The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-12-23


try of Persia, in the year of the world (Anno Mum
di) four thousand before Christ (B. CO. five, young
priest (Caspar by name, stood upon the flat roof of
large building gazing intently into the star stud
ded heavens The building upon the roof of which
he was standing was school of astrology. Caspar
altho possessed Of profound knowledge of history
had but recently enrolled student Of astronomy
and astrology. He had very particular reason for
taking up these studies at this time Deeply relig-
ious always he bad studied the prophetic utterances
of the learned and inspired of various stages of
the worlds history; and these prophecies spoken by
the profound thinkers of the centuries past as we'll
as many of his day. indicated that the time was
not far dstant-indeed, if the prophecies were true
was very imminent-that universal leader should
be made manifest. Zoroaster had declared that "A
pure virgin should conceive and that, the
child was born, star would appear, blazing, even
at MONDAY, with undiminished lustre."
While Caspar was gazing skyward, he noticed
two of The planets Jupiter and Saturn in con- juno
ton at one point in the heavens and he stood, in
wonderment and awe, marvelling at this unheard
of association of these members of the planetary
system, another planet (Mars), joined with Jupi-
ter and Saturn. fiery trygon in the constellation
Pisces Caspar, now feeling assured that there
was some great portent in the unusual conjunction
of the planets hastily descended the stairs, and call
ed to Mechoir and Belthazar, two learned friends
of his both many years his senior. He had sooD-
called them than they responded, for they, too
had the planetary phenomenon and were in
the act of ascending the stairs the same instant
young Caspar was descending The three assembled
to the roof of the building, from which vantage
point they had unobstructed view of the celestial
bodies. Even they stood gazing at the planetary
trinity Mars. Jupiter, and SATURN there appeared
a new star in the constellation of the Serpent. In. b.
These statements concerning the actions of the heav
emily bodies are substantiated by data gathered by
Professor Prtchard, of the Royal Astronomical So
ciety Kepler, Encke and others Such coDjunc-
tons occur but once in eight hundred years.
Two cycles of eight hundred years each would date
back from A. D. 1904, the year in which these OBJ
servations were made, approximately to the time
the Star appeared to the MagD
As soon as the aged Melchoir saw the planetary
display he turned to his companions, and said:
This, my brethren. must indeed be the Star
(he new star in the constellation of the Serpent,
not the planetary conjunction) of which Zoroaster
spoke in his prophecy relating to the birth of
child whose mother would be virgin. Listen, O Bel
thazar and you, o Caspar, to the words of Zoroas-
ter disciple of Jeremiah. and religious leader!
YOU my sons spoke Zoroaster to our forefathers,
concerning the expected Messiah, will perceive the
rising of the Star before any other nation. AS
as you see the Star, follow it wheresoever it leads
you and adore the mysterious child offering your
gifts to Him with the profoundest humility. He is
the Almighty Word which created the heavens
Believest thou, 0 Belthazar and Caspar, that Tor
caster was a man of God! If so, then will you
join with me in journey whithersoever yon Star
may lead? For l, Mecholr, tho my hair has
sllvered gray with the frosts of many winters and
my body feels the enfeebng touch of age, shall
dertake the journey, be it long or short; and me-
thinks that it means many weeks of travel, for it
has been foretold by wise and good of old, that
the Universal Ruler to spring from the Jewish
race and if this be true what fitting place for
the child to be born than at Jerusalem, the Jewish
capitol?.
Most venerable sir" responded Caspar. tho
the journey take to the nethermost parts of the
earth, I, for one desire to go with YOU.
And IT, said Belthazar You and /. Melchoir
have labored together for these many years: first
classmates, then college chums. and finally to-
gether received our ordination into the priesthood.
believe can speak for US both when say that
lives have been too closely linked, aud fell
lowship firmly knitted for to voluntarily sep
erateo urselves one from the other now az the shad-