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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 1912)
' 1MT ' Ux L.'SBfe f . " . r ! x V p'T t . smb : ww r- . i nx Xy ,HE rolgn of Herod had nearly ended when the Maul arrived In Jerusa lem and askod: "Where U he that Is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star In the east, and are como to worship him." Tho news that a truo "king of the Jowb," a possible rival, was born, and that his birth had been herald ed by celestial phenomena, caused Herod much concern. He summoned to him the scribes and learned men. When thoy wore questioned whero the king was to bo born thoy answered: "In Bethlehem ot Judeaj for thus It Is written by tho prophet, And thou, Bethlehem, in tho land of Juda, art not the least among tho princes of Juda; for out of thee shall come a governor, that shall rule my peoplo Israel." According to tho authorized version It Is then stated In tho New TcBtnmeut that "Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what tlmo tho star appeared. And ho sent them to r.othlehem, and aid, Go and Bcarch diligently for tho young ohlld; and when wo havo found him, bring mo word again, that I may como and worship him also. Whon they had henrd tho king, they da parted; and lo, tho star, which they saw In tho east, went before them, till It camo and stood over where tho young child wbb. When they saw the Btar, they rejoiced with exceeding great Joy." That Is tho wholo etory of tho Star of Bethle hem as It Is simply and directly told In tho sec ond chapter of tho gospel according to St. Mat thew. It was a cloister fancy of tho dark agos, hand ed down through centuries, that led the Chris tlon world to regard tho Star of the East as n miraculous luminary, akin to tho pillar of Art that guided tho children of Israel In tho wilder ness a luminary especially created tor the sole purpose of lending tho Mngl to tho birthplace of Christ. Tho modern Christian Is moro apt to regard tho Btar as a natural phenomenon and TV TiiiiiBBHBaaalMaaiiiiiViiB aBBWaBBBBBBBBBlaBBBBBaiBBBBBBBBBBBBmBBBBBBSBHBSBBBBBBBBaaBBBa BBI bbbbbbbLH HbDbbbbI IHIbbHbIbbbbbbH LIbbbbbbbbbIebbbbbbbbhbbbbHbbbhbIbebbbbbI1 r3Fft A'Al'' TBaaTIBaaaaaaaBaaTaTBlftraK ir" " 'WMlfi'jK - ,K fr,&4&g&M B "1 - i&rA KvW4fcaaiiBaaB?1BBBTaBaB flsH 'i i BKiPfc iVJIWWb'iii I ifll &vf' ftjMBHPPlBv''iiiViSB ii ffBmHiBMBTBwfiiinffT- V-B lEiiaWf r IIA --HBBK V .7 2 V? B v .TV X' ?r.'7 t 4BBBT S -. V V qBBBBBv"l B fflBBBBB&BBBBBBBBBBBBBIPBBBBL. T. T- "- VBBHBBTIBBBHBBB . . n.Bnif ;. '.BBBBBI I iy.A,IBV - yj .. ' .BkS '. . 7?.V BW BBBI , 'i'. 'BBBBBia 1 f BBBBBBBKBBBBBBBBBB h.BBBft. BT- .T BBBBBBBBBILBBIBBBl BBBBBMV mllBBUBBBBBBf !9"M!'r ' Mm, .'A1 ItiWhW '' jBBKX BHlBBBBMr.lBML'V M,Tti SSSKBr.BBBV BBBBBKT H'"'ii:Jii-' rlfnik - -Ay -f ' jl ';Ihf lBBMi:y' J1 fii.f- oil 4iTm wBBMH 1 1 k i ' ff f I f ww ?.. 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The 'pseudo-science of astrology out of which our modern science of astronomy was slowly evolved was thus engen dered. Exegetes of the New Testament narra tive hold these Magi to have been astrologers, members of that strange, non-national, privi leged priesthood whose office It was to watch the sky each day and each night, to note the position and apparent motion of the sun from dawn to dark, and to predict those changes In planetary positions which, In that day of as trological superstition, were supposed to shapo and reveal the destinies of kings and nations. In them science came an early worshipper at the feet of Christ To ancient as well as mediaeval astrologers, certain groupings of the stars and planetB had a fixed prophetic significance. The planetB were named In accordance with tholr supposed Influence. Mercury, always lurking near the sun, furtively gleaming In the morning or eve ning, was the patron of tricksters, knaves, and thleveB. Mars, flaming in rod, was tho symbol of war, the guardian of heroes and warriors. If tho Magi were astrologers who believed In stellar Influences, the apparition of the 8tar of Uethlehem must havo been an astronomical phenomenon, fiut no ordinary astronomical phenomenon could have enticed thoso practiced star-gazers from their temples. Wo must, there fore, And somo celestial event sufficiently extra ordinary to warrant a Journey from Chaldea or Persia to nethehem. When the Magi arrived in Jerusalem, Herod was within a few weoks of his death. Tho mas sacra of the babes of Ilethlohem was ono of his last cruel deeds. When ho Inquired diligently what time the star appeared, the reply was evi dently such that he felt it necessary to kill all male Infants "from two years old and under." It Is probable, therefore, that the Magi first saw the star two years before their arrival In Jeru salem. Herod died In Ii. C. 4. Hence the Star of Bethlehem roust have appeared about two years before that date. We must discover, It we MIMTIONAL