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IT OIIjriBtt Christmas Lesson The Child and The Kingdom Mathew 1: 1S-25; 18: 1-14; 19: 13-15. PRINTED TEXT, M«l». 1: 18-25; 18: 1-6: 19: 13.|<> GOLDTN TEXTâ€" A little child thall lead them. isa. 11: G. THK I.KSSON IN ITS SKTTIN'G ^ TIME- The annunciation to Joseph, the conception of the Vir- gin Mary, and the birth of Jesus all look place, probably, in the year 5 B.C. The teaching of Jesus concerninf? childhood mis given in the autumn of A.D. 20. PLACE â€" Mary's conception and the annunciation to Joseph occur- red in Nazareth. The birth of Jes- us took place in Bethlehem. The teaching of Christ found in this lesson was given in Capernaum. Matthew 1: 18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. The div- ine conception of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit is given with much greater detail in Luke's Gospel (1: i!6-38). Mark has writ- ten nothing whatever concerning the birth and childhood of Jesus. Only Matthew and Luke tell the ttory of the supernatural birth, though John seems to refer to It (1: 14). Matthew tells it to us from the standpoint of Joseph, who was betrothed to Mary, and therefore Iceally her husband. Metsafe To Joeeph ID. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public ex- ample, was minded to put her »way privily. 20. But when he thought on these things, behold, »n angel of the Lord appeared un- to him in a dream, saying, Jos- eph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her bi of the Holy Spirit. 21. And she ihall bring forth a son; and thou ihalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. "Joeus" was a very common Hebrew name (Josh- ua) in its Greek form. It means "Jehovah's Salvation." God took hold of a name perfectly familiar, which set the aaw-born Child among the children of men. Birth of Jaaui 22. Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23. Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and •hall bring forth a son, and they •hall call his name Inimanuel; which is. being interpreted, God with u». This prophecy in found in Isa. 7: 14. 24. And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did aa the angol of the Lord command- ed him, and took unto him his wife; 25. and knew her not till she had brought forth a sun : and he called his name JESUS. The Little Child Matt. IS 1. in that hour came the disciple-' unto Jebus, laying, Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2. And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them. 3. And said, Verily I say unto you. Except ye turn, and become as little ch'.ldren, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the grreatest in the kingdom of heaven. No one has yet given the perfect and ex- clusive interpretation of this pro- found idea â€" it has been suggest- ed that Christ here means that we should be like children in hu- mility, in obedience, in indiffer- ence to the distinctions of rank and wealth, pure-hearted. 5. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. Let us receive and cherish child- ren in Jesus' name, just as he v.'ould receive himself. Let No Harm Come 6. But whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea. How can we cause little children to stumble? By letting them see our own un- belief, cynicism; by letting them have their own way, by failing to restrain or discipline them. Children cannot have a full know- ledge of Christian doctrines, but they can know Jesus as one who loves them, whom they can trust and pray to. Chriat't Bletiing 13. Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should lay his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14. But Jesus said. Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven. 15. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence. Palestine Has 11 Christmases Dirr«-ent Dates Marked By Religioua Groups in Country Note to lltllo boys aii:I girls who are sorry that Chrislmns comes but once a year: Palestine has 11 Chils'traas days, the only country In tho world to have so many. They extend from the Latin ser- vioea on Docember 25 to the Abys- sinian liturgy on March 25 and re- sult from a fourth century dispute, within the Christian church over adoption of a unified calendar. Julian, Gregorian Calendars .^omo Christiana adopted the Gregorian calendar, which puta Ch atmas on I>ecember 251 li, while others retained the Julian calendar and •till others chose their own dates for Christendom's great festi- vals. Thf» Abyssinian church cole- brni!..