The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-07-10


in favor with God and man.-Luke :52.
THE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
Washington is the most important
city in the world-in every American
newspaper. For an Englishman Lon
don has a similar position, while
Paris, Rome or Constantinople looms
larger in other minds. Christians are
prone to do the same thing for Jeru-
salem because Of its cross and open
grave. But far more than any of
these is that little hill town of Naz-
areth where in a tiny white cottage
grew the character that has made
that cross a window for the Infinite
and the grave a door to the Eternal.
Those silent years speak louder than
the din of the World War, for out of
them has come the Word that trans
cends geography, race and tongues.
1t was humble enough home that
housed kindly Joseph and loving
Mary with at least five boys and two
girls whose appetites were as insis-
tent as growing youngsters any
where, whose ability to wear out
| clothes kept that house mother busy
and father Joseph working over
hours. The Boy learned carpentry
and probably succeeded his father at
the bench as the chief provider for
the family, and it may be that duty
| held Him fast until His coming to
John. 1t was in that tiny cottage
that He learned the homely phrases
and illuminating pictures that He
used in His later speech. Where but
in Mary's busy hands had he seen the
patching of a garment, possibly His
| own? Where but in that home did
| He learn of leaven, of bread, of
| lost coin swept for because coins were
scarce? Where but in that spare lar
| der did He find out the price of spar
rows Where did He find the chatter
of the bargain seeker, the play of
children, the gossip of the corner
and the habit of the synagogue? His
love of flower, and bird, and tree that
crowd into speech was learned as any
boy learns it by keen-eyed observa-
ton. His love for the prayer-place
among the rocks and away from the
crowd is a boy characteristic carried
over into mans habit. Looking across
to Carmel, to Gilboa, to Jezreel and
the valley of Barak and Deborah, of
defeat and victory, He studied the
storied history of Israel until that
Old Testament became a part of mind
! and life so that its teachings were as
familiar as His own name. Unrecor-
ded as those years are they hold the
secret of the later days and it is their
contribution that made all that fol-
low possible. Had the Boy failed,
Messiah had not come. What Naz-
areth did for the Boy has changed the
face of the world and will conquer
time.
THE PEEP IN
Just once is there an opportunity
to peep thru the fence that shuts
these years away from the sight of
men. 1t comes at the period Of crisis
in any boys life and links this Boy
with them all, whatever their race or
condition. For in that wonderful
hour when nature has completed the
structure and the house waits its fur
nishing with life instincts, with emo
ton and with reason boy and girl
alike look out to those great teen
years in a fashion that is never du-
plicated. And it is at this hour that
God planned the definite acceptance
of His Own leadership along the I'M
tried path so that each youth pass
ing over the hill shall go with hand
fast clasped in His. God pity the
home or the church that fails it's
childhood here That Nazareth cot
tage did its work well. 1t was prob
ably not the first visit of the Boy
| Christ to Jerusalem, for the record is
'His parents went every year." and it
is scarcely likely that He was left
behind on all occasions. But it was
the wonderful year for the Boy be-
cause it brought the confirmation
hour when He became the "Son of the
Law" and assumed responsibilities for
Himself that had been carried by His
parents. So it was with mind elate
| that He set out with the company
going to that great Passover feast
that was the nations birthday and
| the reminder of the Jehovah's care.
Crowded though He must have been
by the boys and men, the women and
the beast upon which some of them
were riding, He walked alone with
His eager mind leaping before to-
ward the high hour in the temple
when He should assume the place of
His desire. Recall your own time in
boyhood or girlhood when you be-
came a part of that church and real
ize something of what it must have
meant to that earlier Youth The
Catholic church, with its procession