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Show if m - r i . L - sf rS Modernistic Madonna Statue --7r7Zr?3FK ' , by Arnold Hensler r? V ' rW 7Tt s vfsr &str. "Madonna. &t2& ( , P , ssand Child" By ELMO SCOTT WATSON Vbs1 ttf W 1CR0SS the stflSe of Tim hae , TheTvTd.tlVltlT' iyvt 'fZ&vmmmmL rfflm A stalked Bret men of aii de ty Corredio OCenliirH) tkcii A StiT '' 'tW greeS- I's and potentates J ' ' l kings and emperors, conquerors Madonna dl bienria, S! J and rulers, great captains in H Raphael O" CenillPTj) By ELMO SCOTT WATSON f 1W 1 CR0SS tlle sta5e of Time have WW Jk stalked great men of all de- J tv grees. Princes and potentates ' l kings and emperors, conquerors ) and rulers, great captains in Y war and great statesmen in cX 'Pr peace, orators and learned men &M3g?fy 'n tlle ai"ts aDd sciences all ..jsife&zZA have enjoyed their hour of fume and for some of them history has preserved at best but one eventful moment in their careers. But there is one event in history which stands out above all others, for all their pomp and circumstance and all the panoply and pageantry that attends the scenes which men call great events. It took place in humble surroundings a stable In a little town in Palestine. It was the birth of a child who was destined to give to the world a new religion and to humanity a new hope. And this event which we celebrate on December Decem-ber 25 has been the Inspiration for the greatest painters of all time who, instead of recording the deeds and triumphs of captains and kings, have chosen to delineate this greatest of all events. The Nativity, and those figures of greatest appeal to all mankind, the Madonna and Child. Poets, too, have found in the birth of Christ a theme for their genius. Long ago "rare Ben Jonson" sang this : HYMN ON THE NATIVITY OF MY SAVIOUR I sing the birth was born to-night. The author both of life and light; The angels so did sound It. And like the ravlsh'd shepherds said. Who saw the light and were afraid, Tet searched, and true they found It The Son of God, the Eternal King, That did us all salvation bring. And freed the soul from danger; He whom the whole world could not take The World, which heaven and earth did mak- Was now laid in a manger The Father's wisdom will'd It so. The Son's obedience knew no No, Both wills were In one nature; And as that wisdom had decreed. The Word was now made Flesh indeed. And took on Him our nature. What comfort by Him do we win Who made Himself the price of sin To make us heirs of glory! To see this Babe, all innocence, A martyr born in our defense Can man forget the story? And another mastei of verse, his eyes blinded but his soul seeing the wonder and glory of thai scene in Bethlehem, also wrote of it. He was John Milton and the following are some of the verses from his: TME HYMN OF CHRIST'S NATIVITY I It was the winter wild, While the heaven-born Child All meanly wrapt In the rude manger lies. Nature, In awe to Him, Had doff'd her gaudy trim, With her great Master so to sympathize: It was no season then for her To wanton with the sun, her lusly ut.iamour. V But peaceful was th night Wherein the Prince of Light His reign of peace upon the earth began: The winds with wonder whist, Smoothly the waters kist, Whispering new joys to the mild ocean. Who now hath quite forgot to rave. While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmeJ wave. XIII Ring out, ye crystal spheres, Once bless our human ears, If ye have power' to touch our senses so; And let your silver chime Move in melodius time; And let the bass of heaven's deep organ blow; And, with your ninefold harmony, Make up full consort to the angelic symphony. XXVII But see, the Virgin blest Hath laid her Babe to rest: Time is, our tedious song should here have ending: end-ing: Heaven's youngest-teemed star Hath fix'd her polish'd car, Her sleeping Lord with handmaid lamp attending, attend-ing, And all about the courtly Btable Brlght-harness'd angels sit in order serviceable. This ancient theme which is .ever new has In spired modern poets, too. Louise Imogene Gulney sings of: TRYSTE NOEL The Ox he openeth wide the doore And from the snowe he calls her Inne. And he hath seen her Smile therefore. Our Lady without sinne. Now soone from sleepe A slarre shall leap, And soon arrive both King and Hinde; Amen, Amen: But O, the place co'd I but find! The ox hath husht his voyce and bent Trewe eyes of Pitty ore the Mow, And on his lovelie Neck, forspent. The Blessed lays her Browe. Around her feet Full warme and Sweete His bowerie Breath doth meeklie dwell; Amen, Amen- But sore am 1 with V'alne Travel! The Ox Is Host in Judas stall. And Host of more than onelie one, For close she gatht-reth withal Our Lorde, her little Sonne; Glad Hinde and King Their Gyfte may bring. But wo'd tonight my Teares were there; Amen, Amen: Between her Bosom and His hayre! And Dorothy Belle Flanagan has written thK charming LULLABY FROM A STABLE Sleep, little baby, Sleep, little son . . . Over the earth a cold wind bl s, Over the hills la spread the night. Within the inn a hearth-fire glo'ws Here a star is gleaming white. There are cribs of gold for baby Kings, With incense from East and gems from the West Pillowed with down of swallows' wings You are cradled against my breast. Other babes guerdoned safely lie Swaddled in linens soft and fine. Angels will wat:h from out the sky Over you, poor W3C babe of mine. Sleep, little baby, Sleep, little one These are but a few of the many poetic expressions expres-sions of the "wondrous story." There have been others in other forms of writing but of them all none can compare with the matchless prose of one of the earliest accounts of The Nativity. It is told in the Gospel of St. Luke thus: 1. And It came to pass m those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was Governor of Syria). 3. And all went to be taxed, every one Into his own r.ty. 4. And Joseph ' also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David,) 6. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being be-ing gieat with child. 6. And so It was, that, while they -were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7. And she brought forth h-ir first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. 10. -And the angel said unto them. Fear not; for, behold, I bring you goo'l tidings of great joy. which shall be to all people. 11. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, whicli is Christ the Lord 12. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babo wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude cf the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14. Glory to God In the highest, and on earth pea- e, good will toward men. 15. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, Bethle-hem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. ' 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. j 17. And when they bad seen It, they made known ; abrof.d the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. IS). But Mary kept all these things, and pon- 1 dcred them in her heart. - ! 20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heart and seen, as it was told unto them. j |