Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-24
THE MAN WHO TALKS

lance, IS the ltLIe cnll0. WHaleV6T llllS child grew into as an historical person age, the first tangible notice of him comes to us just as an ordinary child. This of itself eievates the child to his rightful place as the supreme factor in human advancement The world is constantly receiving valuable things along every channel of activity, but nothing that is comparable to the child. It is not too much to say that the child received his birthrdghtx in Bethlehem. It was the event 1921 years ago in an humble stable that first called the worlds attention to the real value of the child The world has never quite forgotten that fact, al- though it has been indifferent to it. It has been left to modern times to put em- phasis upon the need of secular and re- ligfous education of the highest order for the child.
 Christmas and the King. In recent article, Dr. Jefferson, with his usual clarity of expression, says: Christmas is the day on which we have 8 right to think of Jesus in baby dresses, but we must not forget to think of him on the throne The manager, the stable, and the Wise Men from the East presenting their costly gifts are only the outward setting to this wonderful Christmas scene. Unlike the ordinary prince, this child was not born in 8 palace, nor was he destined to wear the imperial purple, but he was born king. and would one day occupy throne before which earthly kings would bow in adoration If we could only fill in that blank space in our Bibles covering the period from his baby hood to his public appearance it would be the story of a kingly boy. That sacred silence is broken but once, and that was when at 12 years he appeared in the Temple disputing with the doctors. Even then his appearance was majestic. We have a right to assume that when he played with his mates he was accepted as the leader, and that he always played the game fair. We can never think of Jesus apart from the crown.
 Christmas and Giving. The beautiful custom, now so universally in vogue, of giving one another gifts finds it's logical explanation in the gift of the Christ child to the world. The idea has prevail ed throughout the intervening generations of celebrating the event by giving and receiving gifts. In years gone by it was not so much of 8 business as it has be- come in recent years. It must be admit ted that in the early life of Christianity, and throughout the Middle Ages, the giV- I ing was more in keeping with the spir- itual idea of Christmas. In commercial l izing the idea we rob the day of it's l spiritual beauty. If I give my neighbor a bag of onions this Christmas because l he sent over chunk of pork last Christ mas, it is hard to see what it has to do 1 with the gift at Bethlehem. There is not 1 the least objection to this custom of ex- i changing presents at any season of the year, because it is an expression Of good i Will, but don't associate it with Christ mas.
 Christmas ip Song. When Christ was ! born in Bethlehem the angels gave to the ] world a new song: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the l heavenly host praising God, and saying 1 Glory to God in the highest and or | earth peace. good will toward men ' l This has been the text for some of the grandest melody that the ear of man has ever listened to, or the brain of mar i composed The Nativity has attracte e( l the attention of the worlds greatest musicians. It is the inspiring theme O the larger part of Handers greatest tri 1 umph, The Messiah which is by common l consent the grandest of all the oratorios It is now generally believed that tht
 great Gregorian chants so largely useC in the Roman Catholic worship do no date back to St. Gregory who lived il the sixth century, however that may b.
 they magnify the fact of the child O Bethlehem. It would be impossible |, 1 enumerate the number of Christmas can tatas that are sung every year al thi
 natal season. Every civilized nation ha
 celebrated the event i'll some masterpiec
 of song.
 i, Christmas in Painting. Tine Natiyit,
 has called forth the greatest skill of tn
 painters brush. The same mighty con i ce9tions that have come to the musician, ear as sound have been interpreted to tn [ artists eye as form and color The ease
 and. the canvas are companions to tn } human voice and musical instruments , The Madonna is twin sister to the ora P torio. The greatest painters of all tn ages have been drawn irresistibIy t
 Mary and her babe. Raphael the un rivaled Florentine painter, found in tn : Madonna and her child a theme worth r of his genius and in color and in beaut nothing of the kind surpasses the famou l Sixtine Madonna which represents Pop f Sixtus laying down the triple tiara 2
 the feet of the young child. Other artist
 hardly inferior to Raphael have lavishe
 their genius on the scenes of the Nativ , ty. We have but to mention such name as Da Vinci, Fra Bartoioneo, Tintorett l Michaelangelo and lesser names to req ize the place Christ's birth occupies
 painting.
 Christmas in Sculpture. With a meagl 1 knowledge of history one could easil
 imagine that the chisel would play i 1 part in doing homage to the scenes
 Bethlehem. The fine arts are so close ; ! allied that what appeals to one brand ,. appeals to all equally The marble imas
 as well as the canvas is made to star
 out a sa tribute to the Virgin and Il, Q child as well as the human voice and O - chestrar The one outstanding name
 sculpture is that of Michaelangelo. WI
 stands to the period of the Rennaissan, Il as Phidias and PraXitiles do to the earli n Greek art. As he was the greatest arch
 tect as well as the greatest sculptor
 the age, We find wonderful images
 both the Madonna and child in all il u most noted churches of Italy There Il scarcely a sculptor of first rank in al st civilized country who has not shown h
 skill in reproducing the scenes of t
 Nativity in marble.
 :, Christmas in History. It is perfect r. safe to say that-aH things considered ,e the most influential event in all record
 history was the advent of Christ Nothil
 else approaches it in far-reaching il l. portance to the welfare of the hum; 10 race. Whether all the peoples of t
 earth square their lives according to t
 precepts of Jesus or not, He is recogntz
 by all as the supreme event of all histol
 One fact alone proves this beyond to doubt What other person has be IS strong enough to make his birthday t to dividing point of all human history? H
 such a universal honor ever been ev
 suggested in connection with any oth n- birthday. The followers of Mahon
 made a futile atfenp+ to tI1ur J,oro- f