The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-17
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II lT too to ask of fa,h-is It too much to
\ ask OF unfaith-to believe that Christmas
time the spirit of the gentle Christ Child Is born
mon?
may think. with Herod. that lie was but a
dangerous tradition of the Jews with PLATE that
lie disturber peace. or. with Mahome,
that lie prophet II the Son or God; with
sheer akeptcsm, that He visionary
fanatic. But that He was. among all OF
the incarn aton o mercy nd OF owe no one
will deny Nor can we fail TO realize that, when His
birthday too. that spirit
incarnatc In ourselves. whether the inspiration be
6iyinc human whether the yearly miracle be
kublime faith or the simple. obvious consequence
habit OF thought.
Son of God man Christ Child asks
welcome now. lie sought crowded Be,hle
hem when the centuries were young and the frosty.
ElttternE stars lighted the His mother.
need TO the stable and the manger.
Tho world weaving beautifu
legends OF that holy cve-legends of pous souls,
whose tender faith our sapience derides. We make
legends more. for rich knowledge
and too In faith. We give Him welcome yes-in
har cd, GradErind way-ost as We are to the
fine flower OF dream and fancy that nforetin,e bur
Eeoncd everywhere OF the wondrous wealth of story
that once was on any chiids tongue we have but the
husks rcniainng-a spruce tree here. with heather
Druids FOR it's reason: misctoe there with stolen
Kiss to warrant It, Perhaps. 81 some impudent sinner
were to urge palms for this day Easter We
would follow suit for the sake OF new fashion
lfappily. with blessed happiness the true Spirit
OF Christmas is reborn there many Who
II they but knew those lost legends of the earlier
years, would rejoice welcome Christ Child
with their emblcns. the greens and flowers on whose
'wigs hang clusters homely Jewels fancy about
whose petals there he perfume of loving
grateful faith.
Bring IIm-and the iris lily. and winter
aconite and heiiebore. for they all Christmas
roses. like the Jericho, truly embematic
than our splendid flower which really owns the
You can read of the in the Advent antiphons
where 1t is proclaimed that. at the coming the
Savior
The desert the byways shall rejoice and tho
solitude be glad md blossom the rose" although
the lily appears in some TRANSACTIONS Budding It
low
Tor the glory OF 1banus Is given to him. the beauty
OF Carmel and Sharon shall the glory of the Lord
and the excellcncy of God"
italy and Sicily have the iris for their
France and England find 1T in the yellow blossoms
the shining green OF the winter aconite. The OF
oericho sun blooms In Arabia and the sands of Syria
IT, perchancc 1T be the Jericho in
the scriptures. When the this strange plant
around which the faiths of Christian and Mosem
alike have intertwned in wither fall
the stems curl inward until II becomes round ball.
whose roots forsake their hold In tho
desert winds blow tho ball hither yon until IT
finds n place of moisture and hastens unfold and
drop Its seeds for termination.
1t typfes the Virgin Mother whose title has been
in lands OF Jericho A root out of the
thirsty land" dew Of the Holy Spirit fell upon her
and she gave to the parchcd world blessing
Divine Son. The plant became Mary's Legend
has told how II opens at all her feasts that the
immaculate Conception alone excepted At the moment
Wheh me Cha was born on Christmas night. It
opened and became, too, the Holy Night Rose Kaf
Miriam, they call 1t in the east where when a woman 8
time has come it Is her bedside in a little
water that in her pain she thoughts on the
Nativity of the Lord and find in miracle of sur
of suffering. When the Holy Night Rose there
has fully expanded the mother remembers no
more her anguish for JOY that is born into tho
world"
Northern Europe turns to the hcllebore with IT'S
waxy white flower. although the crimson variety has
of intrinsic beauty They call 1t, too the
Noel Rose and the Rose of the Holy Night: and 1t
hS= peculiarly It's own, as Christs Flower. The
scriptures inclined to be aciturn regarding the
part It played but the ancient mystery plays those
relcfs of the people from the expressions their
medieval masters knew all about It and placed before
the faithful beautiful idyl Of Its origin.
When. In those plays, the shepherds hasten the
humble stable, they are accompanied by Madelon, q
poor maiden who where the shepherds could bring
warm neeces for the Mother % lie on and
could play on their rustic pipes their tribute
rejoicing, had only her sympathy and tears give at
sight OF tho poor abode and tho thought her own
helplossness. But God, looking down that gentle
comfort e. - "
Why weopest thou In thy prayers Madelon 2" asked
the shining angel. ~ "