Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-19
Christmas Sermon In Words
Of One Syllable.

An innovation in sermons was thel
ono delivered by the Rev. A. Smythe
Palmer, MA, D. D., vicar Of Holy Trim
ity church, Wanstead, England, on the
birth Of Christ. This sermon is en-
tirely in words of one syllable.
TTE speaks the mind OF God
who tells US and would have
us know what God thinks, for
II 1t were not for him we
could not know at all. God did so
love the world that he gave his own,
one Son, 10 be born at this time for us,
to the end that all who trust in him
should not die, but have the life which
lasts for aye" He came and "dwelt
with us" on earth that men might see
with their own eyes at least one pure
life, lived free from sin. He was made
flesh of our hesh' and bone Of our
bone" God with u.s. in truth, but man
no less, true man and true Coda child
like one Of our own. That is the
strange thing, so deep that no man,
wise as he may be, can quite take it in.
He was to be God with us" but at
the same time "a worm and no man
less than man in the grief and pain
aud scorn which he bore.
The texts take our thoughts back to
the birth Of this day. II is birthday
for the whole world to keep. All men
can say: "ro us this child is born; to
us God gave this son Of his love. l
have my share in It." And 80 we are
all glad Of heart and make our church
gay with plants and flowers and sing
our hymns of Joy and keep the feast
with gifts anil good fare. 1t is the
birth day Of all our hopes, Now, 1t was
good news Of great Joy that the host
from on high brought to the herds who
kept watch on their sheep in the fields.
And 1t is still so. For us, rs much as
for them. was born in that small town
one strong to save, (Which is Christ
the Lord"
1t is old news now, and fear 1t falls
! on our dull, cold hearts like some old
tale Of long past time which has lost
its charm. Oh, let US not shut our ears
to 1t as some Of those first men did
| When he came to his own his own
would not take him in. They said,
There is no room for him hcre'-no
room in the inn when be came to it.
1t was not an inn, you must know, like
one of ours, but mere bare court
where those on the road might rest--a
''khan" they call It In the east
Does It not seem to US Il sad aud
strange sight that Il young babe should
be shut out in the cold night-Go in
want Of house room? \ poor place, at
best, as rude and rough as we can
well think, and, such rs It was, quite
full with the crowd who had come first
The host Of the inn sends them Off
lie tells them there lsa cave at the
back Of the inn where the beasts are
Kept; they may iind rest there. If they
will That cave, where the birth Of
all time took place, is Still shown IN
the rock. great church built there
marks the spot, Then, poor, mean and
cold, 1t was the best place he could
lind to lay his head.
THE fox has bis hole and the bird
Of the air her nest. but the Son Of Man
hath not where to lay bis head So, in
that cave In the rock, the stall Of the
OK and the ass, in the crib out Of which
they ate their hny, the newborn babe
was laid, lust think what an this
means-Go made flesh, God born MS
man in this world Of ours, that he
might find way to bring back man to
God! lie hid bis might, and men hid
their face from him. None but the
herds who kept their sheep saw OF
knew Of II till they fell to the ground
in great blaze Of light, and a host OF
bright ones IN the sky sang such Il
song as no choir on earth has sung
which gave praise TO God on high
and on earth peace, good will TO men
Those herds had faith TO 70 and seek
the child of whom they were told They
, found him In the crib, and they SAW
. more than their eyes could see, They
: knew that IN that weak child was The
power Of God to save. And so thes'
b good men, when they had how'd down
went back TO their Cock, struck will
y awe, aud gave praise TO God for al
they had heard and seen"
Shall we do less7 Shall We not. too
GO home and give thanks on our part
with joy for what we have heard? Ant
In all our joy let us nnd room FOR th,
one guest who should not be left out
room in our hearts for him whose wolt
' IL life.