The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-12-27


1--WE are happy little children,
We are happy little children,
We are happy little children
When Christmas time draws near"
Zion
The portion of the exercise IMPLYING
Zion was opened by the Senior Preparatory
Chorus rendering the beautiful and inspir-
ing carol, ring Out the Bells for Christ
mas" opening with the following stanza:
"Ring out the bells for Christmas,
Oh, happy, happy day!
In winter wild, the holy Child
Within the cradle lay
Oh wonderful! the Savior
is IN manger lone;
His palace is stable,
And Marys-arm His throne
REFRAIN:
Ring out the bells for Christmas,
Oh, happy, happy day!
Ring out the bells for Christmas,
Oh happy, happy dayP'
The rendition of this magnificent selec-
ton, which is of high order and especially
difficult, deserves particular mention. The
blending of the various parts with the or
chestral effects was beautiful beyond de-
scription; it seemed like a foretaste of
heaven
| Bringing out the true meaning of Christ
mas as taught and understood in Zion, a
peaceful family circle was seen = father,
mother, three daughters and son.
1t was the evening of Christmas Day.
The mother and two older daughters, as
they sat by the lamp light, were busily en-
gagged with some light sewing. The little
girl and boy were happy with their Christ
mas gifts. The father, who had been read
ing Leaves of Healing, laid the paper aside,
and, taking a Bible from the table, said:
Come children, it is time for worship,
Little folks must be off to bed. Tomorrow
you can play with your pretty things again.
Has it been happy day."
Reginald: eyes, indeed, Father. The
family to whom we took the basketful of
goodies, the toys and clothing, were so
thankful I do wish we could have had
them all here for Christmas dinner"
Mother: eyes, that would have been nice,
but with all the guests we had [ don't see
how we could have had any more"
Little Dorothy, smuggling close to her
mother, looked up and said: christmas is
the incest day in all the year"
Mother: "Why do you like it best, darl-
ing?"
Dorothy: ooh, because it is Jesus birth
day and we get presents. [ love my new
dolly"
Father: eyes, and just as Father and
Mother love you and are happy to give you
gifts, so our Heavenly Father showed His
love for us by giving the most precious Gift
ever bestowed. Reginald, can you repeat
the verse that tells us that !"
Reginald: eyes, sir. For God so loved
the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that Whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting
| life"
Father: "May God help us all at this
Christmas time to appreciate more than ever
before His love for us. How fitting it is
that Our thoughts go back to the Christ
Child in the manger at Bethlehem and to
the beautiful story of the coming of the
Wise Men and of the announcement to the
Shepherds Can you tell me where to find
these stories, Jessie?"
Jessie: cit tells about the shepherds in
the Second Chapter of Luke" =
| And there were in the same country. shep-
herds abiding in the field, keeping watch over
their flock by night.
And, 10, the anger or the LORD came upon
| them, and the glory of the Lord shone round
about them: and they were sore afraid.
| And the angel said unto them, Fear not:
| for. behold, bring you good tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city
of David Savior, who is Christ the Lord:
| And this shall be sign unto you: Ye shall
| find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
| lying in manager.
| And suddenly there was with the angel
multitude of the heavenly host praising God,
and saying,
peace, good will toward men,
Reginald: "It tells about the Wise Men
who followed the star to Bethlehem, in
the Second Chapter of Matthew"
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
| Judea, in the days of Herod the king behold,
| there came wise men from the east to Jeru-
salem,
Saving. Where is he that is born King of
the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east,
and are come to worship Him.
| When Herod the king had heard these things,
he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had gathered all the chief
priests and scribes of the people together, he
! born
| And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of
Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
And thou Bethlehem, in the land OF yuda,
art not the least among the princes OF Juda:
for out of thee shall come Governor that
shall rule my people Israel.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the
wise men, inquired of them diligently what time
! the star appeared.
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go
and search diligently for the young child; and
when we have found Him, bring me word
I a |