Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 36, Number 297, Decatur, Adams County, 17 December 1938 — Page 5

KP I SUNDAY I* II SCHOOL |.:LESSON< ■ I Western Newspaper Union.

■ f!! nn for December 25 n subjects end Scripture texts secopyrighted by International ■ .'., Religious Education; used by | SSIO'I |‘T GOD'S GREAT LOVE text— Matthew 2:112. TEXT—God so loved the that he gave his only begotten M 1 that whosoever belleveth In him Id t perish, but have everlasting ■hristmas Day on Sunday—what combination! Today ■ commemorate the birth of our the coming of our Redeemer among men on the day of which is a perpetual reof His resurrection K the dead—the Lord’s Day. He K e as the babe of Bethlehem's in order that He might in death and resurrection from the prove His victory over sin ■ death. For those who know ■ love the true spirit of Christ- ■,. this should be a great day of in Christ. have an unusual opportunity the birth of Jesus from a n. t commonly used for Christ-[S-1, namely, the coming of the ■se Men from the East to find and ■ worship Him. It is suggested their experiences may be con■ered as showing the way to who is the perfect revelation ■God's great love. We should ■. Look for His Sign (vv. 1-3). ■fhile most of their fellow men Hw nothing but an unusually bright (if they even noted that much, ■ their hurried devotion to the inKests of everyday life), the men ■ the East showed that they were ■e by recognizing that here was Mg promised sign of Numbers 24:17. ■ sure to read that great prophecy, ■en they told Herod, he. fearing ■t his own power and prominence Mould be challenged, became Mubled in his heart. ■The parallel to our day is striking. Merywhere in our lives, personal Md national, are the unmistakable Kns of the presence and power of Msus. Most people heed them not ■ their mad pursuit of gold and Measure. Others hate His name. Md would destroy His influence on Mrth. Let us be among the wise Men who come today to seek and Him. HH Listen to God’s Word (vv. 4-6). ■The Wise Men knew that He was M come, but they needed further Mbt- They knew where to find it — H God's own Word. How different Mould be the history that is in the Making in our day if instead of tumMg to the philosophies of men, or Musting in the might of armaments. Me would turn to God’s Word and Mt it lead us all to Christ, the Mviour of the world, the Prince of Mace. ■ in. Seek the Saviour (vv. 7-97. ■ Different motives moved in the Marts of those who consulted the Btriptures on that far-off day in Mrusalem. Herod, while hypocritMally professing to want to worship, eally was looking into it so that he light kill Jesus. There are hyporites who study God’s Word in our ay for the same purpose while osmsibly worshiping. The people of ertsalem had the curious bystandr’s interest in an unusual event, hey have their counterpart in our lurches and communities on this hristmas Day of 1938. Then there ere the chief priests and scribes, ho had a purely professional inrest in finding what the Scriptures night concerning this promised hie. There are plenty of that kind t religious workers today. None of these actually sought the iaviour except the Wise Men. Thank »od for the thousands of men, wornn, and children who will today seek he Christ who is the very reason br the observance of Christmas. Kit who has been all but lost in the lonsense and commercialism that lave practically ruined Christmas is a sacred “holy day.” IV. Worship Him (w. 10-12). These faithful seekers found Him. kid in Him they found joy (v. 10), worship (v. 11), opportunity for sacifice of self and gifts (v. 11), and with God in the great fork of redemption (v. 12). God poke to them, gave them a personil and secret commission which hwarted the wicked plans of Herod. Christmas may mean all of that to each one of us if we let the Lord Jesus come into our lives in all the •eauty of His redeeming love and loliness. To you who read these lines just now, the writer makes £plea in the name of Christ —let have your life and transform it by His grace and for His glory. Only thus can you have a joyful and Messed Christmas. The Parent Mind The souls of the sons of God are fester than their business; and they are thrown out into life, not to certain work, but to be a cer*ain thing; to have some sacred lineaments, to show some divine tint °f the Parent Mind from which they came.—Martineaji. The Nation’s Progress National progress is the sum of industry, energy, and upMghtnsj., a , pntinnai decay is of individual idleness, selfish Tess and vice.

