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Show Clhe wont We feklwife Moderwstic "Madonna" St&tuc :-' VlT'X ?A - Jzsr by Arnold Hcnsler rr V, W ' ; ?; 3 ' By ELMO SCOTT WATSON f . a,Gf Z 1 CROSS the stose of Tim hare t rt uJV.Pd IJ: J - 1 M A. stalked great men of all do- 9 QorTC&O (WCentlir)Wv I war n nil mnt ntnlpompn In , . v .k m .1 By ELMO SCOTT WATSON lf w I CROSS the stage of Time have flli SS JL stalked great men of all de- g grees. Princes and potentates A JljL k,n8S ani1 mPerors, conquerors I ' and rulers, great captains In -1 war and great statesmen to peace, orators and learned men j&C32i In the arts and sciences all r-' have enjoyed their hour of fame and for some of them history has preserved at best but one eventful moment In their careers. But there la 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 23 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 stng tha birth was born to-night. The author both of lite acd light; The angels 00 did sound It. And like the ravlih'd shepherds eald, Who saw the light and were afraid. Yet 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 make Was now laid In a manger. The Father's wisdom wlll'd It so. The Son's obedience knew no No, Both wills were In one stature; And as that wisdom had decreed, The Word was now tnsde 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 defense-Can man forget the story? And another master of verse, his eyes blinded but his soul seeing the wonder and glory of that scene In Bethlehem, also wrote of It. He was John Milton and the following are some of the verses from bis: 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 dolt'd her gaudy trim. With her great Master so to sympathize: It was no season then for her To wanton with tbe sun, her lusty paramour. V But. peaceful was the night Wherein the Prince of Light Hla reign of peace upon the eartb began: The winds with wonder whist. Smoothly the waters klot. Whispering new joys to the mild ocean. Who now hath quite forget to rave. While blrda of calm alt brooding on the charms wave. XIII Ring out, ye cryatal spheres. Once bless our human ears. If ye bava power to touch our senses ao; And let your silver chime Move In melodlua time; And let the bass of heaven's deep organ blow; And, with your ninefold harmony, Make up full consort to tbe 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: Hesven's youngest-teemed star Hath flx'd her polish d car. Her aleeplng Lord with handmaid lamp attending; attend-ing; And all about the courtly atable Brlght-harness'd angels sit In order serviceable. This ancient theme which Is ever new has In spired modern poets, too. Louise Imogcne Oulney sings of: TRYSTE NOEL The O he openeth wide the doore And from the snowe he calls her Inne. And he hath seen her Smile therefore. Our Lady without slnne. Now soone from aleepe A starre ahall leap, And aoon arrive both King and Hlnde; Amen. Amen: But O, tbe place co'd I but find I The ox hath husht his voyce and bent Trewe eyes of Pltty ore the Mow, And on his lovelle Neck, forspent. The Blessed lays her Browe. Around her feet Full warme and Sweete His bowerie Breath doth roeeklle dwell: Amen, Amen: But sore am 1 with V'alne Travel! The Ox la Host In Juda's stall. And Host of more than onelle one. For close she gathereth wlrtial Our Lorde, her little Sonne; Olad Hlnde and King Their Oyfte may bring, But wod tonight my Teares were there; Amen, Amen: Between her Bosom and His hayrel And Dorothy Belle Flanagan has written this charming LULLABY FROM A STABLE Sleep, little baby. Sleep, little son . . . Over the earth a cold wind bl vs. Over the hllla Is spread the night. Within the Inn a hearth-dre glows-Here glows-Here a star la 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 ara cradled against my breast Other babes guerdoned safely lie Swaddled In linens soft and One. Angels will wat:h from out the sky Over you, poor wee babe of mine. Sleep, little baby. Sleep, little one These are but a few of the many poetic expressions expres-sions of tiie "wondrous story." There hae 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 tbe Oospel of St Luke thus: 1. And It came to pass In those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should he taiod 1. (And thla taxing was first made when Cyrenlus waa Governor of Syria). I. And all went to be taxed, every one Into hla own c.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 cf the house and lineage of David,) t. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being be-ing gieat with child. t And so It was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7. And she brought forth h:r 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. 5. And there wer in the same country shepherds abiding in tbe 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 gool tidings of great joy. which shall be to all people. It. For unto you la born this day, In the city of David, a Saviour, which Is Christ the Lord. 13. And this shall be a algn 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 Cod In the highest, and on eartb 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 ua. 18 And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17. And when they bad seen It, they made known abrokd the saying which was told them concerning this child. IS. And all they that heard It wondered at those things which ware told them by the shepherds. IS. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered pon-dered them in her heart. 10. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that tbey had heard and aeen, as It waa told unto them. |
