The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-12-23
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS GIFT
AN INTERESTING INSTRUCTIVE sEMALEGORY
LEADING THE MESSIAH

one hump camel (dromedary) and the ass were the
animals most commonly used. The most noble and
honorable among the Jews rode As the horse
was an emblem Of war; the emblem Of
peace" AS in later years Messiah rode into Jerusa-
lem ass. SO will have Mary-as we believe
she did-jOurney into Bethlehem by the same means
Horses in the days antedatng the Christian era we're
strictly war anlmals there being but instance
record of them having been used for other than war
purposes, prior to the birth of Christ. This instance
is recorded in lisa. 1929.
In the same year, but weeks later than the
time the events above recorded took place, l. E., in
Dec B. CA, in the land of Judea, there was great
excitement, for the edict had gone forth from the
Roman Emperor Augustus Cesar) that all the world
should be taxed.
By The world" was meant the Roman Empire
and all peoples tributary to it. The usual fate of
country conquered by Rome was to become
subject province, governed directly from Rome by
officers out for that purpose Sometimes. how
ever, petty sOveregns left in possession of
inal independence the borders within the
natural limits of the province. All of Palestine to-
gether with most of the known world subject to
Cesar Syria had been added to the Roman En-
pire by Pompey. B. @. "a. 1t still permitted to
hold several of the principal cities free Cities"
These retained the administration Of their own af-
fairs subject to tribute levied according to the
Roman principles of taxation. Judea, also was
among the districts fortunate enough to retain semi
independent government; that is, the ruler of the
province, had within his province the power of a
legatus, but subordinate to the governor of
Syria. At the time of which writing,
Cyrenus was governor of Syria and Herod the Great
was King of Judea Hcrod had risen from pro-
curatorship to which B. Z. Al he appointed by
julius Caesar. to kngship which conferred
upon him B. G. 40, and which office he held until
his death which occurred at Jericho, in Apr. B. c.. A.
the year of Messiah's birth. The Herod to whom
refer above the first of the Herods men,
toned in the New Testement. Altho all of the
outlying districts of the Roman possessions SUBJ
ject to taxation for the benefit of the Roman Emperor
never before had the edict gone forth that there
should be general assembage of the various peoples
in their respective cities ok 21-3. Also his
tories of Palestine. and Gaee in the time of Christi
On. B. The seeming paradox that confr"ns us in the
conflicting dates, l.. Messiah born four five
years before present chronology records the be-
ginning of the Christian Era. is due to the mistake
of learned Monk Dionysous Exeguus) who, in
the year of our Lord (Anno Domini) $50, made
the calculations upon which our present chron-
oogy is based Later evidence proved his calcua-
tons have been incorrect, but we have not al
tered the system of reckoning established by him.
To be correct however, we should add four years to
present date. which would then read thus: Dec.
25th 1919
Judea. Samaria, Gaee and all countries or
provinces subject to Roman rule in furore of
excitement. for every must 60 his native city
for enrolment. Among those who must make
journey from their present home in order to comply
with the decree, Mary. daughter of Jacob, and
Joseph, son of He'll. 1t this Mary who was des-
tined to become the Virgin Mother of the Christ
child. And they, Joseph and Mary. made what in
those days long journey-about 100 MS
from Nazareth, in Gallilee. TO Bethlehem in Judea.
The month was Dec. general acceptation) and as
they journeyed southwark thru Samaria. into Judea
they passed many grazing focks and their shepherd
attendants. (Dec in Palestine is balmy month, and
Nature affords abundant heritage for the focks).
When Joseph and Mary, arrived in Bethlehem
they found the inns full and, because of this were
compelled lodge in that part of of the stables
that arranged for the accommodation of the
peasantry, and sojourning shepherds. Because of
the large number who in Bethlehem for the en-
rollment. Joseph and Mary, had wait severaIdays
for their turn the office of Recorder of Names SO
will leave them for time to their resources
while we visit with the shepherds whom Joseph and
Mary had passed on their way to Bethlehem.
CONTINUED on Page Three)