Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-12-28

! q are long and yet they leave
| > the central figure a vague
z- and shadowy form The me.
y . morabilia of Jesus are short.
l22-12I and yet we know him as we
know familiar friend Of yesterday.
From his features not one line is lack
ing. His flower like childhood the
purity of his youth, the majesty and
beauty of his increasing manhood, the
atmosphere of character that he car
ried--all, all are fully known. Stand
ing on the hilltop, we look down upon
a populous valley holding in its lap
shining towns and cities, and from the
mount we look down across the career
Of Jesus, bright with parallels, spark
ling with deeds of mercy glorious with
wonder words and works. once none
90 little but that Jesus was less in
honor; now, none 50 exalted as singer,
scientist, reformer, artist, poet, but
that he seeks to borrow new fame by
linking his name with one whose star
has climbed zenithward into solitary
pre-eminence.
In the republic every citizen is one
eighty-millionth OF king In the civ
llzation of to-day every leader who
has conquered the love Of the genera,
ton he has serted is one fraction Of
the Christ life, and has borrowed his
inspiration and ideal from the carpen-
ter's Son More wonderful than all
else is his unfolding perfection. In
general perfection means the purga
lion Of imperfections. Slowly some
Thorwaldsen rubs OFF a speck OF mar.
Bile dust here and sandpapers the mi
mute roughness there Slowly, with
here a stroke and there a stroke, the
artist carries his canvas toward ideal
beauty. With infinite erasures and in
| terlineations the poet polishes his per
feet verse. Success Is the resduum
left after a thousand artistic failures
With God it is otherwise. All his
sweetbriar has to do is to unroll So
1t was with Jesus. He unfolded each
faculty as rose its petals. Lo there
was nothing 10 be added, and nothing
to be taken away. And yet he grew
IA wisdom. BY experience. by work,
by travel, and conversation he gath
cred knowledge about the fields, the
woods, the sea, the sky, about men,
! tools and events. Also what we never
would have dared to say the word Of
| God says. His memorabilia declare
he grew in favor with God" Gods
confidence and love were increasing
events, marching steadily toward the
| day when the voice was heard whis-
| pering, Thou art my Beloved Son, in
whom | am well pleased" And this
message falling on the inner ear was
the bliss of his solitude and the re-
ward of his work.
| II we can trust our analysis of the
Magnihcat OF Mary, his mother was
the most gifted intellect Of her time.
! No spring rises higher than its source.
and Mary the singer explains the
! sweetness of the song. In that far of
era the Sabbath with its hours whit
ened by prayer and perfumed with
aspiration, lent richness to his mind
and heart.
often it is said that his handicraft
/ was against Jesus. Not so. His needs
were few His work was in the open
air. Bending over the pillow, Cincin-
natus meditated his laws. Tending
his flocks, David wrought out his
songs. Moving slowly along the fur.
row Burns found his music. In all
ages the crook and the pillow have
united work and health to reflection