Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-12-23
Calnnase
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaae, d. d.

uiuIlc the pTtuclleT HliuS VI itSSou VI III
SEPARATION for all husbands and parents.
The text Is Matthew |. III. Joseph, the
husband Of Mary, Of whom was born
Jesus"
Amazing II IL to read the reviews Of
the latest books OF our prominent nov
elists. II seems as though we are Pc
rusing the columns OF n homlletic re-
view or are reading the resume OF the
sermons Of ministers written In a re-
ligious weekly instead Of a summary
writer's. The novclists fad Of finding
his heroes and heroIncs among the cas-
tied walls OF chivalric times has to a
great extent passed away. Our mod
ern Bulwers are not searching among
the smoke and the lettering walls Of a
liccntious Pompci to seek out their
blinded Lydias. Our Charles Kingsleys
are not roaming about the edge Of
Sahara to find the footprints Of beau
tiful heather celibate, Hypntia by
name. Our brilliant Sir Walter SCOTS
are not turning the ruins OF Kenil-
worth castle into n gorgeous banquet
hall where the rival earls Of II mighty
kingdom are rising side by side to
drink the health Of virgin queen. But
u large percentage of our modern nov
clists are finding the scenic settings for
their most powerful chapters among
the Judacan hills or by the placid wa
tiers Of lake Galilee or down among the
vine clad valleys OF n Samaritan capt.
tai.
Yes, the Biblical historical novel Is TO
be rcckoncd with as among the most
interesting and popular of all modern
novels. While thinking along this line
n catalogue Of enc Of our public libra
rics was placed in my hand. As
turned the pages | read the following
names Of some OF the great books OF
fiction: There were Joseph lngraham's
"'rhe Prince of the House of David"
and his pillar of Fire, or Israel In
Bondage:" there were Gcorg Ebers'
Joshua" and Florence Kingsley's I'll
tus, u Comrndc of the Cross" there
was Marie Corclli's "Barabbas." be-
sides II score of other names suggestive
Of Biblical lore, while Edward Everett
IIale's In His Name" and Charles
Shcllon's "ln His Steps" and Hall
Gaines "christian." and Lew Wallace's
BEN IIur." and Nellie l.. Helms
when Jesus Was Here Among Men,"
nll deal directly or indirectly with orr
entail teachings and directly with the
life OF Jesus translated into modern
thought.
But. though many Of the great char
actcrs of the Old and New Tcstaments
have been made To come forth out OF
their graves and live and breathe as In
times of yore. there Is one Bible char
acter who has never. SO far rs | know.
been made the hero of historical nov
clist's tale. Indeed. there Is one Bible
character that has never. so far as /
know. been made the subject of Il SER
mon. The ministers seem TO ignore
making sketch Of this man. just as
do the historical nOvclists. allude
here to the character Of Joseph. | do
not mean Joseph who was the son Of
old Jacob or Joseph Of Aramathea. but
of Joseph of Nazareth. Joseph of Beth
who was the husband Of Mary, Of
whom Jesus was born.
Now, rs the annual Christmas holt
days are but few days OF | thought
would preach Il sermon about Joseph
the carpenter. | want TO tell you why
hsa ,at I'm I'm nj ane
mons you have heard why Mary was
there. and why the shepherds were
there, ana why the wise men We're
there. and why the sheep and the cattle
and the horses were there. Today
want to tell you why Joseph was there.
And Of all the characters OF the Bible
there Is not one which appeals TO me
In u more vivid way than does this
brawny. rugged. stout lmbed mechan-
ic. who passed SO much OF his time
among the Zebulon hills.
Joseph came to the manger. In the
first place. 10 make II possible for Jesus
20 he born In Bethlehem OF Judaea. He
came TO the manger In order that the
words OF the prophet might be fulfilled.
lie came To the manger because toward
Judaca all the sagcs Of the Jerusalem
capital were looking for the expected
Son Of God To be born. lie came to the
Manager for II he had not come Mary
the Virgin would never have gone there
20 give birth 10 her child. and the wise
men OF the east would never have been
able to find there the infant Christ.
This being born In Bethlehem was alb
solutely essential for the fulflllment OF
prophecy.
The stamp of Divinity.
There were two ways by which the
stamp of divinity was to he placed up
on Christ's life. The first was by his
miracles. What do I mean by that?
Simply this: When the people began
10 crowd around Jesus. and he said. II
am the Son Of God: follow me-" the
people answered. 'IIow do We know
thou art the Christi He said. II will
show you: come and see" Then he
stopped down and made the crooked
limbs strnight. Then he eXpectorated
upon the ground and made salvc out
OF the spittle and dirt and rubbed II