The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 22, 1950, Image 4
THE NEWBERRY SUN
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY . . . The Rev. Hugh Giles (left, on
s.and), minister of music at the Central Presbyterian church in
New York, is shown leading the carol staffing which marked the
lighting of the Christmas trees on Park avenue last year. Six
hundred persons joined the choirs of five churches as the SO trees
lining the avenue were lighted and dedicated In honor of U. S.
war dead.
'AND THEY WENT UP../
There Was No Paved Highway
For That First Christmas Trip
There was no macadam highway
leading from Nazareth to Bethle
hem when Mary and Joseph under
took their memorable Journey
nearly 2.000 years ago.
As far as routes were concerned,
there were three. The western
route led along the sea-coast and
through the plain of Sharon. This
route was unpopular with pious
folk like Mary and Joseph who
shunned the heathen cities, rowdy
travelers, etc., as much as possi
ble.
The shortest route, via the fruit
ful plains of Esdraeion into the
mountains of Samaria and through
Shechem and Bethel, was not very
popular either The road was tol
erable, but steep; hcw-ver, the
Jews had little use for ihe Gamari-
tans, and vice versa >
The ^Jordan route, which de
scended into the Joidan valley and
followed the river's east bank
around Jericho, was favored by
the majority of Galilean travelers
who for one reason or another (the
Passover, etc.) went down to Jer
usalem at regular intervals and
knew their way around as well as
suburbanites know their way
around modern metropolitan
areas.
If the Jordan route was a little
round-about, it was fairly level—
and steeped in Jewish history,
from the shadow of Mount labor
where Saul in desperation sought
hit ‘witch’ of Endor, to the tomb a
little before Bethlehem where the
first Joseph burled hit beloved
Rachel.
It ii fairly certain that Mary and
Joseph did not choose the western
route when they planned their very
special journey. Whether they
chose to go ^y way of Shechem
and Bethel, or around the walled
city of Jericho may never be de
termined definitely.
But. the distance — nearly 100
miles—was, in any case, unrelent
ing and conquered only by per
sistent plodding. And when Mary
was too tired to go another step.
Joseph took the packs upon Ids
own shoulders so that she might
ride the little donkey which
trudged faithfully at his side.
Verily indeed, did Mary appreci
ate the shelter of the stable that
night—no one could have been
more grateful or more happy than
Mary And she brought forth her
first-born son, and laid him in a
manger.
Flower Legends.Express Christmas Beauty
There are many legends concerning Christmas, but some of the
most beautiful have to do with flowers.
The Christmas rose, for Instance, was divinely created A shen
herd maid wept at having no gift to lay before the Babe tn the
Manger. Suddenly an angel appeared before her—
The Angel spoke, his voice was low and sweet -'
As the sea's murmur on low-lying shore.
Or whisper of the wind in ripened wheat.
Then, after hearing why the maiden wept, he touched the^jrmmd
where her tears had fallen, with the branch of lilies which he canted,
and immediately the place was white with Christmas roses, which the
maid gathered and laid on the manger.
Of the others. Sainfoin, or Holy Hay' Is believed to have cradled
the infant Christ in the manger.
And the snowdrop is the flower of the Virgin Mary,-and is.said to
be the emblem of the candles she lighted on Christmas JSve.
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