Telephone Gy6-328-,> Ten Cents Louisburg, N. C.. Tuesday. December 23, 1969 (Twelve Pages Today) 100th Year-Number 89
Christ Child Is Born
Birth Believed To Have Historical Significance
BETHLEHEM - The parents of the Christ child, born here a few nights
ago. have (fportedly taken the child and returned to their home in Galilee.
The report, however, has not been confirmed and. some observers believe the.
parents may have taken the child into Egypt to escape the threat of King
Herod 'who has ordered the death of all male children up to the age of two
years. . ' '
The birth of the child to the Nazareth couple while visiting here has caused
a great deal of excitement. Many view the event as being of great historical
significance. Some say the birth of the child-named Jesus-is the event
predicted some 800 years ago by the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah, who lived in the time of Uzziah. Jotham, Ahaz and Herekiah and
who was said to be the son of Amoz and of royal blood, told of the birth of a _
child whose name "shall be called Wonderful. Counsellor. The almighty God,
The everlasting Father. The Prince of Peace". ,
First word of the birth came from a group of shepherds. -According to
reports, they were visited by an tftigel while tending their flocks that night.
Apparently sensing their fear, the angel is reported to have said to them:
"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to
all people. For unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Savior which
is Christ the Lord".
The shepherds also reported that "multitude of heavely hosts" appeared,
praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good will toward men".
The shepherds were told they would -find the baby, wrapped in swaddling
clothes lying in a manger. ?
As soon ,as the angels departed, the shepherds came to Bethlehem and did,
indeed find the baby, just as they were told. It is said they fell to their knees
and worshipped Him and then went out into the community telling what
they had seen.
Meanwhile, a group of astronomers-sometimes called .wise men- had seen
the bright star which shown above the place where the child lay. Being men
m of great curiosity, they hurried eastward and arrived in Bethlehem a few days
ago. Upon their arrival, they reportedly asked, "Where is the baby born to be
King of the Jews?"
They said they had seen the star and had come to find and to worship the
child.
li Is believed thai inn inquiry ey tne wise men ted to the news reaching
King Herod. Reports say the King is greatly disturbed over the possibility that
the child might indeed be the new King. A source dose to the palace. ha?
disclosed that Herod has called in his priests and attorneys and has learned
from them that the child was indeed born here in Bethlehem, just as
predicted by the prophets.
This, the source says, led Herod to call for the visiting wise pien and
consult with them on the whereabouts of. the Christ child. It waslearned,
however, that after leaving the King, the wise men did find the child-and that
they did, as they came to do, worshipped him. They also gave unto him gifts
of gold, franklincens^ and myrrh. "
It was also learned that these men, warned by God did not return to Herod
as requested With information on the whereabouts of the Christ child. They
- reportedly are returning home by an undisclosed route. ; -
' The child's parents, Mary and Joseph, came to Bethlehem as the result of a
recent order by Ceasar Augustus that all citizens must be taxed. Joseph, being
of the line of David, was required to list his taxes here in the City of David.
The couple, however, could not find accomodations in the inns here and
were forced to accept the offer of one friendly innkeeper, who insisted that
they use his stable for the night. It was here that the birth took place.
A well-informed source explained the birth in the following manner:
"The child's mother was engaged to be married to JoMpfc, but Before they '
were married she found out that she was gQing to have a baby by the Holy r
Spirit. She was told these things by the angel Gabriel. Joseph, being a good
man, did not wish to disgrace Mary and he way considering secretly breaking
off the engagement. However, the angel Gabriel visited Joseph -and said to
him: 'Do not be afraid lo take Mary to be your wife. For it is by the Holy
Spirit that she has conceived. She will give birth to a son, and he will be called
Child Brought To Temple
i
JERUSALEM - The Christ
child, born eight days . ago in the
little town of Bethlehem, about
eight miles from Jerusalem,, was
brought to a local temple today by
his parents. Mary and Jospeh.
The couple brought the child
here to offer a sacrifice, according
fo the 'law of God--a pair of turtle
doves or two young pigeons.
- A man nam^d Simeon, who had
been told by the Holy Ghost that
he would not die until he had ?een
the Lord's Christ, appeared at the
temple. Simeon took the child in
his arm* and blessed God. He said:
"Lord, now let thy servant depart
in peace, according to thy word:
For mine eyes have seen thy salava
tion -which thou hast prepared be
fore the face of all people; a light to
lighten the Gentiles, and the glory
of thy people Israel".
> L ?
It 1* reported that Mary MM
Joseph marvelled at the things
spoken of him.
Then Simeon blessed the couple
and said to Mary, "Behold this ?
child is set for the fall and rising
again of many in Israel".
Also present at the temple was a
prophetess named Anna, who
spends most of her time in the
temple, worshipping God. She la
the daughter of Phaneul of the tribe
of Aaer and she is reportedly in her
late eighties and has been a widow
for many years.
She, too. upoh seeing the Christ
child, gave thanlu to God and she
reportedly, spoke to all who are ?
seeking redemption about the
Christ child.
After the vist here, it was report
ed that the child was taken by. his
parents back to their own city of
Nazareth.
