The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-22

l.
Christmas is in everybody's thought
The air IS filed with the holiday spirit
Christmas buying and selling. giving
and receiving, are engrossing general
attention Lest only the superficial
aspects of this great day should engage
peoples interests. it is we'll that the
custom exists in the Sunday schools of
making this lesson for the Sunday pre-
ceding Christmas topical lesson.
The Birth Of Jesus might we'll be
called the title of the present lesson,
for 1t was an event important, histor-
1cally and spiritually, and is seasona Bile
as we'll The deeper meaning of Christ
mas needs to be kept prominent 1t
should not be allowed to become a
mere holiday; it is that. true enough,
but 1t is also vastly more-true holy
day. for IT commentaries the most
sacred event in all history. Christmas
is more than an occasion for the ex-
change Of gifts of friendship; it is
reminder of the human birth of the
divine Son of God. with all that is
meant by that tremendous fact. we
~ we leave Christ out Of our Christmas
celebration
wise Men From Afar.
There is an underlying fascination
about that portion of the sacred record
which has been set apart as the Christ
mas lesson-the visit of the Wise Men,
Something of the mystery OF the east
pervades the story. Who were these
three Wise Men What were their
names and what their country? Were
they kings. astrologers, mobiles or
priests2 How long had they journey
ed? What was the star they saw, and
how did they understand its signi1-
cancel We do not know. Tradition
has been busy but history has been 81
lent In mystery as in majesty their
figures loom up on the page of revela-
ton lighted only by the beams from
the star that was their reckoning
guide.
In heather darkness they were given
light to seek more light Their search
for truth had been rewarded by the
sight of a star which led they knew
not where But it was light enough
for progress. God never leaves any
seeking soul without a CLEAN to lead
II to himself. Wherever and whenever
q sincere soul has sincerely sought to |
know the truth God has given him a
guiding star. And whoever follows the /
path Of truth will eventually arrive at
Bethlehem.
Following the Star.
Everybody has glimpses of a higher, /
nobler life, of spiritual possibilities and /
OF unselfish service. but only the few 1
have the purpose and resolution to fol- /
low this CLEAN. The story of the Wise |
Men is less that they saw the star
than that they followed it; followed It I
steadfastly day after day IN WEAKNESS
and hope, despite pbatacles and dis /
couragements and ali the voices that /
would call them back from their SEEM
ingly mad quest. With a singleness /
OF devotion that is sublime they adj
hcred steadfastly to their purpose and |
pursued their request until Bethlehem
and the Child were reached
They were men who would not be
sidc-tracked from a lofty ideal, as,
alas. too many OF us are Neither
HerOd nor the Jews could swerve them
from their noble purpose. They sought !
until they found. and their reward was
to see the new King who should usher
IN the golden age. and to lay before
him their gifts There is Inspiration
for every person who would be true to
his Hottest conceptions of truth and \
duty IN thus story Of the idealistic, per
severing and achieving Wise Men.
some Other Persons.
All the characters IN this story are
not heroes In contrast with the no /
bilitN OF the Wise Men the petty jeal-
ousy of Herod. the Indifference of the
Jewish scholars ant the fainthaarted-
ness Of the friends of the Wise Men
stand out the more clearly. 1t is con
ceiva bic that the vision of the star and I
its significance was confined to these
three And even so they would have
shared the news with neigh bors and |
kindred spirits But Of all who knew
they alone had the courage to under
take the difficult Guest. Even at so |
men, as he is today. he is forever sep
arating the wheat from the chaff the ,
TT from the unit
Old Herod. rOttinS with wickedness
saw IN the Wise Men only tools for his /
malignant revenge Their news of a /
newborn king aroused his jealous pas
Fions, which never slept soundly His /
heart was fostering with all kinds of |
evil. and out of it could come no /
thoughts of tolerance or nobleness or /
unselhshness. So with clumsy cunning,
he planned to learn where this possible /
usurper of his throne was to be found |
that he might STAY him. Futile follyl |
The deafness of the spiritual life of |
the ecclesiastical leaders of the Jews /
at this period is seen in the indiffer-