looking for the
King. 1t was the passover season.
Multitudes are thronging the streets.
Jesus of Nazareth is being led to
Golgotha. For lifetime Artaban had
gone over sea and land in search OF
Him who was to die as a maefactor;
was he to find the Christ at last in the
hands of His enemies. He had come in
time to offer his remaining ransom. AS
he was swept along near. the Damascus
Gate, a troop Of soldiers came drag
cling a girl to be sold as a slave. She
threw herself at the feet of Artaban,
crying, 'Save ME from worse than
DEATH" Again the conflict, but he took
the pearl from his bosom and laid it in
the hand of the girl. This is thy ran
som daughter! 1t is the last of my
treasures which I had kept for the
King"