< the birth of Christ on t-he 251 'i of every month, but the groat- al celebration Is the solemn lit- urgy OH March 25th. On January 6ih, under the Jul- ian calendar, comes the Greek Or- tliodox rolebratlon. As I<atin Chris- tiana AM on Decomfber 25, mem- bers of the Greek Orthodox com- munity will make a pilrrlmage to the Bethlehem shrtua aad re-enact the drama of Christ's birth. The British mandate government of Palestine has recognized all of these denomioatlona and has given thwn aqu&l rt«;ht« and privileges In all Ohfisttan shrines, throughoot the Holy I,;in<1. The Christ Child K^s»%m^w\ •> s s \ s m lL'^w^1il^^n^^^^^^^^^^^^^mmmm*llâ- mm^'>^^^ gs:q IN THE STABLE Christmas Day The little bulls drew together With the doves softly whispering. While the ass wondered whether He wanted out or in, Pulling at his rope and starting to paw His .stall, scattering the straw. Each in his gentle way, uneasy, not at rest. Not knowing why oppressed. And then the light! Not day or night, But something different and strange â€" So that they stopped all move- ment, waited â€" As if each moment now were freighted With some new thing beyond their vision's range. Till clearer, by the manger, they all saw Mother and child. And now no longer timid, stumb- lirtg, wild. They stooped above them â€" seeing how they smiled â€" Knowing in some mute, kindly way that all was well, Not knowing what but feeling love was there. And Mary, raising happy eyes to them Runged round her as if holden by some spell. Lifted the babe with care, And blessed them gently â€" dumb, Inarticulate, yet getting each his share Of that great love which to the world had come. Flooded river and frosted roads. Creaking carts with heaped-up loads, Wild duck winging through lead- en sky, Christmas day is drawing night. Holly and mistletoe on the stalls Lanterns, streamers and colored balls. Short the day and long the night. Merry games by candlelight. Silken snowflakes quivering dcwn. Silent footsteps in the town, Icicles on the window pane, Christmas day is here again. T. Lovatt Williams Pagan Evergreens Moderation At Christmas Time 'Too Much Christniaa" Is To Be Avoided Kven at Christmas time It Is possible to have "too much of a good thln«" sny authorities of the Department of Pensions and Na- tional Health at Ottawa. "Have a Christmas without re- grets. Tho health-engle of Chrlst- niaMlda is Important. Olowlng fac- es of children and gladdened hearts of adults are signs of upsurging spirits. There is a close relation- ship between happiness and hoaUh. Christmas gives eveiryone an op- portunHy to discard unhealthy moods and repressions, and to let the spirit of Joy hare full rein." Spirit of Joy Fire m«rshals warn acainst ac- cidents settlnc fire to Christmas trees by th» use of lighted candles, and, since medical authorities are Interettlng themselTea in accident prevention, this further word of ad- vice cornea from National Health headquarters, "If you must cele- brate away from home, leave your cas- In the varase, a«d take a taxi." Decorating the house with ever- greens at Christmas is a pagan custom and an edict compiled at the Council o Bracara forbiade the people to deck their homes *â-  with bay leaves and green bough;. Pagans believed that the sylvjia'T. spirits would repair to theirnii very cold weather, .shelter be- neath their leaves and remain un- nipped by frost and cold. Houses used to be decked with holm, ivy, bay, laurel, box, and holly. Mistli'toL- wua forbidden in Eng. lish chnrf iK .-; n.s it was a heathen embler:-, fhv sole exception being York Cathedral. Dr. Stukeley telU us that it was cu.stomary to caiTy a brand', of mistletoe in proces- sion to the high altar anri pro- claim a general indulgence and pardon of sins at the city gate.«. MISTLETOPICS One naturally thinks of Christ- mas-trees, holly, and mistletoe. Mistletoe gets its name from the German mist, expelled mstter. The hard seeds are dispersed by birds passing .(hem undigested through their bodies. Miuel- thrushes often function so. Mistletoe grows moat conunon- 1/ on apple and other rosaceous trees, very rarely on oaks. It gets ita nourishment by putting suck- ers into the branches of lt..> host. The sucker-bearing shoot!> di.4play a weird kind of intelligence, ac- tually groping their way a'on;; the branch for the best food-supply. "O Little Town Legend Surrounds Of Bethlehem* * Christmas Fairy There, Was Born A "Saviour Who Is Christ the Lord" Bethlehem or The Houso of Bread, was more anciently knov.