BY P. GRAY MEEK. Minister Editors. Following a custom inaugurated last year the WATCHMAN again gives over its editorial columns for the Christmas num- ber jo the ministers of Centre county. We probably took shem ata disadvantage by reason of the fact that we did not call on them until last week for contributions and time pressure likely accounts for the fail- ure of a number of them to respond. How- ever, this issue contains a nomber of ar- ticles from the pens of she men of the cloth and the Christmas season is a particularly appropriate time for them to express their beautifal sentiments in print. S———— There is a God. Rev. J. Minor Whitenack Jr., State College. There is a hand that never rests nor works for selfish ends, But in divinest love and care, the weakest child attends, There is an ear that’s never deaf to lowly sin. ners’ plea, Bat, in the hour of dark despair, it stoops lo sinful me. There is an eve that's never closed nor looks for aught in vain, Bat, in the power of holy light, it scans all earth's domain. There is a God divine, triune, Spirit, Son, Who, by His love and sacrifice, the sonl from death hath won. Though waysare rough and dark with gloom, He'll gently lead me on, His ear will hear my faintest call where ‘er I may have gone. His eye will watch me in the [vale where sadly I may roam. And, in Bis love, He'll take me to His great eternal home, the Father, Jesus, Our Brother. Rev. Frank Wetzel, Rebersburg. For the truly religious family there is no event iu its home life that brings to it more and truer joy and bappiness than the birth of a child. Birthdays are days of special importance in every trne household. There is one birthday that is becoming more world wide in its observance each year. It ie the day on which the birth of Jesus of Nazareth is commemorated. We call it Christmas. Why is the birth of this ope child so universally observed? The angels say He is the Saviour ; but He is the universal Savion., because He is the gon of man. As the son of man He is a true man. As a true man He is brother to all men. The Jewish family rejoiced in the birth ol ason. Why? Because of the hope of the Messiah to come. They were taoght to believe that from some household should come forth one who should he the Saviour of the world. Every child for them was the forerunner of this Messiah and might be the immediate parent of Him, or the Messiah Himself. As the Psalmist says, man is created but a little lower than God, and for every true Jew this would be especially true of the Messiah, for He would be a perfect man. For the christian household this joy fs equally great, if not more so, for to every child horn to them this Messiab, who he believes is Jesus of Nazareth, is not only a Saviour, but a brother. According to the Christian's faith every child born is of the same nature and possesses the same attri- bates, and, in possibility, is the same in character as this Messiah, who is Jesus. The Messiah is a true man for Jew and Christian; for the one He is to come; for the other He has come in the person of Jesus; for both He is a brother. As a brother He loves us. As a brother He has saved us through His perfect life of obedience to His Father in beaven, and His sufferings and death. As a brother He moves the hearts of men to deeds of love and kindness, whenever and wherever He touches them wish His life and personality. As a brother He makes us the sons of God, for He is his true son. As a brother, God through Him becomes sur Father. Having thus one common Fatber—God— and one common brother—Jesns—we are brethren one of another. Because of this universal relation to man, is His birthday so generally observed; and because of this universal brotherhood do ‘men commemorate the day by deeds of kindness and by gifts of love. Christmas is the day when the hearts of all men are moved to go out in love to all mankind, because on this day is com. memorated the birth of our common hroth- er, Jesus. Thus is being fulfilled the angel’s song, of ‘‘Peace on earth and good will toward men.” Born in the Falness of Time, Rev. J. M. Rearick, Centre Hall. The promise of a Savior was given our first parents in she very spot where they fell. This very strikingly exhibits the in- tensity of God’s desire that all men should be saved. This promise of a Redeemer, however, was not fulfilled for at least four thousand years. The question has often been asked, why was Christ so long in coming? Why did we not have Christianity sooner ?’’ Infidels bave often asked with a sneering why, if Christianity is #0 valuable, was it so long in coming? We might an- swer, that infidels bave no excuse for their unbelief. ““The falvess of time’ was the first suit- able period for the appearance of Chriss on earth. The antedilavian age could not have written an interesting and attractive account of the “New Born King.” From thas period to the days of Moses the popula- STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION. BELLEFONTE, PA.. DECEMBER 21, 1906. ~ NG ede SR — = CRIES. —— nia ™\ ee ———————— tion was too sparse and for the most part, uncivilized. The coming of the Son of God was too propitious to ocenr at a time | when there were few to appreciate Him | and to herald His praise abroad. In the days of Moses the Jews were not sufficient | ly familiar with the grounds of the great’ salvation ; they were just raw from the land of bondage. Jesus Christ was born just when the world was best prepared to receive Him and howanity lost nothing by the long de. lay. They had the same unqualified prom. ise that whoever looked to the Lamb who was to be slain, should be saved. At the time of His coming Sue world was tally prepared to examine His claims and distinguish the real Christ from an im. postor. There were political motives that would especially urge the Jews to look carefully into the matter. They were under the bondage of Rome and the only hope of deliverance was the Messiah. On the other hand the Roman government was very jealous of losing any pars of its power and they would carefully examine His claims until they would be convinced that *‘His kingdom wae not of this world.” Let all receive and follow the ‘‘New Born King." ~The WATCHMAN will reach its read- ers a little earlier than usual this week be- cause we want all who expect tc do their Christmas shopping in Bellefonte to have the benefit of the ideas suggested in the many advertisements in this issue. God is Life awd Light. Rev. F. J. Clere, Philipsburg, “Wrapped in Hisswaddlicg bands, And in His manger laid, The Hope and Glory of all lands Is come to the world's aid.” — Keble. God is life and light and trath and pow- er; holy, pure and blessed; loving, merci- ful and righteous. Life, in greater or less | degree, is His gift to his creatures. The Lord’s prayer, tanght by Jesus Christ, bids us call God ‘‘Our Father,” and declares His existence to all the world. “I am that I am,” is His own declaration of Him- self, self existent, creator, benefactor, om- nipreseot and omnipotent. Creation is His work, good in iteel! and in its purpose; and meantto be everlasting aod in the creature for its happiness, Death is the opposite of life; it is no fail- ure, but a punishment, according to the commaudment and will of the Almighty, as was proclaimed by Him at the very be- ginniug of man’s existence. By the sacri- fice of Himself, in folfillment of the sen tence pronounced against sin. Jesus, who was born of the blessed Virgin Mary, died and was buried, and rose again from the dead, the ouly accepted human person that ever lived, ‘‘the second Adam,”’ the ascend- ed Lord, the real king of all the earth. The identity of uvature with man, and His work in all the duties of man, also His person, and humae life and ministries are unquestionable ; His future coming again into this world, to make aod govern is, and to all His cieatares, as their Lord ard Mas. ter. To wankind he has given the privi- lege of membership in Him, as recipients of the grace with which He endowed our race, when He made Himself one with us. He then took upon Himsell tbe condition of the fallen creature; and, by willing sub- mission of Himself to all the consequences of wayward, erring, wandering, lost and perishing sinners, he became our Saviour. Human nature was redeemed in Him. The Divine life is inextinguisbable in Him. That life is His gifs to man ; so hestowed as to be continuous and not yet ended. For us all it has been gained and given, and Christias is the ohservauce and cele- bration of the hour, of the day, of the place, of the manner, whatever they were, of our Saviour’s birth, of the blessed Virgin Mary. No cavil, or doubt, or sneer ; no indiffer- ence or neglect, or contempt; no iguorance or unwillingness to believe, can hide or ex- tinguish or destroy the manifested exist- ence of Jesus Christ in human vature. The attributes of Divinity were exercised by Him during the thirty-three years of His residence on earth. The foundation laid thereon by the preaching of His nativity can never be overturoed or made of no el- fect. His power, His goodness, His mer- oy aod purity, His love and kindness to His creatures, have been fully manifested ; the promises or prophecies of His work, be- gun on earth, have been tly attest. ed by what He has already done and be- stowed, to warrant the assurance of an to accomplish His will and oy Dogar: will ren everlasting salvation wrought out for us, His subjects, and His children by adop- tion, for all the ages of a never ending ex- istence. The redemption of mankind is His fin- ished work, sufficient for all our race. His intercession is His coostant, continuous work on our behalf ; His righteousness is warrant for His success if only we believe and trust in Him ; and ‘Loving Him, keep His commandments.’’—St. John xiv:15-21- 23. Who will not “keep Christmas ?’’ How will you ‘‘keep Christmas ?"’ +——A decree of the court was filed on Tuesday changing the time for the holding of the license court for the year 1908, from the first Tuesday in March, 1908, to the Monday of the second week of the December term of court, 1907. There will be no change in the time the license becomes ef- fective, which will be from April first to April first of each year. The purpose of boldiug license court in December is to give any hotel man who way either be granted a new license or refused an old ore, or in case of transfers, to bave ample time to make all necessary arrangementss For the year 1907 license court will be held as usual, the first Taeaday in March. ~—Mrs. George W. Atherton, of State College, has been notified that her name has been placed upon the list of College polessors’ widows to receive pensions from the fund provided by Andrew Carnegie. This means an Byia eusion ample competency ——— Bethlehem. Rev. Ambrose M. Schmidt, Bellefonte. “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem aod see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord bath made known unto us.”” Thus spoke the shepherds, hav- ing received the angel message. In baste they seek the manger cradle of the New Born King. Bethlehem! Upon thee are the thoughts of the world centered today! Bethlehem! Thou hast been exalted ahove every other city or village throughout the whole wide world! Many are the hallowed memories that cluster about this village, vestled upon its high ridge overlooking the wilderness of Judea. Here Jacob, on a journey through Cavaan, balts and from the tent of Rachel comes a cry of sorrow. The beloved Rachel is dead. A sword pierces the heart of Jacob, yet the new born babe, Benjamin, becomes the child of affeo- tion in his old age. Generations later, in the fields of Bethlehem, is seen gleaning the Moabitess stranger, Ruth, who be- comes the ancestress of Mary, the mother of Jesus of Nazareth. Later, another child is born in the house of Jesus, and this one becomes the poet and king of Israel: the sweet singer of the in- spired psalms, King David. Later, the prophet Micah grasps’and un- folds the secret of the ages when he ex- claimed, ‘‘But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathab, which art little to be among the thous- ands of Judah, ous of thee shall one come forth untome that is tobe the rolerin Israel; whose going forth are from of old, from everlasting.”’ For centuries there is silence and then across the hills of Bethlehem is heard the ange! message: ‘‘Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. The promised Messiah has come! the prophecies of the ages have been fulfilled. The babe in the manger cradle is indeed the one whose ‘‘name shall be called Won- derfal, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince ofjPeace.” This babe of Bethlehem, the virgin’s child, through His coming has transformed the world; changed the hearts of men and nations and through the way of sorrow has brought life and immortality to light. Today millions of worshipers bow where once the humble shepherds knelt and the wise men adored. Today the world cele- brates the birthday of the Christ child— God's best gift to men. May this blessed Christmas-tide cause our hearts to glow with a deeper love for Him, and for one another, as in spirit we bend over Bethle- hem’s manger cradle to worship and adore. “0 little town of Bethlehem! How still we see thee lie, Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, The silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light; The hopes and fears of all the years, Are met in thee tonight.” The Joyous Christmas. Rev. Chas. L. Streamer, Philipsburg. “Rejoice and be glad, The Redeemer has come,” Most children are glad upon the recur- rence of the Christmas season, mainly maybe, because of the gifts they are ex- peoting ; some of them, no doubt, because of the part they are to take in the service of song, response and recitation. For the children’s sake I wonld not do away with the Advent season with its incident ocele- brations. Though it is many years since I was a child and participated in them yet still : “Fond recollections recalls them to view.” The remembrance of my childish joys on Christmas morning at the great” chimney side impels me to strive to make my own children joyfal as often ae the coming sea- sor points to the birth of the Christ Child, nor do I pause to debate in my mind any- thing that some say is perplexing in rela- tion to it. I was glad when a child when Christmas came, and I wish my children to be glad too, their pleasure is my pleasure. I heard one man once say to another, *‘I am pleased, yes, very much pleased, sir, in- deed, to meet you.” The prompt reply was, ‘‘yes sir, and I am very much pleased that you are pleased.’ Not only do young children enjoy the Christmas festival ; but children of a larger growth enjoy it also, and so I say I am glad that thereby others are all made glad. I am reminded of the ‘‘Unspeakable Gift’’ and I am impelled to give, not only to bless my own household ; but knowing, as I do, some houses where there is but little light, or warmth, or comfort, I am pleased with a chance to “Let a little sunshine in.” Somehow the gladness of heart thus in- fused makes wy own heart glad, even though I may uot give just for that pur- pose, and may not be there to hear one spoken word ; yet, somehow, sooner or later I do hear, and my own heart is warmed. Oh, the glad Christmas time, And the cheer that it brings, And the feelings sublime, When the saddened soul sings. And I feel what [once Could scarcely believe, That more blessed it is To give, than receive. Just once do I pass Over life's serious way, Let me do all the good i can put in each day ; And then when the living Shall say, “He is gone," Enough, that the Master Shall say the “Weis pose.” (Continued on fourth page.) ——Don’s fail to read she editorials in this issue. They were all written by the olergymea of the county and voice some beautiful Christmas ts, as well as very timely reference to other matters of public interest. he at
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