StlWSOIOOL Lesson Br B. O. BKLI.EUS, Director of Cra ning Department The Moody Bible. In stitute of Chicago.) LESSON FOR DECEMBER 22 can, an exceptional stellar event. near B. C. with which it may be identified. Johann Kepler, In his peculiar genius (for he showed that the births of Enoch, Moses, Cyrus, Caesar, Charlemagne, and Luther were preceded by Important astrological events), lad the way In calling attention to the astronomical phenomena that preceded the birth of Christ. He pointed out that there must have been a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn at about the time of Christ's birth, and even made a few pre liminary calculations to prove his case. The con Junction occurred in the sign Pisces, from time immemorial Identified with the destinies ot Israel. A conjunction In that sign always signi fied the rising of some mighty master of the Jewish race. Such a conjunction ot Jupiter and Saturn occurs once lu about 800 years. It was, therefore, sufficiently extraordinary In Kepler's eyes to herald the birth of a Messiah. Not until 1826 was Kepler's suggestion seri ously considered by astronomers. In that year Professor Idoler, of Berlin, computed the posi tions of Jupiter and Saturn and proved that they were actually In conjunction in 7 B. C. His cal culations showed that they at' no tlmo over lapped to form a single star, but that they were soparated by a distance equal to tho apparent dlamoter of the moon, Accordingly, Ideler had the temerity to suppose that tho wise men saw the two planets as ono star, because they wero miraculously near-sighted. In Justice to Idelor, It must be stated that he abandoned his theory when Rncko, in 1831, repeated tho calculations and found that the actual distance between Jupi ter nnd Saturn, when nearest each other in B, C. 7, was moro than the apparent diameter of the moon. Apart from the fact that Jupiter and Saturn were novor sufficiently near each other to be seen as one body, two planets In conjunction can hardly be called a Btar. Nor Is It likely that experienced Chaldean astrologers would so re gard It. Moreover, there wero other planetary conjunctions at about the same time. Professor Stockwell has demonstrated that a conjunction of Venua and Mars occurred on May 8th, B. C. 6, about fifty days less than two years before Herod's death. Because the mandate for the slaughter of tho Infants was Issued some time beforo Herod'e death, Pro fessor Stockwoll ndvancos the suppo sition that this conjunction was the Star of Bethlehem. Since conjunc tions occurred so frequently, It is difficult to understand why more ot them did not call forth Chaldean or Persian deputations. Because of these fatal objections to any thoory which regarded the Star of Bethlehem merely aB a con Junction of two planets, the late Prof. n. A. Proctor cast about for other celestial phenomena and final ly decided that tho wise men 'might havo been guided by a comet Thora is much to bo said In favor of the supposition. CometB nro discovered nowadays at tho rate ot two or three a year. Not all ot them are particu larly brilliant; but It Is not incon ceivable that In Biblical times com ets occasionally appeared that were brilliant enough to strike terror Into superstitious hearts. Indoed, before Edmund Halley proved that the law of gravitation applied to the comet which bears his namo and which has ruvlslted the earth at Intervals of seventy-one ana one-nan w sbt-enty-nlne years, cometB were regard ed as divine messengers, as omens of good or evil, and particularly as harbingers of pesUlence and war. To a poetic eastern peo pie who revered the stars as symbols especially set In the heavens for the guidance of men, comets were undoubtedly awesome visitors. The Chaldeans, Persians and Jews were astronomic ally no more enlightened than the mediaeval Christians, and If at the fall ot Constantinople In 1463 all Christendom was alarmed at the ap pearance of a comet (a comet which we now know to have been Halley's), It Is highly prob able that the Orient was no less Impressed by these sudden visitations. Comprising, as It does, a nucleus, a "coma" or envelope surrounding the nucleus and measuring from twenty thousand to one million miles In diameter, and a long tall .which streams behind the nucleus for sixty to a hundred million miles or more, a comet Is one of the most mysteriously beautiful celestial ap paritions that ever meots the eye. But whether or not tho Star of Bethlehem really was such an apparition no one can affirm with certainty. An astronomer can merely state that the Idea Is not untenable and that It 1b less objectionable than the conjunction hypothesis. Lastly, tho theory has been propqsed that the Star of Bethlehem was what Is called a "new" star or "nova," a star which suddenly flares up In the heavens and fades away again to its formor magnitude after tho lapse of weeks or months. Such