The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-07

perial ROme'S history, ana
from the ancient Hebrew scrolls, the
centuries-old calendar of time.
Ali that ever had been, of war and
quest and discovery and achievement
must now be reckOned backward from
the lOWly appearance of this Child,
whose lot was so humble that only the
gentle beasts would give him the hos
Ditality of his first couch. And all that
would be, hencefOrth thrOug n0uL the
ages, must be dated from that greatest
of all created days, when the plaintve
cry of Mary's newborn Son was heard
from the Bethlehem mangsr.
The event is of stupendous moment
to man, even apart from its religious
significance. For it markell histoly's
most memorable day, time Of begin
nings. the bursting forth Of spring
that has swollen to an immeasIr2o ie
river whose waters have changed the
face of the whole world. Were there
not a higher reason the twenty-six
million Sunday school members Of the
world would be warranted in entering
upon this years study OF the NE, me
words and the works of Jesus, purely
on historical political, sOcial and eth
zeal grounds. There is none so infidel
as to deny that the Bethlehem ia be
has become the most potent PERSON
age in the life of the race.
When Rome Became Servant.
Whole libraries have been insu1fI-
cient to tell the great story OF It's COM
pleteness, and only the outstanding
facts, with their plainest meaning
can be set forth here. The entire ma
chinery of the Roman Empire, then
at the dazzling apex of its glory was
set in motiOn-sO does God make men
and nations his unwilling uooIs-to
secure the presence of a Maid and her
betrothed husband at the ancestral
town of Bethlehem, for this carpenter
and the village Virgin to whom ne was
affianGed. and whom his noDle mag
uantmity alone sheltered from the
s-I7 ffe ~ef SANDER shame. were OIL
the royal line Of David, lsraefs Shep-
herd king. Why was it important that
tney should come to Bethlehem, down
in the province OF Judeas when their
home was uD in Nazareth of CALLER
because. centuries befOre, the inspired
seer had predicted that in Bethlehem
Significantly mean ng the house OF
bread'-the Messiah should be born.
Thus. all unsTsI ected by the millions
affected a divine purpose underlay
tho great Roman enrolment
Amid the hurry and tumult that at
tended the influx Of many visitors into
the little bill town, small heed was
given to the two weary, unattended
travellers from the north country,
whose simplicity was equalled by their
modesty. It was not in Joseph's heart
to join thas clamorous claimants for
lodging. and. perhaps at the suggestion
of the shrinking Girl who was the OBJ
iect of his anxious care, they made for
themselves a hurried shelter IN a re-
There. in surroundings so lOWly that
the humblest could scarcely have Jared
worse, occurred the WondrOuS event
that even in the commOneSt, from the
birth of Cain to the birth of the last
Of the sons of woman, is always tinged
with mystery and romance and pos
sfbilitv In this case, what words can
portray the marvel of it-maid become
mother. heaven touching EARTH eter-
nity's highest bending to earth low
est, God revealing himself to man in
the person of this tiny Babe, born to
be King Of kings and Lord of lords!
Song. story, sermon, pencil and brush,
all have reserved their lOft1est powers
for the effort to picture that indie
scribable manger scene.
Great News for Plain People.
The soft-eyed oxen looked on in
wonder but the world was unheeding,
as it usually is Of its most momentous
events Travellers sat in the inn yard
and talked of their j0urneyings, their
high voices penetrating to the maiden
of Nazareth in her travail reunited
relatives chartered of trivialities the
night through; all the uncOuth Eoises
of a public stopping place disturbed
the darkness. But none knew or
cared what was happening in Tie Sc
cluded corner of the stable.
Heaven cared, however. The divine
estimate OF events differs from the hu-
man. The eternal realm beyond the
stars could not keep silence while their
Prince and Master made his entrance
III on the scene of his humiliation to
reveal the highest glory of God. So
an az gel of the LOrd-these had been
busy months for the heavenly lnesseli-
gers, for the greatest fact of eternity
was coming to paSS-WaS sent down
to announce the good tidings OF great
iov which should be to all people
with the angel came the Shel1inah-
the mysterious effulgent shining the
glory of Cod" which had been in the
of "a 81 s7t-. 81
of the first temple. to -eDr 2Sent the
presence of JehOvah-in token that
God had come again to dwell among
men,
There are many reasons why the
plain people have always been the best
friends of Jesus; perhaps the first of
these is that He has always been the
best friend of the plain people. Not
to kings or priests was the first news
Of the birth sent, but to a company of
simple shepherds, engaged in their
nightly employ: once more em.n ling
us that the post Of duty is .he place
of revelation and inspiration. Cody
men these must have been, for the sec
ret of Jehovah is with them that fear
him Tint to earth's tOilers the good
news first came was appropriate, for
was not the new King to have for re-
gala during most Of His Manhood s
Years, the garb of a peasant toiIer
And TO Shepherds, for He, Son of the
sheDherd king. was to wear for his
proud title, Ihe Good Shepherd- As
we recall the tremendous consequences
of that holy night-the exaltation of
motherhood the sanctification of
childhood. the revelation of the Cod
head-it is to be remembered that the
common people and the men wla0
work. have been forever crowned with
honor by Mary's Son. who made him
self one of their number.
The News That Opened Heaven.
little Greek word. doxa, figures
thrice i'm this story, and 1T is also the
SCOT of our present day doxology, to
link the two may make more impress
sft-a and meaningful the latter. First
h Is la the glory Of the Lord that
zhone round about the shepherds. then
If Is in the angelic song glory" to
cod IN the highest, and again in the
...-,-..se..t.,..,s 81 Cod which the eha-