The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-01-30
THREE PERSIANS AND ONE
AMERICAN.
RI. t,onal Sunday School Is,s-
r,r LI.hr,,ary 4 is. .Thc Wise
Men Led by the Star Matthew =.

Stn lOf ttDTudI 4 -
Men Led by the Star Matthew =
iBy WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
Since the first newspaper came o
The press, was there ever Il time When
the news OF the day was so nnkeo
with the great interests OF NE. ana
with the sublime old stories OF the
Bible. as at the present time? Here
is Persia, the long-forgottcn nation,
suddenly figuring On the first pages
of the newspapers, n largely be-
cause OF one fearless, s~ingle-eyed
American young man; while millions
of persons in North America are also
studying this week in h Sunday
schools the familiar story OF the three
sages from Persia who once journeyed
westward In pursuit Of their highest
conception OF duty.
The contrast Is striking and timely
for the two stories are linked by the
centuries OF growing Christian ideal
ism which have intervened-that of
the young man from the West who
followed duty's star to Persia; that
VI the old men from Persia who fol-
lowed hopes star to the West.
Getting at the Facts.
AZ unnecessary haze and slannor
has surrounded the visit OF the Magi
TO Bethlehem. To know more Of the
AdtLo III liz CdSc only ENHANCES the
beauty Of tho story. These me were
naturc-worshipcrs, the Oldest cult Of
the East, and by the common agree
ment OF scholars, they came from
Persia. Doubtless they were Zorro
3strians.
There still exists on the eastern
bank of the lower Tigris river, short
~ before it joins the E~uphrates, q
community Of Sabeans, the anc,.nt
people from whom the Wise Men are
commonly supposed to have come.
The center of this community, which
Ike the Jews. has persisted in it's
purity through the rise and fall OF
empires. Is the town Of Amara, known
Tor a peculiar type Of enameled silver
work which it produces. the secret Of
winch has been handed down from
generation to generation. These
Sabeans are still w%OrshiDers OF the
stars, although they are also said to
DC disciples OF John the Baptist. The
bnsch Reformed Mission in Arabia.
with which the University OF MICHIGAN
ashed q missionary at Amara. A
new sense Of the reality OF this old
story is impaired by recalling the
present situation OF the people Of the
Magi. ~
Hjstory's Most Famous Quest.
Lovers OF the romantic have cher
lShcd the stories OF Jason's search for
the Eol den fleece, Columbus's ouasr
Tor q ShOrt route to the Indies tho
search OF many mariners for =
Passage, and the pursuit of
we fountain of perpetual youth by
ionce de Leon. Greater than anv
vi an or these stories, and more
precious in the worlds eyes. is tho
wonderful quest Of the three Wise
wen from the East for the new star
"HIcn they, as astrologers, had seen.
nesc rare, rich and majestic fig
"iee suddenly appeared out Of the
mysterious East. with h Sirnple an
nouncement that they had seen :,
ntar tiat would lead them to a KING
Inc men were spiritually minded sta-.
SaZtrs. seeking to find in the heaysns
.ohcis OF peace for the heart of man
81 Chrysostom has said. Christ is
wont u catch every man in the wav
" ms own craft-Mag1ans with =
H'"r, SHer with fish" These travo,
LIS sought a star. but 10, they found
the Sun OF righteousness. '
"hSes' leave your contempla4iops
visions beam afar.
eek the great desire of nations.
lie nave seen His natal star.
come and worship,
worship Christ. the newborn
King
Inc pilgrimage of Peace.
enrapt Is the beholder with +ho
tpsS'acIe OF the Wise Men nj Rethia
non. 'hat he gives no heed tn ~
n,. price they paid in the fn,6ll-