;.;CQjn,f TO CH URCH

“Slaughter 01 Innocents” By Herod Now Amateurish

Gernumy, Italy, Japan and Spain Make His Murders at Bethlehem Seem Small—Some r act-Aspects of the First Christmas.

By WILLIAM T. ELLIS

One day I had the good fortune to possess the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem all to myself. There were no other visitors. I had spent a solemn period down in the crypt where Jesus was born. And I was wandering about the edifice — the oldest phristtanj church in the world — when there entered through the little doon three patriarchial Persians, with flowering beards, large turbans and long, expensive robes. For a moment, I was startled, as if I had seen an apartition. Here were the Three Wise Men 'from the Basta come again to Bethlehfm. Not until the other members of their party had entered did I recover from my astonishment. Then I recalled how once the old church was saved from destruction at the hands of the conquering Persians by the mosaic representation on the wall of the visit of the Magi: “This place is not Christian, but Persian,” said the awe-stricktjn invaders. Thus again and again the birthplace of Jesus was linked with Persia, “the East,” of Matthew's chronicle. Now the spirit of Christmas, the spirit of Christian civilization, has returned to the ancient land of Persia to make it over into the modern Iran. Some Christmas Geography We could do With a deal more geography and chronology in our consideration of Christmas. Ninel out of ten persons have only the haziest notions of where and when the greatest event in history took place. Most of us are not certain whether it all happened in Europe, Asia or Africa. The journey 1 from "the East” to Bethlehem is | not greatly different, in our minds from the trip made by Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethle-i hem. And the position of Jerusa- . lem is equally vague. Let us culti- j vate a measure of fact attitude toward the Christmas-story. First, suppose we locate the Magi’s home. It was down neai , where the Tigris and Euphrates; rivers meet in lower Mesopotamia, perhaps in old Babylon, or the vicinity of modern Bagdad; or a little further east, within the confines of modern Persia. The journey to Bethlehem was a long one, a matter of weeks, foi the camel's ordinary pace is only about three miles an hour. Doubtless the Wise Men followed the old river road which Abraham had taken, and so to Damascus, and down to Jerusalem, which is but five miles from Bethlehem, passing through Capernaum, and possibly also Nazareth. The route is a long, hard one. however taken, as I well know, for 1 have been over it repeatedly. The Nairn Transport Company now covers the distance from Damascus to Bagdad in about twenty-four hours, using large modern automobile omnibuses. In a great caravan, with many attendants, the Wise Men traversed the route slowly, at the speed of a camel's foot. Star-Gazers and Seekers We know that the ancient scientists were astrologers, seers and seekers. They were an honored cult, called Magi, or "Wisemen. Thev possessed rank and wealth, aB the nature of their gifts to Jesus makes clear. The Magi were such as would be received by King Herod They were the scholars and teachers of their time And they were seekers after al truth, spiritual questers after the meaning for man of nature’s manifestations. An unusual occurrence in t h e heavens — astronomy has offered many curious theories as m whal they saw - portended a new reign by a king arising in the West. S‘>, at R ,eß ' w ’ Bt 01 T?!’ py and la hoi, they set out to follow th To Uese immortal three, truth was something to be pursued a d not merely to be speculated about With them, the logical end of r,iowledge was action. They were not of the Athenian breed of “brittle intellectuals.” who merelv talk and talk, theorize and specy. hut do nothing practical. S vinos th.- star led them ~»****’ ******* * tThe Sunday School Lesson s o,- December 25 is, "Gods Great Love.”- Matthew 2.1-12 . **‘'* * * * *|

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1938.

