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Show r Herod stole frosn out the gloom. love and peace complete. Full crammed was be with knowledge low and 11 base, He stole from Cod rare secrets of the earth. And. with the Devil, pondered Bight and day,. Until the blackest war in historys pages Burst full sway I Crest cities crashed to earth, Btern edifices crumbled down. Beneath the sea was roaring death; Bomba planted there to turn the sea to gore. Rivers ran blood through fields of dying men; romen fled,thenaked, crazed. by mens cruel lust, street, Begging a kinder death from every soldiered creature , meet, would they j This Herod slaughtered not alione the new-bobabe, Struggling for food against its mothers breast, In sheer delight and love of lust He killed them ere they .epuekened; Vet unknown that they to .main or womau ' : ; grown. i He craved a monarchs power and to kill. That he might rule a worlds of demons, with cruel will. Hi mailed fist struck out hlindly in the dark And came back crippled in the crimson gloom Of that November night not long ago; That night which has forever sealed his doom. So, as the Herod of Judea fought and died, Unloved and haled by the multitude, So must this Herod at a later age Lie down and sink to nothingness and death. .So must his scarlet crimes come back and bring him ASECONH the world of N infant wrapped in swaddling clothe And lying in a manger dint they found NEW-BOR- Him. - . The wise men bowed and worshipped at hia shrine; While clinging to the heavenly blue above, The wondrous star waited to lead them out. away From Herod to a land afar. Meanwhile (hey knelt in adoration near the Child And gave their treasures To the Christian King, strewing about his lowly couch ft ire gifts of gold, incense and inyrrh. This Wondrous star in all its splendor shone. And when they left the Christ Child in the hay. They were warned away from Herod. So departed hence the olhr Way. The angered monarch of Judeas lantf was wroth. And in his hatred sent his soldiers out To massacre the new-bobaby king. ' And, U bo lure that he was numbered slain, All children under two short years of age were sought. But angels and the Cod of Hosts stood by the child; they harmed him noil sent Until Far from Judea he The wicked tyrant king laid Down hi thirsty sword. And once again the travelers made their way Cnto a sheltered city, calm, serene. And Christ, our Lord, was called The Nazarene. He grew to manhood; with the widest sage talked. Preached in their temples, showed the scientist the t way to. peace; He healed the dying leper and the blind. . He called unto Uielr sightless eyes the light. Unto the old and silent muser,loo, he spoke. And all the multitude that heard his voice awoke! At length He died a martyr to the cause. Upon a quivering aspen cross he hung. t Upon his head a erown of thorns? Nails tore the Ceuta in palms and feet, And yet, in lender mercy for their sin, replied: Peace, peace! They know not what they do and died. Three dra they called him dead. Two mourners at his tomb. Mary and Magdalene. Then angels rolled away the heavy stone And through a mist about hlin, all Transfigured and aglow Into the silent air he vanished. Resurrected from the tomb was He And from a distance turned and looked on Calvary, rn s 1 i. I 3 the years came peace; DOWN through teaching or the King t Christ shook hi head In dread for what might be; of lovo Calmly be watched and waited for some sign and peace. go by; Sternly and silently he saw (he hosts Who thought not of the Christ nor .love for all .1 humanity. y, The high and mighty shunned the weakly passer-bthe a of woe, mlt And through Christ replied: "What use am I? I I InNMMffiMgSsAIH rn i Pom Ere rest can ever close hisses again. Christ trembled at his weird antipathy; . He could not let a devil rule IHis earth. Ten million voices raised to Ihim a prayer And Ood bent down and listened to their woe. He bade the guns be still, to sheathe Uie sword And murmured: "Harken unto me, I ain Thy Lord! Afar stretched odl the fieidless field of dead, Mist rose, revealing rums in wild phantom shapes; Rivers, bridgeless and black, went on their silent way crosses of the slain. Between the snow-whi- te Then back He went into GcUisemane And there in hopeful silence prayed again. And Uien od spoke; the Allied armies heard. The ranks of Hindenburg were dumb. Their gory banners drooped, their drums were still, Silence and peace one single moment reigned. soldiers came a sudden And in Uie hearts of worn-obliss. The night of nights had come.' The Armistice! , I . , A silent Figure moved befoHwlhe lines, 'Pliantorii-lik- e and still, he passed them by. Ho still lie seemed, so wondrous while, so tali. Ho peaceful; yot he knew the price of war. Plainly seeing what the end.lowould be Calvary.In memory back he turned ut , f New hopes were born, religious light revealed. So people lived in calm humility Til they forgot His sacrifice for peace; Til they forgot His gift to them and Thee t j Til they no longer wept for Calvary! J were they the wisest of the land bond of everlasting trust, of brother hood and peace; door. Calmly the Figure listened at the open to Sadly he shook his head, his lips were pursed speak. he Yet undismayed, his plan of peace turned again, of. semblance grea,t pain. Deep in hi eye tho We know' ndl 'what our Ruler might have dofce! if lj We turned away Our ear when ho would spoakl f Hi plan was simple. Christian in its test, A world of sweet trampuhty. the end! loss. Through u glone ti ours, this great irrevocable And to our sickened Leader, in return, we give the GATHERED i ; I Cross I SWIIllWiiaTliWiaWPmillW MW t |
