Arizona republican., 1907-12-30

first because they were awake. Ihey
seem TO have been the only ones who
We're awake. Bethlehem was asleep.
Citizen and stranger. there were alike
oblivious to the great event that was
TO turn the world up side down. But
the shepherds were watching mot of
course for the Messiah: rather for
wolves and robbers: yet they were
alert and open-eyed. They peered into
the dark for sign of danger. They
turned a quick ear toward any strange
noise. SO while they waited for the
relieving daylight they saw the morn
ing OF christianity.
In other days revelations had come
in dreams and visions Now God was
to be manifest in the flesh. Human
ewes were actually TO see his glory.
Human ears were really to hear his
message. II was very proper that at
the outset the gospel should be de-
clared to men who were wide awake
and atte-tive.
Bethlehem missed him. But the
shepherd watch came to him. The
wise searchers from the east We're led
to him. Simeon and Anna Of eager
heart say the Lords Christ. Those
who were awake received the blessings
and those who are awake receive il
stiIl.
The glory of that Christ child now
fills the earth. His kingdom is brought
nigh to tho multitude. The Christ
mas bells ring OFT today a myriad
voices of praise. Not one cave or one
field. but fields. floods. rocks. Mills and
History bends her knee By that
Manager 70 own her Lord. Law" and
learning. art and literature lay their
richest gifts at the feet Of the found
er Of CHRISTIANITY Civilization looks
10 Kim ard asks to be- called b. his
name All that is good and enduring
in the worlds progress traces its way
to that radiant manger. The secret of
human lie IS to told h. those infant
lips The key to its mystery is put in
that small hand The stilling of its
unrest is in those eyes of peace. And
vet the world goes on Needless and
pre- occupied. like Bethlehem. missing
its Lord
Here is the greater marvel. Chris
tianity spreading. growing. showing
its power, making the name OF Jesus
ever more clearly supreme and. yet
men and women living in the midst OF
il all unmoved. They do not seem TO
see the signs. to hear the call. The
good tidings OF great Joy are flung
abroad but with them goes the CRY,
Awake thou that slee2est."
,. The bringing of the good news
first to shepherds indicates also that
it was for all the people. II was not
10 be the property OF few. The good
tidings came to no class or clan but
to representatives OF the common peO-
pie. Gods revelations had come tc
shepherds before but il had separated
them from their fellows. Moses must
forsake his indian flock To guide Is
rael out Of Egypt The shepherd oi
Takoa must leave the other herdsmen
TO speak thereafter as Amos. the pro-
phet. on these very Bethlehem fields
Divine message had come centuries
before to a watchful shepherd. and had
. called him from the flock to tbs
throne. But the men who received
this last and most glorious message
or revelation. We're to remain shep-
herds, plain and nameless shepherds
/ through all history. They We're not tC
be set apart. They had no special en-
dowment, commission or vested rights
The Jealous priests at Jerusalem might
expect that any Divine announcement
would come in the Temple and be ad-
ministered by them. or perhaps some
school of prophets were needed TO dis
pense so important revelation. Not
so. No prophet was to have a copy
/ right on the gospel. No priests were
To guard its hol:- mysteries. Upor
the open plains. away from the courts
and cults Of religion. with no altar OF
synagogue near. came the good new:
/ to earth. The birth of the Savior was
/ first announced to the simplest anC
/ humblest os men.
/ The gospel of salvation is not TO b,
I barred behind altar rails. Ii is not L
I be smothered beneath vestments o.
concealed i'm dead languages No re-
filming Rabies or wrangling Pharisee.
or hair splitting theologians shall hav,
peculiar possession Of the wonder o
the Incarnation. The truth is vas
enough for the profoundest study. Tn
mystery Of the Incarnation invites tn
study Of all schools of prophets. bu
the splendid and vital fact is opened T.
everybody. All the people have RICH
TO ii and equal right TO it.
II is not to be confined TO the cen
tiers Of population. to Jerusalem, o
even to small Bethlehem. The shep
herds were out of the way people
is true they were not a long distanc
from Bethlehem. but they did not <
there often. They abode in the field,
They were rustic and countryfie,
They did not often hear the new!
The city is the place for that on
must live In town to keep up wit
the times. But the grandeSt piece G
news that was ever made known upo
the earth was not made known to cit
folk hut to clod hoppers. 1t matter
little, maybe. what news Is missed i
the great lumber camps of Maine an
Wisconsin. The miners of Colorad
and the ranchers of Montana may &,
on without all the culture of the me
tropolis. but the good tidings must 2
everywhere. They belong to the pee
pile
;. The coming of the good tidins
thus to shepherds shows how slump
is the call OF faith. The contrasts
this scene are very impressive sud
= den outshining of heavens glory as
radiant messenger steps forth. a choI
us Of angels trooDing down from III
vocal and resplendent sky. the incor