The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-02-10


years ago the dogs crOuched at their
masters feet, and the birds hovered
around, uttering shrll cries OF fear, as
though human beings alone could pro
tect them. The horrible picture Of
Dore's food, where a lioness with her
whelps trembles upon q rock b. the
side OF an affrighted woman holding
In her arms babe, is not geological
absurdlty. Animals In times Of danger
naturally seek the protection Of man.
There is strange silence breeding.
The shepherds anIiously grip their
slaves and prepare for an unseen bat
tie, which they feel sure Is about to
come.
Suddenly a star breaks from its fas-
Jennings and begins TO tumble through
space. On and on Il comes like me
teOr. With frlghtful velocity it heads
toward this planet, ready TO plunge into
1t, as the human foot might crush an
insect, an ocean liner might run down
a fishing smack or a large express en-
gine crash into a hand car. The terror
stricken astrologers see It flying to-
ward the earth. Suddenly It stops and
seems to be watching something that
ls happening in the little village Of
Bethlehem. The angel who once stood
at the garden Of Eden's entrance now
unsheathes 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 and to the left Great
multitudes Of angels begin to sing As
thu 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 tldings Of great joyw Such was
the advent OF the angelic messenger.
Such was the message which he brought
TO the shepherds on the first Christmas
morn, announcing the birth Of the little
Child who lay In the manger
Why did this message Of my text
bring good tidlngs Of great joy?'
First, Christ came as a Saviour to a
sin cursed race and a condemned world.
He came as an earthly ruler might
come to a condemned murderer about
to eXplate his crimes with his life. bear
ing news Of pardon and liberty. He
came a. a loving mother or father
might come to a son who had been bit
ten by a poisonous serpent, with an an
tldote for the deadly virus. Thus Christ
came. BY his vicarious sufferlngs he
took upon himself the condemnation
which was due us for our sins.
Shall we ever cease TO look upon the
message Of the Nativity as glad It'd
ingsr The world honors the memo
ries Of many Of It's heroes and herolnes
who have been savlors to their fel-
low men In physical sense. Too much
praise cannot be given to the memory
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 tine final ar
rsngements OF his troops before the
Spanish intrenchments. The battle was
about to open. Suddenly at the signal
station some miles to the rear OF the
American lines the telegraphic machine
began to tick. Lieutenant McLaugh-
Inns face took on 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 a horse. He rode on and on
at a 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
of 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 be has
done for the world I'm a spiritual sense
by the atonement Of the cross Christ,
being born in Bethlehem Of Judaea,
meant more than mere physical saliva
tion. 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.
foreshadoved In the birth Of Saviour,
have been good tidings Of great Joy to
q sin struck and condemned world1
Some people seem to think that the
birth Of a Saviour is not the time for
outward manifestations Of Joy. but Of
sorrow. Saviour Is a pathetic name"
wrote Joseph Parker. 1T is not an
official title; II is not an image you can
robe in scarlet and bow down before,
on account OF its majesty and haughti-
ness. Saviour is an angel with tears
in his eyes, with arms mighty as the
lightnings OF God, but a heart all ten
derness. Saviour Is a complex word.
II has in II all human nature all d.
vine nature. all the past Of history, all
the possibilities Of prophecy, all the
mystery Of apocalypse, a tenderness
outranging the love Of woman. a maj |
esty humbllng the haughtlness Of
king" But, though the word Say
lour" may be pathetic word when
we think Of all the sufferlngs Christ |
had to endure on account Of our sins,
yet It is a joyful word when we think
how We are to be redeemed on account |
Of those divine sufferings. And further
more. when we know that Christ to- |
day In heaven is glad that he was able
to suffer for us In order TO save US,
what a happy day Christmas ought TO
be for ALL Salvation for all, life for
ALL eternal emancipation for all who |
will today kneel by the side Of the |
mangerl Am ! right when I declare /
that the angelic messenger Of the first /
Christmas morn should be the most /
honored Of all messengers when he /
announced the redemption Of the /
world through the birth Of Gods Son /
Ia the mangerl
The Nativity, in the next place meant |