Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-12-25

the race endures men will make pill
grimages to Bethlehem of Judea and
stand in awe at the spot where the
Saviour of mankind was born.
MARVELLOUS POWER.
AT this season of the year the whole
world, in imagination, not only makes
its pilgrimage to that far-famed city
Of David, but It traverses 10 centuries
Of time to get back to that suspicious
and historic night when Jesus was
born. What marvellous power there
must be in personality which can
thus draw all the ages to itself, and
render forever sacred the place Of its
advent into the world.
THE history of civilization might be
almost written in. a series of books
each bearing as title the name of
single place. Marathon, Runnymede,
Jamestown, Plymouth Rock, Bunker
HILL what pictures they call up to the
mind. The Greek patriot, by his death
giving the world his civilization. The
sturdy barons of England by their pro-
test on the meadow of Runnymede
near Windsor, laying the cornerstone
of English liberty. The Anglo Saxon
conscience emigrating to an unknown
land across the sea to save its self
respect. The colonist's sense of justice
that turned the farm hand into the
soldier at an hours notice. All these
are but the barest suggestions of the
struggle that gave western civilization
a new future at Marathon, Runny-
mede, jamestown, Plymouth Rock
Bunker Hill and all these names stand
struggle for division and strife. But
this morning, much as we prize these
names we turn to a far greater than
they all, and in the words Of the shep-
herds, Let Us Now Go Unto Bethle-
hem and See This Thing Which Is
Come to Pass"
Bethlehem, through the ages, has
stood for peace, and 1t seems signifi-
cant that the recapture of Jerusalem
and the Holy Land by the English
army and it's restoration to the Christ
Ian nations should have been followed
almost Immediately by peace after four
long years of deadly warfare
MEANING sETHLEHEM's PEACE.
But Bethlehem's peace is not the
quiet of little Judean village. Beth
lehem's peace is world wide. II shines
INTO every Christian heart and every
Christian community.
1T has been truthfully said that a
name only records the climax of long
years of preparation. The fact that
from the Garden Of Eden every raw
of Gods truth had been pointing to-
ward that wonderful event, the birth
day OF Saviour, only makes the name
OF Bethlehem more precious and full
of meaning. It's wonderful peace is
not the peace OF Indifference which
forgets that there is. and must be
struggle In the world; nor IL IL the
peace of helplessress that dares not
struggle with its SURROUNDINGS. II is
the deeper peace Of reconciliation, The
name Bethlehem stands for the peace
of reconciliation between God and man.
and the position was won for it by
centuries OF struggle. With mans
misuse of power, discord and suffer
ing came into the world. But from his
every cfeation the fact of Gods love
for him was an implied guarantee that
reconciliation was possible. Rooted in
Gods very nature was the promise of
redemption, and from the first we see
that men recognized the promise by
their struggle against sin and their
search for atonement.
Gods love and longing to receive
and pardon mankind was ever present
In His divine nature, and on Christmas
morning, about 1919 years ago. He gave
expression to it in the birth of the
Holy Child Jesus. For God so loved
the world that He gave His only be-
gotten Son, that whatsoever believeth
in Him should not perish, but have ev-
erasting life
Again it is Christmas tide. and our
eyes with millions of others, are turned
eastward to that little village among
the Judean hills where the Christ
Child was born in a stable, where the
breath Of oxen, perhaps, first warmed
His body. and the shepherds knelt in
lowly alteration.
Great changes have come over the
world. No Roman emperor now is
sues a decree that all the world should
be taxed: no King Herod inquiries dill
igently OF the Wise Men what time the
star appeared But the manger still
remains. and year by year. II not the
Wise Men from the east, learned schol-
holp spot to do homage to the Babe
of Bethlehem in the very place where
He was born.
1--WE, too, would be among that wor-
shipping throng. We, too. would bring
our presents OF gold frankincense and
myrrh--yes, and OF something higher
and nobler still. our very selves and
lives land bow down in adoring love
before Him. Let us now go even unto
Bethlehem. and see this thing which
Is come to pass
SERVICE AT eEThLEHEM.
1.-THE midnight service at Bethlehem
Is conducted by the highest dignitary
of the Greek Orthodox Church in the
Holy Land. All during the day great
crowd has been gathering in the quad
rangle before the church of the Ma
tivity. which has been built immedi-
ateiy over the traditional spot where
Christ was born.
AT II y. m. there is stir among the
dormant crowd, for many Of them have
been sleeping. A peal OF bells an
nounces the commencement OF the
service. The spacious Church OF the
Nativity IL aligbt with thousands OF
candles and oil-lamps which glitter
and glimmer and add lustre TO the
GORGEOUS gold and silver embroidered
vcstments Of the clergy. The crowd In
dense. the heat excessive. A line OF
soldiers marks the route to be taken
by the Greek Patriarch, the priests
and the choir. The procession maIss