Putnam patriot., 1919-12-12

dance that will not he dimnssd, though the blacknsss of extinssou overtake us.
 The shepherds 'came in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and tho habs lying in s mangsr." There, out sf ths shadows where the humble bessn q burden took their rest after toll. Eiew- ed and buined forth into a world of shadows, perfect love. the eternal force of the universe
 Nor was it alone the humble tAs lowly. the simple and trusting tAa< saw. and believed, and woShippsd, and went their way with awakened hearts. The shepherds cane,--yes: : out came also great kings of the Hase.
 -the powerful of the earth,---learn- cd men, great and famed scholarH. Panophed in great splendor, with magnificent retinues. they came. h heir hands were costly gifts. In their hearts were adoration and love and sonder-wonosr and awe that tho light of the whole world should be made manifest in so humble u man. ncr.
 They kneeled where late the shep- herds had kneeled before them, Il su- perb pageant of the worlds might and majesty. rich in possession as in wis dom. There, in stable where beasts of the field are housed from the cold. they lay their treasure before straw filled manager. In the presence there enthroned, in the radiance from thao manager, their might fades to nothing ness. Mary, . lowly Virgin of tho people, sees nothing but tho Childs Joseph needs them not; the very cat tie in their stalls are unwilling q their nearness. The Son of God, who had not where to lay His head. bersft of the necessities that attend tho meanest birth. Is still the King o1 kings. and Lord of lords.---the nm quenchablc fire of love shining in tho darkness, ,--darknes that, however ' has deepend throughout the centurieu, shall yet be dispellcd by the miracls of miracles, s,--Love.
 It came into the world for all pso- pie. From the hour of it's coming un- til a cross was raised on Calvary ie was despised and rejected. .-and cru- cified. It has not ceased to be de- spised and rejected and crucifed. IL never can cease till all the peoples of the earth, from shepherd to king. learn the power and beauty and trutA that are the attributes Of love.
 The nineteen centuries that have removed us from the shepherds of Judea afiding in their fields. keeping watch over their focks, have not, h any degree, altered the miracle of thak night. It is ours now if we will poe sess it just as it was the worlds, whan l the shepherds, in obedience to ths glad tidings of great jay. journeyed ts Bethlehem to behold the gloriou birth, and. beholding. departed and made known abroad' what they ha1 seen.
 | It is as undimmed as when tho Magi same with pomp and ceremony to bend the knee and bow the head in adoration before that mean and low1D place that cradled 1t; and, dsparttnG refused to betray 1t.
 It is as undimmsd as when the An gel who had been its herald, "appenG- ed to Joseph in dream, saying. Ayi.o and take the young child and its meoA CT, and flee into Egypt, and bs tsou there until I bring thee word" | It is as undimmed as when the groa| and just of the world, frsnzisd vi righteousness as men today crucified the great redeeming pouG that had stolen SO humbly inte tn world in that manager at BsthlshsnH | Asss may roll away, light may tun to darkness, creation may become Gl livion, but love cannot die. Whatevl
 else is mortal. love is eternal. In lov
 --and there alone--is redemption, ' , demption from all sin. from all =
 row, from all ignorance. Tho '
 splendent truth of that first Christn : ia the same yesterday, today. and fl
 ever. It is you who have changed Iyou for whose redemption it was ma z manifest Blind and deaf and c(
 and cruel though you be, you n ' but to let that love shine into - {, heart, iliumins its darkneass an1 1 ' vivs your truth and poWeE. 1oll
 lmaliee. ond III uaohnl11