to mount camels and follow its leading. Only such ever find the King. A Matter of Dates In ignorance and heedlessness, ! art and poetry have pictured the Magi as visiting the Holy Family in the Bethlehem stable; even as they also represent the shepherds as seeing the star. The shepherds never saw the star, and the Wise Men never saw the stable. They arrived In Bethlehem long after the wonder-tale of the shepherds had made Mary and Joseph and the Babe honored guests in a house, probably of a kinsman. Matthew's story explicitly says “they came to the house;” and with equal details makes it clear that, by the Wise Men’s computation, the time of the birth may have been nearly two years before their visit. The Babe was old enough to be taken on the long, hard journey to Egypt. The gifts of the worshipping Wise Men made possible that escape. Jealous Herod’s murder of all possible rivals, after the Magi's report, included all infants up to two years of age. Probably the number was not more than a score Yet that atrocity has since been the world's symbol of cruelty. In the light of today's news, Herod was a mere amateur: Hitler and Mussolini and Spain and Japan could give points on how to conduct a wholesale slaughter of the innocents. Herod’s Modern: Rivals For at this Christmas season, we confront the ugly truth that while the world is full of spiritual seekers, and the Child of Bethlehem has more worshippers than amidst the nations the hate-filled ever before, there is also abroad spirit of Herod. The cries of little Jewish children and Jewish mothers, and of Chinese children and Ethiopian children surely do not go unheeded by the Babe of Bethlehem who now reigns in heaven. That is the supreme truth of this Christmas Lesson. Love is ou the throne. Although often disobedient, mankind is yet to be conquered and ruled by the Love that was manifested at the Bethlehem limit to reveal His own nature of manger. God went the uttermost love. He gave us Christ, whom the whole world acclaims at Christmas, to express His love for us; and His will that we should love one another. Despite the frightful clamor of war and oppression, the Christmas bells of peace and love are the dominant sound in the world today.

SEVEN SENTENCE SERMONS The great secret of success in life is to be ready when your opportunity comes. —Disraeli. ♦ ♦ ♦ It is the man or woman of faith, and hence of courage, who is the master of circumstances, and who makes his or her power felt in the world— Ralph Waldo Trine. ♦ ♦ ♦ Better have failed in the high aim Than vulgarly in the low aim succeed. —Browning. You cannot make peace with documents; peace must be made in the hearts of men. — Herbert Hoover. » * * The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. — Matthew 20:28. If thou hast yesterday thy duty done And thereby cleared firm footing for today. Whatever clouds may dark tomorrow's sun, Thou shall not miss thy solitary way —Goethe. We can help make people bright by our keenness, but we can never accomplish anything toward making people good except by our tenderness. — Parkhurst. Zion Lutheran Church Paul W. Schultz, Pastor Divine worship 10:30 a. m. Sunday school and Bible class 9:30 a. m. Early matins 8:30 a. tn. Children's practise Sunday 1:30 p. m. Lutheran Radio Hour Sunday 3:30 p. m. Children's Christmas program Saturday 7:00 p. m. Holy communion next Sunday during tlie services.

ECHURCH ESI Church of the Nazarene 7th and Marshall Sts. Paul Brandyberry, Pastor 9:30 A. M. Sunday School. Doyle Lytle, supt. 10:30 A. M. Morning Worship. Sermon theme — “God's Cure for Worry." 6:30 P. M. N. Y. P. S. Mrs. Paul Brandyberry, pres. 6:30 P. M. Junior Society. Rex Custer supervisor. 7:30 P. M. Evangelistic Service. 7:30 P. M. Wednesday the regular mid-week prayer meeting. 2:30 P. M. Sunday the Nazarene Broadcast hour. “The soul that stubbornly refuses to seek reconciliation with a fellow can never know complete reconciliation with God.” Your presence is deeply appreciated at the friendly Church. Keep the Christ is Christmas this year by attending Church. o Eighth St. U. B. Church L. J. Martin, Pastor 9:30 Sunday School, Lawrence Michel, supt. 10:20 Junior Church. 10:35 Regular worship service. Singing by the young peoples choir and the congregation. Sermon by the pastor. 5:30 Junior, Primary, Intermediate and Senior Christian Endeavor. Attend the Endeavor of your respective group. It is helpful. 7:30 Evangelistic services. 7:15 Mon. night, practice for Christmas program. 7:30 Wednesday night prayer meeting. 7:15 Thins night practice for Christmas program. The Christmas pageant entitled “The Shepherd’s Trail” will be presented on Sunday night December 25th. Complete program to be announced later. o First Evangelical Church George S. Lozier, Minister 9:15 a. m. — Sunday School. Earl Fuhrman, superintendent. 10:10 a. m. Divine Worship. Special features include the reception of candidates into church membership and the Communion service. 6:00 p. in. Christian Endeavor. 7:00 p. m. Sunday Evening Fellowship. Sermon theme: “Rich or Poor.” 7:00 p. m., Wednesday -Christmas worship service. o ■ Presbyterian George O. Walton, Minister 9:00 a. tn. Bible training and worship for juniors. Mrs. W. A. Lower, Superintendent, assisted by Mrs. Robert Gay and Miss Ina. Noach. 9:30 Sunday School. W. P. Schrock superintendent. 10:30 Morning Worship. Sermon "Behold Thy King Cometh” Wednesday evening at 7:15 prayer service. Christmas entertainment will be held next Friday night at 7:00 o’clock. The program will consist of

