Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
y the story of the first Christmas the

IN the story OF the first Christmas the
Christian appeal is made to repre-
sentative humanity. in the persons
u of the magi the scribes and the
shepherds. The study is suggestive.
The magi followed the star That was
The best they knew. 1t did not promise
much, but it promised something. For
them there was nothing to do but to fol-
tow the star. They felt the divine COM
pulsion of being true to themselves. to
heir faith, to their science. See. now.
what came of it. Loyal to the light they
bad. it brought them to greater light;
nay. to the source of light And that is
ever the outcome of such fidelity No
honest seeker after God is ever in utter
Darkness. Fog there may be, for doubts
will come even if God has kept His prom
kes 10 men. but there lis always light
enough to get home. To the upright, I'M
faiIingly there ar;seth light in the dark
ness. The magi found much 10 contend
with. On the superstition that they knew
the core of Hebrew prophecy, with it's
Irresistible hope of a coming king and
kingdom. why should they identity the
hope of the world with nation which.
in point of civilization and learning, OF
wealth or political consequence, was of
no account i'll the world? Moreover. it
was long and fatiguing journey and at
its end Scant welcome from a people
Who knew the east only TO dread and hate
ii. Wise men, indeed. They took no
counsel of their prejudices or fears. They
professed to seek the truth. Truth is
sought and found only by the single
hearted. Like Tennyson's young mari
ner. they followed the CLEAN, and it
brought them to the desired haven, says
N bo Northwestern Christian
Advocate.
But what of the scribes, the wise men
Of the west? The star shone for them
also. Were they. too obedient to the
heavenly vision? When the magi came to
Jerusalem to inquire where the King of
the Jews was to be born, they We're nat
urally referred to the chief priests and
scribes of Jewry. For who should know
better than they9 And they did know.
Their answer was both prompt and cor
rect; they reinforced it with page and
chapter of the scroll with which they
were as familiar as with their own fam
lily tree. They said. I'm Bethlehem of
JUdea, for thus ii is written In Beth
temple porch Surely they will hasten to
welcome their king, How can they re-
strain themselves? Well. they do re-
strain themselves. The magi journey on
from Jerusalem to Bethlehem But not
a priest or scribe goes with them What
edge is not always wisdom Learning is
not necessarily the mother of love or of
loyalty.
The magi knew only little, but were
obedient to the little they knew; the chief
priests and scribeS knew all and knew it
perfectly, but were utterly unmoved by
the knowledge. Some people today are
really-needlessly, to be sure. but really
alarmed about critical assaults upon
Scripture. Christmas may bring this as
surance to them-that Jesus is quite in
dependent Of the literary record of his
doings and sayings. Were the whole
then be no worse off than the first gen.
Grafton OF Christians, who had no New
Testament at all. Like them we should
have to know Christ less perfectly than
We do: but imperfect knowledge need be
no bar to obedience, as more perfect
knowledge is no assurance of obedience
As with the magt, we might have only a
star instead of sun. but, then, we might
follow the star 1t is never question of
light more or less, but of disposition to
seek the light. Have you done what you
knew ought to be done? Have you done
what you could have done but for some
selfish interest? Follow that light.
The shepherds, though in another con-
nection. are concerned with the Child at
Bethlehem. To them also had come a
vision, to which was added a voice. They
were a poor. unlettered folk. knowing
or of his sayings in the Book. 1t must
all have been. in their minds, curious, be-
wildering, startling. But God had to
reach them as he had to reach the magi
of the east, the rabbi of the west AS
with the magi, Gods leading was suffi-
cient for the shepherds. They did not
know everything, but the little they knew
they lived up to. And because they dealt
honestly with what they had they, too,
are led to greater light-nay. to the
source of light. About the cradle of Jesus
the wise man from afar and the inlet