Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-12-22


! e. - becausc he was man. And be-
cause b.. had no one with whom to
leave lis wife il the reason he took
, Der along. Thus we lind that this
Important facs. fulfilling the ancient
yprlPhecy. which would be SO vital to
jew, VAS brought about by the tender
/ ness OF Joseph. the husband OF Mary.
( On such small matters do great events
hang. Is it rot an impressive thought
/ Tat God plans all The events OF our
| Ines, as we see in the arrangement of
the circumstances that brought Jo-
seph and Mary to Bethlehem at this
time?
why JcScpi,~ Went to Bethlehem.
/ J2tph. ucipS 4 descendant OF Da-
I yid. was The cause OF the Bethlehem
birth of Jesus Christ. You in the same
way may be an essential factor for
btAe divine birth OF some immortal soul.
d, You may say YOU are a humble man,
pa lMas Joseph. You may say you &C.
/ S'Hy oniypa mechanics position. You
may say you v car Il laborer's garments.
! liut your worGs and your acts are GO
| ng TO decide the eternal destiny of
some immortal soul. II was the false
fwords of a cowardly peasant guide at
Waterloo that sent Napoleon a life ex.
I i,e 10 st. Helena. When the battle !,
RACED the fiercest the little Corsican
fNr;ied 60 the peasant who WINS tae<1tu1
tteF saddle of his horse and saids -
there any obstacle I'M the way for a
itlarsSs IN yontet directionl" N1he peas
tAN answered. MOI With that. Ma
polcon ordered Marshal Ney to hurf'
the Old Guard against the British mia
lanSes. but instead or hurting me
| French cavalry against the English
ranks lie led them on a fatal gallon
into the ravine of Ohain, where they
tumbled in and were slaughtered by
| thousands. II was false guide that
destroyed the French army at Water
loo. Is it possible that you by light
| words or by your Inconsistent life NAV
become false guide to some seeking
soul! BE careful and strive rather to
be. like Joseph, faithful 10 the call OF
duty. He it was who, obedient to the
tdivine direction. travelled to Bethle.
hem and so made it possible for Jesus
10 De born in the city OF his ancestors.
according to the word of the prophet.
The protection and DEVELOPMENT OF
Christ during the days of his HELPLESS
infancy were provided for by Joscph's
love and care. Christ had to have care
during his infancy. just as any other
newborn babe needs care. Christ's
childhood days We're passed i'm much
The same way that other children live
out their earlier years. The baby Christ
bad TO he washed and dressed and fed.
He bad to be taught to creep aud run
and pay. lie had to be deyeloped
physically and mentally. like any other
baby boy. Now. as Christ's boyhood
days were TO be so helpless. II was
necessary FOR God to provide a pro-
tcctor FOR the helpless Mary and her
Infant child. Thus God chooses this
humble carpenter ana says: Joseph.
20 ana look after my Son. You are 10
stand I'm my place and be 10 him an
earthly father" And Joseph. In obedl-
ence a. his command. went and stood
between Jesus and physical and men
tai want. That is another reason why
We end Joseph II The manger
Joscph's Great Work.
Do Won not glory in the fact that rs
Joseph. the humble carpenter. paved
the way for Christ'S advent. Joseph. the
hilIbe carpenter. was the mems of
ChriSts srstenance during the years OF
his childhood hclplessncss? am glad
that God has work for his great men TO
DO. = am glad that he has one place
for Il Moses, and another place for
Joshua. and another for an Elijah. and
anothsr FOR n Paul, and another for
John. and another for n Luther, and an
other for n Rowland HUI. and another
for Calvin, and another for q Wesley,
and another for Lincoln. and another
for John Bright and n Gladstone.
do not begrudge any of these men their
prominent fields, but 7 am also glad
that God has his humble places whio
are 2iso essential places. / am glad he
has his places for his Marys. and his
Marthas, and his Elizabeths, and his
Door widows of Zarephath, and his
Enoclls. and his Josephs OF Nazareth,
and his Cushls, rs well as for his Joabs,
and AbishaIs, and Ittais, and Davids.
All, yes, the work OF Joseph the car
pentcr caring for the helpless Christ
curing his years OF infancy should
teach 'us all TO honor God In our own
work in life, no matter how insignifi-
cant it may be. . li bloc ID
cCanst thou not seize the inspiration,
VI this lesson for the coming Christmas
Gayg One OF the most beautiful pic.
lures ever painted is that called ''rhe
Carpenter shop OF Nazareth" There
the great Muster opens the humble door
for all the world TO look in aud see q
beautiful family scene. On one side OF
the room sits a woman sewing. Her
eyes are cast down, but her face is q
beautiful face-so pure, SO gentle, so
truthful. Her fingers are busy. The
hnancial struggle OF that home, Is o
heavy one to bear. -She layethA her
hands TO the spindle, and her hands
bold the distaff." She is Mary, the
mother OF Jesus. At her feet is little
taken haired child playing. The face
is that or child, but as you gaze on
those eyes and that wondrous face you
feel that you are watching a perfect
child-aye. a supernatural one. The lit
Tie child, OF course. is Jesus The floor
Is covered with shavings. The carpen-
ters implements are scattered around.
y strong. powerful limbed workman
Is bending over workman's table Join
ing together two pieces OF wood. This
Hebrew face is that of Joseph the car.
penter-Jo seph, who is earning bread
for the infant Christ. "Ah," / said to
myself as i watched that picture.
"would that / might be able to have
some soul leaning on me as the infant
Christ was dependent upon Joseph.
Would that might lead some one toll
Christ and then carefully protect him
ana help him during his years Of temp
tation, even as Joseph protected Jesus
during his Years of childhood helpless4I
ness" DO you wonder that Joseph had
right to be startling near to the man
geasonl the first Christmas morn2g i
A NobIe and Manly Character,
The ennobling example OF pure
marital love was furnished by Joseph's
journey TO the Bethlehem Manager. The
gentle love which bound your father
and mother together and nodded YOU