Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-12-24
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE. DID,,
y Pastor of Jefferson Park Presby.
terinn Church. Chicago

Chicago, Dec 20--In this sermon the
story of the magis quest receives Il
new setting and the lesson of Chris.
tian hope and cncouru cement is drawn
from their experience. The text is
Matthew ii, l, Behold, there came
wise men from the east.'
When, in 096 \. d.. St Augustine
was sent to convert the British isles to
christianity, Pope Gregory commanded
his missionary as far as possible to
harmonic the Christian ordinances
with the heather feasts. The result is
that many of the customs associated
with Christmas have their origin not
in the birth of Christ but in heather
festivities. 1t is my purpose today to
tell the simple Christian story, ms found
In the Bible, and to apply some of its
bcneficent teachings to the practicali-
ties of everyday life.
The account of Christs birth is not
only simply told, but very briefly told.
Some of us arc apt To think too briefly.
We would like to have known all the
details Of that wondrous event which
is destined to transform the world We
deplore the loss of any fact relating to
our Lord. But the historians would
not have us concern ourselves with the
accessories Of the picture, but with that
glorious life and death in which orr
eternal destiny is bound up. They
briefly state the main facts and proceed
to the narrative so momentous to the
whole world.
\ few years ago n southern corre-
spondent hurried to the telegraph office
and sent this message to the editor of
great New York daily: Fearful rail-
road accident. Many killed, Many in
iurod, Column story, Shall l send it!'
The New York editor telceraphed back,
"Scnd NE 600 VOrds-al | want" The
correspondent teleEraphed again. Can
not he told in less than 1900" The cdi-
tor tcrsely replied: STORY of the crca-
ton of the world told in 900 words.
Try it," But if the story of the crea-
tlon is told in GOO words the story of
the nativity is even more simply and
briefly told. The account of Jesus
birth is about as simply told as the rec
ord of her babys advent which Il fond
mother writes in the family Bible.
"Gcrtrlde, or Jane, or Mary; born June
3. 1883 dozen verses i'll all more
than contain the simple story of
Christ's birth The second chapter of
Matthew's gospel runs like this: Now.
when Jesus was born, in the days of
Hcrod the king" In the east they did
not reckon time SO much by the year as
by the time this or that king sat upon
his throne.
The Magi Defined.
Then this simple account of the ma
tvity goes Il step further. The birth
of Christ is connected with a startling
Incident. The name of Peregrine.Whitc
is never mentioned but the explanatory
statement is also made that she was
born on the MayhoWcr when the pill
grim fathers were on their journey TO
live in a new world" Chrst's birth is
hardly over mentioned without an as
sociate statement When Jesus was
boru that was the year the wise men
came from the east, saying, "Wherc is
he that is born King of the Jews, for
we have seen his star in the east aud
are come to worship him." The magi
have been the theme for many an art
ist's hrush uo,i's song nc we'll rs min
tster's sermon If i'm tho short account
of the nativity if was iuportant enough
IA note th,, visit of those wisn mon
surely if will not be wasted time for
us i'm - Christmas DISCOURSE 10 coreid.
or who We're the wise men, from
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