The Tucumcari news. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-01-06
THE CRADLE, THE CROSS
AND THE CROWN.
Paragraphs of Sermon Preached
Christmas Eve at Union Ser
vice by Rev. Joel f. Hedgpeth,
Pastor NJ. z. Church, South.

EdStOr III. E. Nnurcn, SOutn.
Texts: Luke 2:Io, John 1917; Rev. 1910.
Whatever else may stir the pulse and
touch the heart of humanity; whatever else
may occupy the minds of men during thebusy
ysar-of the sweetly solemn, joyfully sacred
Christmas tide, this great truth perme-
ates ALL nothing else has ever, or can ever
occupy the place in the great throbbing
heart of humanity that the Babe of Beth
lehem occupies
Every great life must have its incep-
ton, its test its triumph. The greatest
must have beginning, the mightiest a
crisis The lowliest a triumph, SO that in
every great movement, that blesses hu
manity; like the highest OF lives the su-
premest of causes. must have a Cradle, a
Cross and Crown.
To-day, while far and wide the joyous
bells ring in the joyous festal season; while
in multiplied million of homes hearts
throb again to give and receive the love
born gift-back of it all, through it all,
through it all thrills the voice of the angel
choir and CLEANS the glory of the first
great Christmas gift.
The manger cradle illustrates the small
beginning OF great things. The tinies,
streamlet from the heaven -heaped hills
vi! AS surely reach the sea as the broad
est creeping river. ll1ndered L. tb ou-
sand beetling craigs and adamantine walls;
checked in its wild free course by the busy
hands and and meddling minds of men
in spite of all. by dashing cascades and
silver falls, through quiet glades and shell
tered lakes it onward speeds to the sea.
Though hindered and held YET ere it hears
the murmurins melodies of the mighty
deep, it has beautiiied Nature and blest
humanity.
"Oh, lowly mangerl What can there be
in your humble shelter of greatness or OF
glory2 Ah from thee flowed a stream
that bearing on its triumphant tide the
hearts, the hopes. the deep desire and last
ing loves of humanity goes sweeping grand
ly out to greet the sea of Gods unfathomed
love.
Yes. lowly was thy birth, OH Son OF
Mary, despised thy humble life, oh, Son OF
Man. terrible thy death. OH Son of God,
and yet today the eloquent are dumb, the
wise confounded, the mighty humbled in
thy presence, and brighter than the morn
ing star of thy birth, the harbinger of thy
triumph and eternal glory, dawns yonder
on the skies of life's eternal hope.
''The cross is an emblem of sacrifice
and shows the ifng up of Jesus Christ in
the world and in the hearts of men. Ir
the white light of eternity when all shall
be seen as it is, how little will seem the
life that bears no marks of Calvary
The crown signifies royalty, authorit,
and victory. The arching, azure skies ma,
roll together as flaming SCROLL the silver
stars and shining sun go darkling through
eternal void all the visible. tangible things
of time and space may vanish in the nigh
of deaths oblivion, but the bounteous gif
of God shall never pass away. High abov,
the wreck of matter and the crash O
worlds shall stand the gloriGed hosts o
Gods nobility. crowned with inefIible glo
res of the infinite and shaking the YER
heights of eternities with their triumphan
coronations of 'Victoryl victory victoryr
Let the lowly of earth
Let the mighty of birth,
Fall down at his feet and songs of re