Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-22
Christian Endeavor Hour
Conducted by Grace Livingston Hill-Lutz.

conducted by Grace Livingston H1ll-LutZ.
For Sunday, December g. 1906.
Topic: How Can We Garry the Christmas Spirit
Through 1922 Luke ii $50
(From the Twentieth Century New Testament.
In the same district there were some
shepherds out in the open fields, watching
their focks that night when an angel Of
the Lord suddenly stood by them, and the
glory of the Lord shone around them.
They were very frightened.
DO not be afraid the angel said
Listen am bringing you good news of a
great joy which is in store for the whole
nation. for there has been born to you to-
day, in the town of David, Savior who
is Christ and Master. And this Is the
sign you shall have You will find baby
lying wrapped up in the manger.'
Then. all in moment. there appeared
with the angel a multitude of the army
of heaven, and as they praised God, they
said:
GLORY on high to God.
And on earth peace among men-in whom
He delights
Presently. when the angels had left them
and gone back to heaven the shepherds be-
gan to say to one another:
Let us go to Bethlehem and see what it
is that has happened. of which the Lord
himself has told u.s.
So they went quickly. and found Mary
and Joseph, and the baby lying in a man
ger; and when they saw it they told what
had been said to them about the child.
Every one who heard the shepherds was as
tonished at their story, while Mary, on
her part, treasured up every word they
said and turned it all over and over in her
mind. Then the shepherds went back, full
of praise to God for all that they had
heard and seen, agreeing as it did with
what they had been told.
From Ben Hur. Gen. Lew Wallace:
Around the mountain and through the
town they passed (the shepherds) and came
to the gate of the khan. where there was
a man on watch.
What would you have?' he asked
We have seen and heard great things
tonight" they replied.
We'll, We, too. have seen great things
but heard nothing What did you hear?"
Let US go down to the cave in the in
closure that we may be sure: then we will
tell you all. Come with US and see for
yourself
1T is a FOOLS Grand
mo. the Christ is born.
The Christ! How do you know?"
Let us go and see first"
The man laughed scornfully.
THE Christ indeed! How are you to
know him.
He was born this night, and is now
lying in a manger, so we Were told; and
there is but one place in Bethlehem with
managers"
The cave?"
Yes. Come with u.s."
They went through the court yard with
out notice, although there were some I'D
light. The door of the cavern was open. A
lantern was burning within and they enter
ed unceremoniously.
II give you peace" the Waterman said
to Joseph. Here are people looking for a
child born this night whom they are to
know by finding him in swaddling clothes
and lying in Manager
For moment the face of the stold
Nazarene was moved turning away, he
said:
The child is here
They were led to one of the managers and
there the child was. The lantern was
brought, and the shepherds stood by mute
The little one made no sign; it was as
others just born. Where is the mother?"
asked the Waterman. One of the women
took the baby, went to Mary, lying near,
and put it in her arms Then the by
ISLANDERS collected about the two.
1T is the Christi" said shepherd at
last.
THE Christi they all repeated, falling
upon their knees in worship. One of them
| repeated several times over, 1T Is the Lord,
and His glory is above the earth and
heaven And the simple men, never doubt
ing, kissed the hem of the mothers robe
and with joyful faces departed. In the
khan to all the people aroused and press
| ing about them they told their story, and
/ tHe tOWH, anu the way BACK TO
their sheep, they chanted the refrain of
| the angels:
| GLORY to God in the highest. and on earth
| peace, goodwill toward men,
The story went abroad, confirmed by the
| light so generally seen, and the next day,
and for days thereafter, the cave was visit
1 ed by curious crowds, of whom some be-
| lieved though the greater part laughed and
| Knocked.
What the spirit of Christmas, the
| spirit that marked that first Christmas of
] the shepherds and wise men so long ago?
| Have We lost it entirely in myrrh and
| frankncense of our shopping lists? Where
| Is it? First it was the spirit of belief
| They believed at once the angels and
| started out to find the Christ. How many
| of us have given thought to the finding
] of the Christ this busy Christmas time
/ We have ransacked the shops for pretty
| trinkets to give to friends already over
| crowded with the like; we have sat up
| nights to make beautiful nothings wherein
| to keep such trinketS: We have emptied our
| pocketbooks. some of them never but toe
, scantily filled, We have hunted in the attic
| for stray bits of former greatness where
/, with to make something from nothing, and
| all to keep Christmas as others do. And
| when the great day comes and We have
| finished tying the last beribboned tissue
| parcel. have directed the last Christmas
card and given the last touch to the Christ
\ mas table and may rest little while and
take our own Christmas, have We any
notion then of trying to find the Christ and
| give Him the worship OF our hearts? 1t Is
| His birthday-yet We had almost forgotten
| 1t is only when have this longing to
| find the Christ and come near to Him and
worship Him that we have any chance OF
| getting the true spirit of Christmas, or OF
! keeping 1t throughout the year.