The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-18

3& lNTISODUCElON.-- Turul sig pOpu-
letlon Of ancient italy, In the month Of
December celebrated n festival, called
saturnalla, whose origin was ascrlbed
to the gods. AT first It was a kind Of
harvest homo OCCASION, not unlike our
THANKSGIVING Under Under tho e.n ,[.e,,1rs
began about the 10th and continued Il
week, during which all business was s,is.a
rundc1 social distinction was forgotten,
crowds Of people pressed along tho thor.
urphfares, presents were exchanged, ana
revelry was in tho houses, and all classes
made merry. In the second Christian
century tho Bishop Of Rome instituted
movable feast In commemoration OF inc
birth Of Christ. Tho Eastern churc mes
observed 1t In April and May In the
fourth century, after due consideration,
Inc festival OF the nativity was liked
on tho 25tl Of December 1t has been
thought by some that this was done TO
dIsplace the heather observances above
mentioned. Whether designed Or not i
he'd that effect. For many centuries
tho rejoicing at this time Of tho year
Illus been tempered BY thoughts Of the ad-
,cnt. The lesson Of the day covers
Incidents connected with that advent. u
VISITORS records the visit OF
the shepherds on the morning after the
birth and tho presentation In the tenn
LID at Jerrsalem. Joseph and Mary must
fave returned to Bethlehem. perhaps to
complete the listing ordered by Caesar
duke 5ii:1). While there other visitors
cnrne from the east. probably from the
ancient home Of Abraham (Gen',. x:2o):
They were called wise men, class OF
whom like the, friends of Job, devoted
themselves to the study Of philosophy
and religion. BY many, It Is believed that
they had access to the prophetic writ
ings Of Israel. which. BY the captivity,
had been extensively distributed among
the learned. There was general ex-
pectation throughout the world that an
Important parsonage was about 70 ap''
pear. These wise men had seen star,
hIchi they had INTERPRETED Us an omen
Of the birth OF a king. They came, there
Fare to Jerusalem the capital of the
nation, supposing that the infant Prince
would be known among those In author
|. lfy. Their purpose was praise worthy
| RI was no idle curiosity neither spirit or
@enmity that brought them they desired
simply! to pay their homage. In this they
may have been moved by the good spirit
Of God. (. NJ ea
ANxlETY.-Th appearance OF these
men iii Jerusalem, their statement Of
what they had seen before they left
homo. their question and declared pur-
rose, caused no small connection. Herod
was greatly troubled. An Edomlte by
descent, a proselyte3 to the jewish reli-
gion, he had come To- the throne by war
and bloodshed.. Ambitious and cruel, he
feared a rival. but probably knew new some sry
tling Of the old -time predictions OF the
Messiah The groyals family especially
| the sons who would succeed this monster,
would share & hlsb. anxl ety., T hey would
NATURALLY .commupieate their Thoughts to
i sutordlnates IN the public service. and
| the feeling ,of. Insecurity would naturally
parvade all official circles. It Is possible
| That the church party and the people
would he divided Pious souls there were.
|uaiting praycrfully for the promised one,
land many were weary of Roman rule.
! nut on the other hand, partly because
l,of honor and emolument, many desired
/ to retain 1.-THE existing order, quite con-
|tent to be under the rule of Caesar. (John,
4 Slx:1o,) The discussions resulting from
/ This diversity of opinion and Interest
would add to the general excitement
1 until the theme would be on every lip;
sCOuNSEL-wicked thoughts and plr-
for the execution Of which he needed full
.er in formatio Where Is this child, the
prospective king? He is not in the pal.
4 ace nor In Jerusalem. The chief priests
\ and scrbes the high. officials Of the
4 church, were called together and con.
/ suited. They We're not. as q rule, men o.
piety III Chr. XVI 14), but they were
acquainted with the Scriptures. seated N
/ the great council chamber they repre-,
! sented the best learning Of the nation
| (AIatt. II: - Herod required them TO tell
| him where Christ should be born. Fot
/ their reply they searched the sacred writ
ings. nor needed they to search long
| The custodians of the. parchments, VIII
more care and precision than we exercise
now, had system Of indexing oy wnicH
/ any subject might be quickly examined
| IJohn y:I3e.) And every detail concern
1 Ing the great king might be easily traced
| rho proof text was found (Mlcah " ~
1 and the answer was given IN the very
! language OF the old prophet, who mao
/ written seven centuries before. tere IS
| the first jewish testimony to Jesus dew.
cred in his infancy, the beginning OF INA,
overwhelming evidence which afterWard
was am iployed in convincing the people
| that Gods anointed had come. All
! A ORDERS.-Having obtained the desired
Information, Herod called the wise men
and INQUIRED concerning the time wher
1 the star appeared. This was the second
step In working out, his hendlsh design
Because afterward he ordered the slaugh.
ter Of nil the lnnocents, two years and
under it is thought by some that that
Indicated the time which they gave nm
! They were then sent to Bethlehem with
Instructions to search for the child and
to return and bring Herod word, Ele
would make these good and wise Z, mer
| the advanced agents OF his crime. VIVA
consummate hypocrlsy3is this? What hel.
lish hate? The Lord Of glory began ny
career with a murderous king III searct
for him, 1t was d right thing wnlel
kHerod proposed-to worship Jesus-emple'
matte Of that honor which all things mus
ultimately pay him (Rov,.xxi: -. bu
his concealed purpose was the earliest en-
/ preston Of that enmity of the unregen
crate heart which pursued him Throughout
/ hIs areer and caused his ignom!ni0us
death on the cross (Marls Ky; s2l
JOURNEY. THE wise men departed
from tho presence Of Herod; hav! ne
Redcemer's birth. Bethlehem. llttl'
DUET community, perched like bra
nest among the rocky hills Of Judah, "a!
rlvo miles out Of jerusalem, The home
of Jesse and his son David q sam XVI
AZ s,,,,a,3 mot In Israeli only, Du