Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-12-31

from the beast of burden Some one
kicks the oxen 10 make them arise be-
cause they are taking too much room.
er the kind hearted hoStlers have
thrown some straw into the stone crypt
or manager Mary is placed i'll the hum
bic couch among the bleating of the
sheep and the lowing of the cattle and
the nci.hing of the horses whinnying
for their OATS.
This is the most important of all
nights Ii is awfully solemn. All his
tory will hereafter date itself from or
toward this scene-A ID. and Il. c.
Upon the .Iudaean hillsides the alright
sd sheep are runnin. hither and thith-
or. looking for their shepherds Ami
malls ntuitively know when something
unnatural is about To happen. The cat
tie can smell the blood long before they
are driven into the slaughter houses to
be killed When the South Carolina
earthquake shook Charleston few
years ago the dogs crouched at their
masters feet. and the birds lowered
around uttering shrill cries of fear. as
though human beings alone could pro-
tect them. The horrible picture of
DorcS flood. where Il lioness with her
whelps trcmbles upon Il rock by the
side of an affr.htcd woman holding
in her arms II babe. is not Il geological
absurdity. Animals in times of danger
naturally seek the protection of man.
There is II strange silence broodins.
The shepherds anXiously grip their
slaves and prepare for an unseen bat
tie. which they feel sure is about to
come
The First Christmas Morn.
Suddenly II star breaks from its fas-
Jennings and begins To tumble through
space. On and on il comes like me-
teor. With frightful velocity il heads
toward this planet. ready Ia plunge into
IT, as the human foot might crush an
insect. an ocean liner might run down
fishing smack or Il large express ell
gine crash into Il hand ear. The terror
stricken astrologerS see il flying to-
ward the earth. suddenly ii stops and
seems Ia he watching something that
is happening in the little village of
Bethlehem. The angel who once stood
ut the garden of Eden's entrance now
unsheatlleS his sword and cuts the cur
tain of the night in twain. The waves
of light rush down and push the dark
ness To the right ami To the left. Great
muliitudes of angels begin 10 sing. As
the glory of God shines around the
PROSTATE shepherds there sounds forth
the voice of an angelic messenger. say
ing. Fear not. for. behold bring you
good tidings of great joy Such was
the advent of the angelic messenger.
Such was the mcSsng e which he brought
To the shepherds on the first Christmas
morn. announcing the birth of the little
Child who lay in the manager.
Why did this message of my text
bring good tidings of great joy"
First. Christ came as II Saviour To Il
sin cursed race and Il condemned world.
He came as an earthly ruler might
come To Il condemned murderer about
to expiate his crimes with his life. bear
Ing news of pardon and liberty. He
might come 10 Il son who had been bit
ten by II poisonous serpent, with an an
tidote for the deadly virus. Thus Christ
came. by his vic;irious sutfcrings he
took upon himself the condemnation
which was due us for our sins. He
came as Saviour. that the human
race in him might live with him for
ever.
Shall we ever cease TO look upon the
message of the Nativity as glad It'd
ings:" The world honors the memo
rieS of many of its heroes and heroines
who have been SaviorS To their fell
low men in Il physical sense. Too much
Of the late Lieutenant Mclaughlin,
who was the savior of thousands up
on thousands of lives during the late
Spanish war in Porto Rico. Major Gen
eral Brooks had made the final ar
engagements of his troops before the
Spanish intrcnchments. The battle was
about To open. Suddenly at the signal
station some miles 10 the rear of the
American lines the telegraphic machine
began To tick. Lieutenant McLaugh-
Inns face took OH an anxious look The
news was being telegraphed that the
protocol had been signed between the
Spanish and the American authorities
for the cessation of international strife.
Hardly had the import of the message
come when Lieutenant Mclaughlin ran
from the signal station and flung him
self upon Il LorSe He rode on and on
ut Il mad gallop. Though he rode fast
as his horses limbs could 20. he only
reached General Brooks side as the
first cannon was about TO be touched
| Off and the bloody battle was to begin
But. though we may honor Lieutenant
Mclaughlin. who by heroic effort saw
ed thousands of lives by preventing
bloody carnage. how much more should
we today honor Christ for what he has
done for the world in Il spiritual sense
by the atOnement of the cross. Christ,
being born in Bethlehem of Judaea.
| meant more than mere physical saliva
| ton. II meant the atonement of the
cross. whereby Christ took upon him
self the condemnation for our sins
Ought not the redemption of the world.