Mrs. Eden, Too 4 * ........jßegaßwl

Mrs. Anthony Eden, attractive wife of Britain’s former Foreign Secretary, is pictured as she arrived at Mew York with her noted husband.

recitations, dialogs and special musical numbers. The Sunday School Christmas treat will be given at the close of the service. First Method i»t Church Monroe at Fifth Street Ralph Waldo Graham, Minister Morning Worship 9:30. A unified service of Worship and Study. Planned and directed so as to be of help and inspiration to all ages. Nursery care for the babies, Junior Church and message for the Children, Music by the Young People’s Choir. Sermon by the pastor, theme: "The Bible's Teaching About God.” Bible study classes for all age groups. Epworth League 6:00 P. M. A service by the young people and for the young people. Evening Worship 7:00 P. M. A helpful hour of inspiring congregational singing, music by the Chorus Choir and gospel message by the pastor. Sermon theme: “Toughing Jesus.” Chorus Choir rehearsal immediately following the evening service. Members and friends are urged to be loyal to the Devine service of the Church, and cordial and friendly spirit is extended to all, and those who are not worshiping elsewhere are especially in-; vlted to come to this friendly church to worship God. 0 | First United Brethren Church i Corner of Ninth and Madison James A. Weber, Pastor Church School at 9:15 a. m. Roy Mumma, superintendent. Theme: “Christ's New Commandment." — Matt. 5:43-48; 22: 34-40; John 13: 34,35. Prepare your heart for Christmas by coining to church this Sunday. Morning Worship 10:30 A. M. “Prepare for Christmas.” Reception of members and baptism at this service. Don’t miss this joyful service. 6 P. M. Christian Endeavor Services for the following age groups, Adult, Youth, Intermediates, Juniors and Jewels. Adult and Youth topic “Christ-, mas Chimes on Every Continent.'', Intermediate topic “An Evening of Christmas Carols.” 7 P. M. Christmas Program giv-, en by the Children's Department

Fido On the Half Shell

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Judy Sammons, dancer, is shown with the giant ciam shell in which her dog seems to have plenty of room. The shell is one of a 1,000 shells exhibited in New York by Dr. Walter H. Smith, traveler and lecturer. Giant clams of this variety have been known to snap oil a diver s leg.

Strike at Oppression ■L* TISSI J Mi

Rishon Stenhen J. Donahue (left), administrator of the Archdiocese of New York Bishop William T. Manning (right), are pictured with Mayor FioreUo LaGuardia at the giant Citizens’ Rally Against Oppression, in New York City. More than 7,000 persons came to hear the ..peakers denounce the oppressor* of minorities, ai-d dictators in general.

