The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-12-25
FOLLOWING THE CLEAN"
Matthew 2: IL.

hem we see an episode of remarkable
imaginative beauty, that has since
been glorified in painting and song.
The Christians of the second century,
dissatisfied with the simple Gospel
narrative, have embellished it greatly
with stories of strange and wondrous
homage. The Midiaeval Interpretation
of the gold as typifying His king
ship, the frankinsense as typifying
His Diety, and the myhrr as typifying
His death is purely fanciful. Later the
Wise Men were represented as prime
es, then as kings, they were said to be
three in number, Casper, Melchior
and Beltzazar. Constantinople, then
Milan, then, for the past six hundred
years, Cologne, have claimed to
guard their sacred dust. But in the
light of the simple gospel truth, let
us seek the guidance of our Star of
Bethlehem.
IA Guiding Star
eve saw his star in the east, and
are come hither to worship Him."
These men were probably Persian
Magi, whose astronomy was half as
trology. Probably theirs was the rela-
lively pure and sincere religion of
Zoroaster. Astronomy and astrology
largely arose out of the demand of
the soul for religion. In the deeps
Of your own soul you have the craving
after the infinite, and the yearning
after perfection. In the serene beauty
of the Persian nights, where the mys-
tic silence Of the ever moving stars
is as sublime as the infinite, men are
drawn out after the eternal. But, if
astronomy was the religion of the
worlds youth, that astronomy was
the pathway of the Wise Men to the
Saviour of the world. There is an in
ner guiding star, moreover, that shines
at some time into every soul. Those
searchers for the King of Isreal were
heather, but God clearly led them all
the way. He will lead anyone that
honestly searches for the truth. Then
of those mute, unconscious service
stars in Gods heavens summon us
to reverent and sublime worship, we
intelligent creatures should not dare
to be so Indifferent to the Infinite
One.
20 Young Marines, down to the haven
Call your companions, launch your
vessel;
And crowd your canvass, and, ere it
vanishes, -..
Over the margin, after it, follow it,
Follow the Gleam."
2-Finding a Child
The star led the Magi to Bethlehem,
and "stood over the place where the
young child lay" This looks like an
anti-climax. They sought King but
found a child. Not so, however. While
the world has for ages been growing
away from the child, the beginning of
true greatness in the Kingdom of
Heaven consists in childlilness Of spir-
it and faith. The history of the world
may be divided into three eras. First,
the epoch when Power was magnified
and force was deified. Then Nimrod
was the hero of the age. Next it was
the age of Intellect, and Homer and
Plato were the great figures. Finally
Christianity inaugurates a new era,
when it leads the seeker to the Babe
Of Bethlehem. Except We become as
a little child, We shall in no wise enter
the Kingdom of Heaven" The Christ
alone can lead the seeker after his
own supreme good to that realm,
whittier the Clean Of his own soul
beckons him. The Wise Men had
travelled uncounted leagues to find the
object Of their search; but they ex-
perienced indescribable joy when they
found Him. They offered to Him the
unstinted and unadulterated allegiance
of their heart, and the most appreci-
ated and precious Of their wealth. Mil.
lions in the mystic East have been,
and are, seeking with great vigilance
some Bethlehem Star that will lead
them to some Saviour, who can satis-
~ that unquenchable craving after
the infinite and eternal. The Christ
has, however, been overly gracious %
our western world ia giving % %
sumptuous gifts spiritual, intellectual