The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-09

touching and full OF deep truth. Here
we see the wiscst OF the world bend
ing before the Child in His cradle.
Remember tho history OF Masianlsm.
It began with awe entering into THIS
world beneath ,lG serene skies OF the
East and developed Itself In wonder
and worship. 1t passed into priest
craft and slsepticism. 1t ended as 1t
began, in wonder and in adoration;
but with truer and nobler meaning
and ideal.
And this Is but representation OF
human life. Heaven lies around US in
our infancy The child looks upon
this world OF Gods aa beautiful,
wonderful, and the creation OF HIS
Fathers hand. The man dissects,
breaks 1t into fragments, loses love
and worship in speculation and reason
ing, and become less irradiated with
sense Of the presence Of the Lord
Of all; till at last, after many devious
wanderings df he be one whom the
Star Of God is 1eading), and by way
he knows not he begins to see all as
once moro comes the child-like spirit
! In the Christianity Of old age. We
lsneel before the child--we feel that
| to adore Is greater than to rcason;
| that to love and worship and believe
brings tho soul nearer heaven than
any scientific analysis. The child IS
| nearer God than wei
Note the Joy of the Magi. They had
seen the star In the East, and had fol-
lowed IT, but 1t seemed to go out In
dim obscurity. They went about
inquiring; asked Herod. who could tell
| them nothing; asked the scribes, who
only gave them vague directions. At
last the star shone out once more,
clear before them in their path. when
they saw the star they rejoiced with
exceeding great JOY"
There may be some who have seen
the star Of earlier days go out.
quenched in black vapors and smoke.
There are some who have followed
an "ignis fatuus," bright but utterly
untrus tworthy and disappointing. But
oh! the unspeakable and Exceeding
joy" after lowing-after inquiring OF
the great men and learning nothing;
of the religious men, and finding
and to find that religion Is thing
far more simple than we thought; that
| God is near us, and that to kneel and
| adore alone will bring peace and rest.
For God will guide him Alright who
| faithfully follows his own Star. But
| toseach one the message Is differently
convey ed. He spoke to those wise men
by the star; to the shepherds by the
melody OF the heavenly host; to Joseph
by a dream; to Simeon by an inward
revelation. Gold. frankincense and
myrrh," these and ten times these,
i were but poor and trumpery to give
for blessed certainty that the Star
Of God is sent to lead US on.
That Star is now looking down or
the graves OF those wise men, and II
there be no life beyond. then we must
Z reach this conclusions: That mass OF
inert matter lis still pursuing its way
through space, and the minds that
u watched 1t, calculated its movements
; and were led by 1t from aspiring
; wishes to holy fulfilment and alteration
those minds, more precious than 9
thousand stars, have dropped forever
: from Gods universe! Then, does Goo
, care more for material masses thar
for spirit which is part Of Himself;
4 Impossible God Is not the God of the
/ dead, but of the living He is the Coo
and Father of our spirits.
: Eternity and immeasurableness be-
| long to thought alone. You may meas.
! ure the cycles of that star by years
i and miles. Can you bring any meas
urement (Which belongs to time OF
space) by which you can compute TIL,
length and breadth or duration O
4 one pure thought, one aspiration, on
unselfish deed, one moment of love
i This is eternity. Nothing but though
4 can be immortal.
Il Learn from these wise men the dee
truth of the Epiphany. 10 the Jew,
showed that the Gentle, too, could be
come the child of God. That's trut
/ which must be often and often re
peated. Christ has broken down 9Th
\ middle wall of partition" He has re
!, vealed to us God as our Eather-pro
. claimed there is no distinction in Iii
spiritual family, and forever estab
: lished the true brotherhood OF man.
r In the hearts of many there is
spirit whereby they would monopoliz
y Color hold Hin, up as some grea
& unapproachable Being. And yet til
a blessed truth remains that He is OF
II Father. near to all, easy Of acces
y whom to adore is ineffable and eterni
a blessedness.
tH ----=---------------- ~
Still it must be borne in mind thi
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