I of the Church. See the paper elsewhere for the program. Monday — Bible Study 6:30 P. M. Rev. Miner in charge. Attend the Dramatic Production “The Way" given by the Woman’s Club at the Reformed Church, sponsored by the Ministerial Asso- ! elation. Wednesday night 6 p. m. Orchestra practice, A. N. Hilton In charge. 7 p. m. Prayer meeting for all age groups. 8 p. m. Choir Practice, Harold Mumma, directing. - o First Baptist Church Homer J. Aspy, Minister 9:30 A. M. Bible School 10:30 A. M. Junior Church 10:30 A. M. Morning Worship. A subject of interest to every member of the church will bep resented by the pastor. 6:00 P. M. Pioneer B. Y. P. U. 6:00 P. M. The Pastors Hour with the Young People. 7:00 p. m. Evening Service. Plan now to Join this hour of fellowship and study of God’s Word. Wednesday evening at 7:30 the mid-week prayer service at the j church. The study will he in the Book of The Acts. Bring your Bibles. o Christian Church Kenneth Timmons, Pastor Bible School 9:30 , D. L. Drum ' Superintendent. Let’s make this ani other big day in our Bible School. Worship and Communion 10:30. 1:30 P. M. Sat. All children of the Bible School that are to take part in the Christmas program Sunday evening please be at the church aturday afternoon. This will be our last practice. Sunday evening at 7:30 tne children of the Bible School are to give a Christmasp rograrn. Every one is cordially invited to attend. Monday evening the United Christian Missionary Society will meet at the home of Mrs. Homer Ruhl. Mrs. J. E. Anderson will be I the leader. o Zien Reformed Church Charles M. Pnign. 'Hi. I).. Minister ; Church School. 9:00 a. in. Clark i Flatigh, supt. I Morning Worship. 10:00 a. in.

Holy communion. Sermon: “He Shull R< tgn As King.’’ The senior choir will sing. Reception of members. • Young People's Society, 6 p. in. Allee Yost, leadet. Evening Worship, 7:30 p. m. Holy communion. Wednesday, 7 p. m. Mid-week prayer and study hour. Saturday, 7 p.tn. Christmas Eve Entertainment by children's department. Sunday, 9 a. tn. Christmas Worship Service. o Church of God The unified service begins at 9:30 and closes at 11:20. After a worship period ol song, prayer, and sermon the Sunday School classes convene In their respective places for their study. Christmas Day has been designated as "Break the Record" day. The cooperation and faithful attendanc" of everyone will enable us to reach this goal. Boys and girls meeting 6:30. Evening service 7:30. Mid-week prayer service Wednesday 7:30. “And there were Shepherds" is the name of the Christmas pageant. which will be presented at the church Christmas night 7:30. Revival services begin Sunday, January 1. Rev. 11. C. Hume, pastor of tlie Church of God at Huntington. will be the evangelist and his daughter, Esthel, will help with the singing The public is most cordially invited to attend aB the services of thia congregation.

Held in "Thrill” Holdups

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Wanda Mennetti (left), 17-year-ol<i bride, and Catharine Wintarlik, also 17. are pictured as they were arraigned in connection with a scries ol "Uirill” holdups in Philadelphia. Three men were held with the girls, without bail, for the Grand Jury.

Anthony Eden in New York

Il

Anthony Eden, former British Foreign Secretary, is pictured (top, center) as he spoke at the National Association of Manufacturers, meeting in New York. He asked greater cooperation between U. S. and Great Britain, attacked the dictators. Bottom, he is shown chatting with Mjx-. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Now York’* »o«ety leader.

PAGE FIVE

Stolen Auto Craaheg, Court Pasadena, Cal. —(UP) — When Torvald Frederickson went to report the theft of his automobile to the sheriff’s office, he was startled to find that his auto was already Ire ourt. It had crashed down a hillside and plunged into Uie sheriff's building winding up exactly in front of the Judge’s bench in the township’s courtroom.

Huge Opal Mined Sydney - (U.PJ--A German digger named Otto, working at Lightning Ridge, Australia's famous opal field, recently dug up a 15-ounce opal, valued at 17.500, the largest found there In the past 20 years. O— I.! .. I.—. Germans Shift Troop Flag Berlin —(UP)--Flag of "Southern Cross" of German East African colonial troops has been presented as a symbol of the handing on of its traditions to the cavalry division of the German police by th< Hermann Goering regiment, which had previously had charge of the flag. TODAY'S COMMON ERROR * Do not say. “The snow still coiiiinnefi to fall;” omit •still.*

Knowledge Saves No one need die of tuberculosis If present knowledge of this * ancient dis

ease is utilized Christ mas Seals help to spread Informa 11 o n to save human lives. The death rate has been re-

fle IEI I 1 1 i u, s

duced two-thirds In the last thirty year*.