The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-01-02
IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD
4 Light in a Dark Time.

lb W DID pei uISIdI1I1SS, 80
congressman laughed in derision
when Persia's pathetic plea for pro
tecAon was read. That lamentable
indicates a state Of mind IN
America that is deplOrable, but prop
ably passing. All acute british Vlsl-
tor to the States remarked, a re-"
days ago, Your people do not seem
to take nue. interest in foreign al.
fairs. They have a peculiar sense OF
detachment. and look at all these
events in Europe and the East. which
stir the british SO deeply, merely as
a passing show" That man put his
finger on a weak spot in American
life. Our people are only beginning
to awaken to a sense or our own u1ne.
None but the most alert n progress
sive realize that this is a day of crisis
throughout the whole earth-a time
like INTO no other time. The unrest
Of the world today is a phenomenon
that should engrOss the interest of all
civilization. The conditions make it
plain to a student that this peculiar
time calls for a fresh vocalizafiOn or
the greatest truths. Nothing IS more
needed in our day than a clear, sim
pie. fundamental message hat will
arrest the attention, and command the
allegiance Of the hearts Of the whole
brotherhood Of mankind.
Observers are pointing out that the
present period is S~trikingly analogous
to that which preceded the birth OF
Jesus. In that critical era, Rome had
! come to the flower Of her power. She
held the known world under her do
minion. Her wonderful roads ran
everywhere. Her language n law
had been imposed upon the remOtest
bounds Of civilization. The Jewish
people had been scattered everywhere
under the safe shelter Of the Roman
law ,,n~1-n1 n1,inl1nni,oo q md C0Cf-
lessness had accompanied a moral
and religious decadence. Whoever
has visited the ruins Of Pompeii, or
who has read "Quo Vadis" and DARK
ness and Dawn knows how ripe
and ready the world "a for some
thing to happen.
The Man for the Hour.
Historians nave repeatedly pointed
out the peculiar preparation Of events
for the coming Of the Christ, who was
to be a greater king than Caesar. and
WELD q sway beyond h dream OF
any II then living. The Supreme
Power which prepared conditions was
busy also preparing the a Thus
We nave his story of the. a~nnuncia-
ton Of the birth Of John the Baptist
who in the flesh was second cousin
to Jesus himself, Mary and Elizabeth
being cousins.
The Importance of this event-the
merest commonplace incident, neigh.
bOrS would cali twas lost upon al
behOlders. Few understood the super.
natural message which had come t
5 the father, that to his home a sol
, should be born. Zacharias was
priest, engaged in the highest function
Of his calling. within the temple it
t self, when the heavenly messenge
brought him this message, SO wei
: nigh incredible, that to his childles
wife Elizabeth, who was herself on,
t of the daughters of Aaron, should b
e born q son whose mission should b
t that Of the promised herald Of tn
Messiah.
f When a Child is Born.
What a day Of days it is in ever
home when the first child is born. T
T every parent of imagination come Wis
e ions Of a possible caIeer for his sor
e who shall be SO much greater tina
his father, and do all that his fathe
g has failed to do The babe is foreve
a synonym for possibility. The think
ing persons heart is always stirre
q hen he looks into q cradle. Their
s may lie the future teacher or leade
: Of humanity.
l. ni1icance Of the birth Of John tn
IS BAPTIST to history is being studio,
:. Ma we not tarry for a moment
l. recall its purely human signiiclnc
I To the childless home Of the hungr,
&c hearted priest and his Wife?
'r meant much to ~Zacharias. hut
y meant more to Eliza beth. TO Il
er vision had been brought the possibi
a ity of his offspring as a prophet:
Al EilZabeth'S heart came the vision
/ a enid. Just a warm. soft, helple
rs human baby. to whom she was to
~ mother. Wise indeed is the wor
"A child in the house IS "A we
az spring IF pleasure Better than 4
a IenSlVe furniture. or oriental rugs.
n flch paintings or beautiful table ser
~ Zee IN "a home. Is the presence If lit
III 'hlidren-the sureSt source of 10, al
< the best discipline OF life: for q
IL training Of children is the truesl trai
3 ing Tor inen and women.
\ Career for Il Son.
II Nhcic IS = message for these ar
~ hi'louS times in the angels present
boh or l. career FOR the new chi
= whom he announced. Fathers a,
IN mothers are speiiing their children I
n DAY by making life too easy (
lot mem, n BY holding up Ia the
nj. SELFISH idea Is .af -,..w.