Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-12-23


has his places for his Marys. and his
MartlIns. and his Elizabeths. and his
- widows of Iarephath. and his
'!is. and his Joscphs of Nazareth,
his cuslis. as well rs for his Joabs,
Ablsliais. aud Ittais. and Davids.
All. yes. the work of Joseph the car
pcmtcr caring for the helpless Christ
Turing his years OF infancy should
leach us all to honor God IN our own
work In life. no matter how insigmf-
rant II may he.
Canst thou not seize the inspiration
Df this lesson for the coming Christmas
day! One of the most beautiful pic
lures ever painted Is that called "The
Carpenter shop of Nazareth" There
the great Master opens the humble door
for nil the world 10 look In and see Il
beautiful family scene. On one side Of
the room sits woman sewing. Her
eyes are east down. but her face Is a
beautiful face-so pure. so gentle, so
truthful Her fingers are busy. The
financial struggle Of that home Is a
heavy one 10 bear. "She laycth her
hands to the spindle. and her hands
hold the disiaff" She Is Mary, the
mother of Jesus At her feet il little
naxcn haired child playing. The face
IL that of child but az you gaze on
those eyes and that wondrous face you
feel that you nre watching II perfect
child AYE. a supernatural one. The lit
tie child. of course. Is Jesus. The floor
Is covered with shavings. The carpen-
tcr's implements are scattered around.
4 strong. powerful limbed workman
Is bending over Il workman's table join
ing together two pieces of wood. This
Hebrew face is that Of Joseph the car
pentcr-.Ioseph. who is earning bread
for the infant Christ. All" ! said to
myself as 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 TO
Christ and then carefully protect him
and help him during his years of temp
tation. even rs Joseph protected Jesus
during his years of childhood helpless
ness" DO you wonder that Joseph had
n right to he standing near 10 the man.
ger on the first Christmas morn!
A Noble 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
ana your brothers and sisters In Il
moral and spiritual way was the same
kind of gentle love that bound Joseph
TO Mary and helped 10 mold the mental
life Of the infant Christ, for, though
Joseph the carpenter was not the flu
Their OF Jesus. he gave him parental
care and must have received from that
loving nature a boys gratitude. Still
more rs Jesus grew to years of discre-
ton and learned the circumstances or
his birth would his love for his mother
include also the man who had protect
ell her. Nothing more manly is found
IN all history than Joseph's attitude to-
ward Mary when he found ont she was
TO become the mother Of the infant
Christ
Let me explain to you this history
more In detail. Joseph was an intense
man. lie was one of those men whom
women have hard work TO influence.
He was evidently an elderly man.
probably fifty years of age. but he
was one who when he did surrender
his heart To woman gave To her his
whole heart and not Il part. He loved
Mary with that deep. tender, holy af-
lection which only II true. strong man
can give to Il truly good. noble. beauti-
full woman. lie loved her with II love
that would willingly lay down his life
IL he could make the loved one happier
by the sacrifice. lie loved her so much
that her coInpanionship became the
hope. the joy and the heart OF his very
existence. lie loved her for time and
for eternity.
Now. when Mary was about TO be-
come the mother of Christ all the peo-
pie OF her village knew IL. They gos-
siped about IL. They ut once looked
upon her as "a bad woman. In the
sight of those Hebrew people she was
social outcast. Joseph was at first
much troubled The Bible tells us that
he was about To break the bonds of the
marital engagement and put her away
privlly," but when an angel of the
Lord appeared unto him ana said that
Mary was to become the mother or
the Son of God. ''for that which is con-
ceived In her Is of the Holy Spirit" ut
once this brave, noble carpenter be-
came her protector. lie knew that he
would be dcspised for marrying her.
yet he hesitatcd not one instant. He
stepped right up TO her side. He put
his arm about her. lie said: MARRY
Inc, Mary, aud Islander shall not touch
thee. | shall give thee the protection
OF my name." Then he turned and
faced the cynical. sneering. soothing.
deriding world as with flashing eye
he said. "This Is my wife. He who
strikes at her strikes at me-" Did
you ever read of "A more noble and
manly act than this OF Joseph. who
gave 20 this trembling girl the protec-
ton Of his name ut the most sacred