-u as Ephrath or Fruitful, but in mod- ern tlme« is called Beit-lahm or "House of Flesh." All three names are significant to Christiaus whose interest In It arises from the tremendous fact that In that little town was born Him Who was rightly called "The Bread of Life;" Who was to be the fruitful Head of a new race, wide- spread as the world itself; and Who -was there born in human flesh, though the Almighty Son of God. "House of Bread" It« history was by no means all bright and holy. Jacob hurrying along with a deathly sick wife, was compelled to halt nearby, while his greatly beloved Rachel gafl» birth to the little Benjamin, and then In her husband's arms died there. "Her grave is stiil marked by a rough stone monument! It was in Bethlehem that tho young Levite lived, who Mioah hir- ed to be bis chaplain, and with whom is connected the tragic story In the last chapters of the book of Judges. Tho terrible tale of wrong doing and reprisals came perilous- ly near to the destroying of the whole tribe of Benjamin, within whose limits Bethlehem was situat- ed. Its Past History Thither came the widow Naomi, and h©r daughter-in-law Ruth, the Moabitess, mourners, bereft of all they had held dear. There the young widow Ruth was wedded to her wealthy kinsmau Boaz, thereby becoming great-grandmother of the Psalmlat-Klng David, and also one of the progenitors of the Christmas King, the Lord and saviour of Man- kind. Rehoboam, son of Solomon, made a fortified city of Bethlehem (2 Chronicles XI. 16) and later a fam- ous khan (corresponding to our ho- tel) was built there probably by Cblmham, sou of BarzlUai the Uil- eadite who befriended Darld (2 Sa- muel XVll.) when in trouble and was ni>med atfer him (Jeremiah XLl, 17). This khan appears to have been a place where caravans were made up tor long Journeys, and it was from thence that the re- belllDus Jews, disregarding God's orders set oft tor Egypt, carrying . the prophet Jire>miah with them. .It may have been that same khan, or In New Testament terms that Inn. at which Joseph and Mary (Luke H) applied for lodging, but could find uo other accommodation than a stable In a grotto under, or neaf to it, where.in to spend the first of all Christmas Kves, although they were both of royal descent, des- cendants of King David himself! Th<al poor stable became the most famous bed-chamber In the whole world, for there amidst the cattle was born Uie holy Baby. Who was God, the Creator of all thiols, clothed In mortal flesh, that He might become the Saviour of all who wished it from their sins! The Poor Stable To th^ 8t.%ble camo the shep- herds called away from their own sheep-folds by a herald In the hea- vens, accompanied by singing choirs of augeU, who made the tiirllUog momentous announce- ment: "unto you Is born this daf In the City of David, a Saviour who is ChrUt the Lord" (Luke 11, 11). CouDlless thousands have knelt ia sacred worship before that most holy shrine, once "a lowly cattle shed." the only shelter this evil worM could provide for Its Maker, R-deemer and King, when in pity- ing love and tonder saving mercy He came to visit It. at the Christ- mas tide! Gossamer Creature Was Onc« A Poor Unhappy Little Girl Have you o'^er wondered why the graceful, little fairies dresse] in the loteliest of gossamer gar- ments, with gleaming ornaments in their hair and dainty wands ia their hands, figure so prominently in Christmas decorations aad festi- vities? An old Yuletide legend la the origin of this. Let me tell yon the story. Many, many years ago on a Christmas Eve a poor littl& girl named Mary was very unhappy. Mary was an orphan, which means she had neither a mother nor a fa- ther, and the old woman she lived with made her \ ery miserable by her cruel treatment. Snow lay deep en the ground, in the forest where Mary and the old woman lived. "I want some strawberries," said the old woman. "Go fetch me some." Mary said that there could be no strawberries growing in the snow but she was pushed out ol doors Into the forest. She sat down beneath a tree and began to cry, and while she cried there came a little gnome carrying a lantern. Night had come on, and it was very dark. "Tell me why you are crying,' said the gnome. Mary told him, and then the gnome said: "I am on my way to meet Santa Claus who Is coming from Toyland." This made Mary very happy, but all at once a dark cloud covered' the moon, and the gnome turned pale. "1 know this is the work of the wicked underground gnomes. They have, by their magi made the cloud over the moon so that Santa Claus cannot find the way to the earth. "Quick!" said the gnome, "fake this lantern and hold tight to that fir tree!" Mary did as she was asked, while the gnome muttered some magic words and the llt<le tree grew. It grew so quickly that It reached right up to the sky, and on top was Mary, holding the lant- ern. And by this means Santa waa able to find his way. "Make the tree ita proper site once more," said Santa Claus after^ wards. But when the tree becama small again, on the top was â€" no, not Mary, but a beautiful falryt The llttla girl had been transform:- ed. And she never had to go back to the cross old woman but Instead remained in Fairyland where aba lived happily ever after. %SiiSirQ r i k i H i t 1 »» '