The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1923-12-20
SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES
BY SARA r. GETTY.
The First Service Star

Dctl hlleSS WeS loSC 1etllllS ONSI IuS
town of Bethlehem, the little city of
the Patriarch David's nativity. The
rude, jostling crowd hurried hither
and thither seeking new forms of
amusement and dissipation or, per-
haps, tired out from a long days
journey were seeking shelter for the
night. From all over the country peo-
pie had gathered here because a de-
cree had gone forth from Caesar Au-
gustus that all the world should be
taxed.
Coming slowly through the jostling
throng we see a man leading a don
key upon which his companion, a
woman, is seated Oh, the utter
WEAKNESS Of her attitude as she sits,
her head bowed upon her hands and
the folds Of her long cloak drawn
closely about her as protection from
the night wind Tenderly the man
lifts his companion from her uncom-
Portable position and they press ca
gerly toward the door of the hostelrie
to seek shelter for the night, but are
denied, no room can be found in the
already overcrowded inn. Whittier
should they go? Where turn for
shelter? In dismay Joseph, for it
was he, drew his companion nearer
him in anxious solicitude for, ignor-
ant and inexperienced though he was,
there was something in the mute APP
peal Of Mary's beautiful eyes, brought
there by her hours of silent suffering,
that told him her hour was near at
hand.
At last they found sh-:ter in an old
cave or stable that sheltered the
beasts from the winters blasts. And
here, Joseph speaking words OF cheer
and encouragement the while, led
Mary his wife, tenderly making a
seat for her upon the rough straw of
one of the empty stalls. Vividly
there REQUIRED to the man a memory
Of his dream months before when an
angel had appeared unto him saying:
Fear not to take unto thee Mary for
thy wife, for that which is conceived
in her is of the Holy Ghost, and she
shall bring forth a Son, and thou
shalt call his name Jesus, for He
shall save the people from their sins"
There had been TO doubt nor ques-
ton in Joseph's mind then nor since,
and now as he knelt beside her speak
ing in tender words of endearment,
and watching with all mans acute
sympathy and helplessness in the
presence of pain, he realized that he
was standing upon hoy ground and
that to Mary this hour meant infinite
ly more than the fulfllment of a
woman's destiny of motherhood; that
she was the prescious instrument, God
directed, through which a Saviour
should be born into the world for its
redemption, and his mans soul was
thrilled with love, awe and alteration
at this miracle of miracles.
And Mary. Who can tell what
thoughts were hers as with the holy
light of approaching motherhood
shining through the virgin pureness
of her beautiful eyes, she clung to
Joseph's hands while only the trem-
bling of her white lips told of the an
guish of her travail To her, too,
there came back the words of her
beautiful magnificent, and again in
this supreme hour she repeated: "My
soul doth magnify the Lord, for He
that is mighty hath done unto me
great things"
And at last the little Prince of
Peace came into the world she clasped
Him in her arms, her hungry mother
eyes feasting upon the lovlinss and
beauty of her Man Child and muir
mered: Blessed indeed am l among
women"
1t was the first Christmas, but
there was no ringing of bells to pro-
claim the Messiah's birth. There
were no sounds of cannon, no heralds
riding swiftly to carry the glad It'd
ings. But wise men and shepherds
were fastening toward Bethlehem in
| their eagerness to see the new born
King. And high up near the Fathers
throne the heavens were parted and
the celestial choir descended singing:
GLORY to God in the Highest, on
earth Peace and Good will to men,"
Ard up above the stable, in the hea-
venly armament, a star wondrously