Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-12-24


and enlightened nations of the earth OF
the fact of Jesus advent into the
world and His vicarious mission. We
speak of the Christian nations, and
mean those nations which have been
dominated by the enlightened spirit OF
righteousness and truth of which
Jesus was the expression and expo
nent. The mustard seed has grown
to be the great tree, spreading its
branches everywhere, and the nations
the birds of the air-have found
lodgment therein. To-day the Christ
mas bells ring round the earth, and
peal forth their message of joy and
good cheer, even though the notes of
its truest message often are not heard.
A large part of the world to-day has
its Christmas, but has it the Christ?
1t celebrates the browning event of the
ages, but does it appreciate all that
! that celebration should mean? Is ii
the stable where the Christ has been
given place and welcome? or is it the
inn crowded, and busy, and resting in
ease and comfort with no place or
provision made for the Christ? Our
/ text suggests contrasts SO sharp and
painful that we cannot but be i'm
pressed by them as we mediate there
on. The stable and the inn. The one
for the beast, the other for man.
The one poor and cherries and COM
fortress, the other fitted at least with
the common comforts and conveniences
which could minister to the needs Of
nan. The one the only place where
the Son of God could find shelter, the
other the place which was SO crowded
and filled. that it shut out the Christ.
THE fact that Christmas, the anniver-
L sary of the birth of Christ, is cele-
brated is not enough. One may share
in all the activities and pleasures OF
the day, and still be an inmate OF the
inn, and stranger to the true signifi-
canoe OF the birth in the stable. One
may hear the wonderful Divine mystery
whereby the Son of God left Heaven and
became flesh through the operation of
the Holy Spirit, and still be blind to the
Divine light that filed the stable re-
~SSSNS' AAhh you uOI ludL Lie I'LL WAS
astir next day with the news of the
events which had transpired in the
stable? Think you not that every one
was talking of the Babe in the manger.
OF the story of the shepherds and their
visit in the early morning? Ere the
mornings sun had climbed the Beth
lehem hills and gilded the distant noun
tain heights with its golden splendor
feel sure that the mighty secret of that
stable became known not only to all in
the inn, but to all in the little village
OF bethlehem. And SO to-day the story
OF the birth of the Christ is known and
rehearsed among men, they celebrate
the event with eagerness and Joy, and
still the Christ is absent kept out by
the crowded condition of the inn. The
| news OF the birth of Jesus has reached
the inn and 1t freely joins in the cele-
oration OF the event, but the stable
where room is found for Jesus is the
place where the true celebration is held.
You may be content with the festivities
OF the inn, and never care to enter into
the deeper Joys of the stable where
Jesus Is. AS of old, it Is the question
OF the stable or the inn. Where are vol,
content to celebrate the Christmas fes-
ivalY | verify believe the saddest day
In Heaven is Christmas day, because as
the angelic hosts look upon earth they
behold all manner of revelry and fes-
INVITES in the name of Jesus, while the
One Whose birthday it is is shut out.
NO place for Him in the inn. There is
too much going on. There are too many
plans laid. There are too many other
friends TO be entertained. And so ii is
the inn instead of the stable. The
Christ is shut out!
q ONE one has told the story of a lady
NJ who, one Christmas eve. was walk
ing in the beautiful city of Berlin. She
stopped to look at the large store win
dow, where was laid out in elaborate
display the scene of the lowly stable at
Bethlehem. Before the window STOOD
two little girls, their faces beaming with
pleasure, while they talked to another
little girl between them, and around
whom they had their arms. This dear
child was quite blind, and to her poor
sightless eyes the pretty window told
no story. But the loving little friends
told the blind child Of the rude stable.
the hay, the cows and the sheep. the
sweet mother beside the manger in
which the Christ-child was sleeping,
the open door through which the won
dering shepherds were coming and the
bright star above which shed soft light
over all. The little blind girl listened
with absorbed interest, drinking IL
every detail Of the window decoration
as 1t was described. and reproducing i;
! In her minds eye, until her face lit vi
with q joyful smile. and. ciasping her