The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1917, Sheet 91

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Norien TO READER.

When you finish reading this magazine, place a 1-cent stamp on this
notice, hand same to any postal employee, and it will be placed in the
hands of our soldiers or sailors at Ne front.

No Wrapping — No Address.

, §. BURLESON, Postmaster-General.

The Lutheran Pioneer.

A. MISSIONARY MONTHLY.

é

Pupuisuep By THe Evaneertcan Luraeran Synoprcan ConrERENCE OF Norra AMERICA.

Rey. F. J. LANKENAUD, EDITOR.

Entered at the Post Office at St. Louis, Mo., as second-class matter.

Vol. XXXIX.

ST, LOUIS, MO., DECEMBER, 1917.

No. 12.

© Little Child in Bethl’em’s Stall.

O little Child in Bethl’em’s stall,
Thou didst on earth appear

To save us from our sorry fall
And bring us grace and cheer.

O little Child in Bethl’em’s stall,
Thou lay’st on straw and hay,

That we might all, thank God, we all,
In heaven be for aye.

O little Child in Bethl’em’s stall,
Thou art so dear, so true;
A merry Christmas grant us all,
A happy New Year, too.
H. OSTERHUS.

>

The Birth of the Savior.

When Caesar Augustus sent forth his decree that
all the people throughout the length and breadth of
his great empire should be registered, he little
dreamed that in so doing he was assisting in the
fulfilment of a prophecy made hundreds of years
before by Micah the Prophet. Micah had declared
by inspiration from on high that Israel’s Ruler
should be born in Bethlehem, the native city of
David; and to David’s city did Caesar’s orders
bring Mary the Virgin in company with her es-
poused husband Joseph in time to have the promised
Savior born. there.

The little town had a small inn of very humble
pretensions, but even its poor quarters were barred
to the weary travelers from distant Nazareth in
Galilee. Earlier guests had preempted every ayail-
able space in the inn, and this compelled Joseph
and Mary to seek shelter in a neighboring stable.
And there, in that night, amid hay and straw, low-

ing cattle and bleating sheep, was born the Savior
of the world!

How sad and yet how comforting! Sad, be-
cause no one was there to welcome the Child for
whom heaven had furnished a herald and choir;
sad, because no home in all Bethlehem was opened
that night to receive the Babe who was the Son of
the Highest; sad, because man, for whom He had
come down from on high, was so indifferent, while
the heavens were lighted up and the silence of the
night became musical with the song of celestial
choirs.

But comforting also was the birth of Christ in
a manger, since in no way could it have been shown
more plainly that the Savior had come to minister
and not to be ministered unto; in no way could
He have shown more convincingly His great love
to all men, to the meanest as well as to the highest.
This yery same comforting truth was further proved
by the fact that the glad tidings of the new-born
Savior’s birth were made known to humble shepherds,
who amid the chill dews of night were watching their
flocks and guarding them against wolves and rob-
bers. Not to sages and monarchs, not to the wise
and mighty, not to those who dwell in rich palaces
or preside in the halls of learning, but to wakeful
shepherds doing their humble duty on the lonely
hills near their native village, was the most glorious
news which ever man listened to first made known,
and upon their untutored ear came the sweetest
music that ever mortal man had heard. How pre-
cious in the sight of God must be the humblest soul !

And these lowly shepherds were the first whose
homage the Savior-Child received; for no sooner
had heaven’s doors closed upon the retiring angelic