new stars nro not altogether rare. Ten appeared between B. C. 131 and tho end of tho fifteenth century. Since tho fifteenth cen tury no leas than sixteen have been recorded. In our own tlmo they aro discovered with fair frequency. Even before the Invention ot the telescope such new stars wore studied by astronomers. Apartjfrom tho astronomical evidence In favor of tho theory that tho Star of Bethlehem was a nova, poetically, at least, It seems singularly fit ting that a matchless orb blazing forth In sud den magnlflpence should have marked not only the birth of a Messiah wboBo de&tlny It was to savo manktnd by his own suffering and to mnke this a new world by purging it of evil, but also tho birth ot a new sun with embryonic planets wheeling nbout tt In shining clouds of gas and stellar dust not HE KNEW WHAT TO AVOID FOR AND AGAINST HIM. LESSON TRXT-Lukn 1:49-61 OOLDKN TICXT-"Ilo that is igalnat ua la for us." Luke 9.50. This lesson naturally falls Into '.hree divisions: I. Tho mistaken teal )t the dlsclploB of Jesus, vv, 40,50; II. rhe Intrepid zeal of Jesus, vv. 51-56, ind III. The lack ot zeal on tho part )f some would-bo followers of Jesus, rv. G7-63. Kvldontly monopolists Ideas nro lot a modorn development. The do itro to control all religious authority aas given rlso to tho most damnable slots on the history of tho Christian :hurch. Christian intolerance Is one f tho devil's Bweotest morsolB. "And John answered" not tho Im petuous Peter. Who It was that had ipokcn wo do not know, but evidently It was Jesus. Two things are without dlsputo: (1) Tho unknown ono was doing tho work, nnd (2) ho was giving Jesus tho glory, Luke 10-17. Whether ho ceased at tho command ot John we cannot Bay. It haa been suggested that could wo havo heard tho tono of John's volco perhaps wo should have lathered that John was not quite sura do had dono tho right thing, but ho Is (rank and tells Jesus why ho gavo his command, viz., "becauso ho followed oot with us." Work In Christ's Name. This spirit has always been one of tho serious drawbacks in tho advance ment of tho kingdom. Belong to our party, follow our mothods, or 'else quit working. There aro, ot course, wrong methods which will never pro duce right results, but It a man Is do ing Christ's work and doing It In Christ's namo wo need to bewaro of allowing selfishness, tho traditions of men, or tho fnct that "wo never saw It on this wIbo" to allow us to hinder that man In his work, seo Mark 9: 39 lL Scholars aro divided as to tho In terval of tlmo botween versos GO nnd 51, but tfto second section la a won derful Illumination of tho sort ot zeal Jobub desires in' his followers. Verso 51 1b ono of tho most sublime in tho entlro Bible. Whero enn wo find any thing llko It? Josub saw not tho hick- Brings of tho disciples as to placo and power; he saw not tho Blights cast upon him by both Jow and Samaritan; Jesus saw Jerusalem and boyond that Calvary, and as steadfast as a flint "ho set his face to go to Jerusalem." All of redemption, all of Pentecost, ill of "this age" and tho glorious con summation of "this ago" Ib bound up In that intrepid zeal of him who when "tho days wore well nigh come that he should bo received up" set his faco "steadfastly." I Certain of the Samaritans refused to recolve him and his party. This tlmo John has another to speak with blm, James. They again show the spirit of intolerance and to it thoy add that of vindlctlvcncss. As wo go before him to prepare the way are wa entirely free from making a similar mtstako? These Samaritans acted in Ignorance. Perhaps, as revealed In V. 63, they saw that he did not intend to go to their village anyway (see also 'John 4:40-42). Stories of Three Men. In the third section we have before as the stories of three men whom Tesus met, each of whom lacked suf ficient real to become bis true follow ers. The first Impulsively answera tome emotion of his heart and as sures Jesus that he will follow "whith ersoever thou goest." Jesus did not rebuke blm, for the man had but little realization ot what was Implied. "Ill go with him through the garden," we ting glibly. Let us pause and honest ly answer the question, "Will I got" "Am I wllllrig to pay the pricef (John 15:20 and I. Peter 2:31.) He who bad .set bis face steadfastly sim ply opens as It were the deep loneli ness of his heart and gives this man a faint suggestion of that poverty of him "who was rich, yet for our sakes became poor" (2 Cor. 8:9). This Is one of the tew references Jesus made as to his own condition. The second man seems to be ot more importance, Inferentlally, at least, for Jesus com mands hfm to "follow." Notice Jesui loes not say admire me, nor even worship me, but "follow me." This man seems to have a very high sense of duty, his obligation to bis parents ind to the amenities of society. This man's mistake was In placing any thing, no matter how Important, in