Prophet Isaiah Has
Impressive Record
BETHLEHEM - The prophet
Isaiah. who died nearty 700 yean
ago, and who correctly foretold of
the birth here of the Christ child,
hat a long and Impressive record of
prophesy.
His principal prophesies have
been the captivities of Israel and of
Judah; the ruin and desolation of
Assyria. Babylon, Tylre,. Damascus
and Egypt among others. He told of
-the destruction of Syria and Egypt
for confederating against Judah.
even designating the name of
Damascus and the tribe of Ephraim
This prediction was full filled by
Tiglath pileser, king of Assyria
? "v Isaiah pve encouragement to
Ahaz and to Hezekiah when they
were beleagued by their enemies
and called Cyrus by name and
i <
suffer for our sins and that he will
be resurrected. He alio tells of His
final glory and of the establishment
and perfection of Ilia kindgom. He
has said it will spread unlverelly
among the Gentiles.
. . Citizens
Must Register
An order that all citizens of
Ihr Empire mail register them
selves for the census is announc
ed by Empero Caesar Augustus.
Each must register himself in
his own town, the decree
pronounced. ??
Emmanuel' (which means God is with us). ? . .
"Joseph, having heard these things, followed through with his plans and
rfiairied Mary but had no relations with tier before she gave birth to Jesus".
"In all the world", the source continued, "Mary is the most blessed of all
women". ? '
While many locals view the birth of Jesus with alarm and share, perhaps,
King Herod's fears, still others believe the birth fulfills the predictions of the
ancient prophets. These people point to a number of things in support of
their position. ? , 1
Among (-hem is the virgin birth and they see the shining star as the
predicted sign. Some quote the prophet who wrote: "You Bethlehem, the
land of Judah For from you will come a leader. Who will guide my people
Israel". a
One ?believer noted the predicted suffering of Rachel, at the death of her
children at the hands of Herod's men. Hundreds of years ago, the prophet
wrote: In Rama was there a vOice heard, lamentation and wefptng, and great
mourning. Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted,
because they are not". *
And some of these believers are convinced that the Christ child is now in
Egypt, saying that someday the scriptures must be fulfilled as it is written,
the Lord said, "I called my Son out of Egypt".
Angel's Visit To Mary
NAZARETH - Some of the de
tails of the angel Gabriel '1 visit to
Mary, mother of Jesus, have been
revealed here. According to reliable '
reports, the angel greeted Mary
thusly: "Hail, thou that are highly
favored, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are thou among women".
Mary was somewhat frightened
at the sight of the angel and accord
ing to the story, was not sure just
how to receive him. ,
She reoeived reassurance how
ever. when the angel said to her:
"Fear not, Mary for thou hath
found favor with God".
The angel continued, "And, be
hold, thou shalt conceive in thy
Shepherds
See Angels
A group of shepherds, tending
their flocks at night in the fields,
report that an angel of the Lord
appeared to them and they were
frightened.
But the angel said to them:
"Don't 6e afraid! For I am here
with good news for you, which will
bring great joy to all the people.
This very night In David's town
your Savior wu born- Christ the
Lord! This is what will prove it to
you: you will find a baby wrapped
in cloths and lying in a manger".
Then they said that "suddenly a
great army of heaven's angels
appeared with the angel, singing
praises to god: 'Glory to God in the
highest heaven and peace on earth
to men with whom he la pleaaed!"
The tngels immediately dia
appeared Into heaven, the shep
herds said, and they hurried off to
see this that had happened. They
found Mary and Joseph, and aaw
the babe lying in a manger, for
there was no room tlTlhe inn for
them.
The shepherds spread the words
of the angels and went back to their
fields, singing praises to God for all
they had heard and scan; It had
been just as the angel had told
them.
womb and bring forth a son, and
shall call his name JESUS.
"He shall be great and shall be
called the Son of the Highest, and
the Lord God shall give unto him
the throne of his father David.
"And he shall reign over the
house of Jacob for ever; and of his
kingdom, there shall be no end".
Mary then asked the angel: How
shall this be. seeing that I know not
a man? And the angel answered:
"The Holy Ghost shall come
upon thee, and the power of the
Highest shall overshadow thee;
therefore also that holy thing which
shall be born of thee shall be called ~
the Son olGod".
Th^iftgel reportedly also told
Mary of the pending .birth of a son
to her cousin, Elisabeth saying:
"for with God, nothing shall be
impossible."
Mary told the angel, "Be it unto
me according to thy word". And
Mary then went to visit and to tell *
her cousin Elisabeth about the
angel's visit. She reportedly stayed
with Elisabeth for about three
months.
Isaiah Predicts
Birth Of Christ
BETHLEHEM - The prophet
Isaiah predicted the birth of the .
Christ child which has caused so
much excitement here in recent
i days.
Nearly 800 years ago, the pio
? phet among his many predictions ?
forecast the birth by writing the
following:
"For unto us a child la born,
unto us a man Is given; and the
government shall be upon his
shoulder, and his name shall be
called Wonderful. Counaeiior, The
mighty God, The everlasting
Father. The Prince of Peace.
"Of the increase of his govern
ment and peace, there shall be no
end, upon the throne of David, and
upon his kingdom, to order it, and '
to establish It with judgment and
with justice from henceforth even
forever. The teal or the lord of
hosts will perform this".