the place of the kingdom. Jesus does not mean for us to neglect such a plain duty, but this man is pleading or a delay, and bad it not been this excuse it would have been some other ono. The third man also bad something be wanted to do first. Ho expressed great determination (v. 61), but like Lot's wife, bo wanted one more look it the world he was going to leave. Christ's words are significant. Obey the prompting of your heart Do not look backward to tho world, but look forward to the kingdom. Tho only possibility of your running the race before you, of plowing a straight fur row, is like the Master to set your face "steadfastly." If we bang onto the world we are "none of bis," If we hang on to him we must give up the world. If Knowing Human Nature Would De It, This Man Would Hsve Made Good Preacher. i "Dr. John Haynos Holmes, who preachod a Bull Mooso sermon te President Taft tho Sunday before elec tion day, Isn't llko Washington White," said a mombonof Dr. Holmes' Church of tho Messiah In New York. Washington White was an aged hod carrlor. Laying down his paper one evonlng ho said to bis wife over his spectacles: "'Martha, I bellove I'd make a proachor. Listen, now, and I'll give you a Bormon.' "The old man thon stood up to the tablo and bellowed out a vigorous dls courso on tho wickedness ot the Idola ters of the Orient "His wlfo said at tho end: '"A good enough sermon, Washing ton, but you'vo told us all about the sins of tho foreigners, and never a word nbout tho sins ot tho folks at homo hero.' " 'Ha, ha, ha, I understand prcachln' too well for that,' lnughed the wily old man." ITCHING AND BURNING Iberia, Mo. "I was troubled wits scalp cczotnn for about flvo years and tried everything I hoard of, but all oi no avail. Tho doctors told me I wouM havo to havo my head shaved. Doing n woman, I hatod tho Idea ot that I was told by a friend that the Cutlcura Remedies would do mo good. This spring I purchased two boxes of Cutl cura Ointment and ono cake of Cutl cura Soap. After using one box ol Cutlcura Ointment I considered the cure pcrmnnont but continued to use It to mnke euro and used about one half tho othor box. Now I am entirely well. I also used tho Cutlcura Soap. "The dlsenso began on tho back my head, taking the form of a rtnfl worm, only more severe, rising to thick, rough scale that would come of! when soaked with oil or warm water, bringing a few hairs each time, but il a fow days would form again, target each time, nnd spreading until the en tlro back of tho head was covered with tho scale. This was accompanied by a terrlblo Itching and burning sensa tion. Now my hoad Is completely well and my hair growing nicely." (Signed) Mrs. Geo. P. Clark, Mar. 25, 1912; Cutlcura Soap and Ointment sold throughout the world. Sample of each freo with 32-p. Skin Book. Address post-card "Cutlcura, Dept L, Boston." Adv. Hopeless. "Who wrote that story about Roose volt's return to tho Outlook office?" asked tho managing editor. "Billy Pennington," replied the city editor. "I thought It was a pretty good story." "It was moro than that It was a remarkable story. I think we ought to raise Ponnlngton'a salary. He didn't wind up by saying: "The colonol thon plunged Into a mass ot correspondence' " "I'm Borry o have to tell you that bo did. I blue-penciled that part ot it" "Oh, pshaw 1 We'll hover be able to mako anything of that follow." Being a Diplomat "I am much bothered," ho said. '. can marry a wealthy widow woman I don't lovo, or a pooi1 girl that I do love Intensely. What shall I do?" "LlBton to your heart," advised his, companion, "and marry the one you lovo." "You aro right, my friend. I shall marry the girl." "Then can you give me the widow's address?" London Opinion. Misty Past "I am afraid," said Senator Sorg hum, "that the altercation la which I have bocome involved must be more or less obscure to the casual listener." "About all you have both said lately is Tfou're another.' " "Yes. And we have said It so often that I am afraid nobody remembers ex actly what either of us was aoeaaec of being In the first place. flood Reason. "Mrs. Comeup is always boasting that her husband can take any man's measure." "That's true. He used to be a tailor." Defending Mother. "Papa, mamma says s that one-halt the world doesn't know how the other half lives." "Well, she shouldn't blame herself, dear, it isn't her fault" Not Always. "It is money makes the mare go." If she turns out a loser, It is the mare that makes the money go." But a tip doesn't always come to the roan who waits. 4 KasBSBBP EjkLjf bTJI lay saEBSiByM Stops Coughs-Cures Colds -J5&5R UIMbm tat ttnmom Prennta talr ATllaaT , "" - tsMlflfflinMsalV, '"' mil i-i I "P-! -. i ,,.m HsasUBxUBsBalaaatUXBW SOeiiaeaefcSpaa. ThMSn4. UB Ml tattae. SalSWiJraHrtea. ',& Ma Lvft ..n s 1 . -i1 r-sa if Ml i ii i 4: , t V v A.4 t-Jr IWj' t'J . 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