The Troy Record from Troy, New York • Page 5

THE TROY RECORD, FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 20, 1963 Luke Only Apostle To Give Origins Of Christ's Birth Editors Note: Only in Luke can the story of the origins of Christ's coming be found. Here, in the fourth of five Christmas articles, is how this Creek physician went about gathering the story of Jesus' birth. By GEORGE W. CORNELL AP EeJigioit Writer Of the women, little was cnown. And he wondered.

In ie depths of women, behind the watchfulness of their eyes ind the stillness of their iins, while marking her reminiscences. It was a deeply personal account, how the Angel had come to her, frightening her. "Hail, 0 favored one, the Lord is with you." She had been just a girl then, a promised bride, deeply devout, and afraid. 'The power of the most high will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be the son broken leg. of God." This, and much else, Luke learned Mary's distraught visit to her aunt, Elizabeth, who offered reassurance, "Blessed wil seek to learn them.

Theretofore, none of the had sought to do so. tt was a notable onifeion. To Luke, a cultured, urbane Luke, in compiling his account, obtained exclusive dis- I closures not only about Mary land Elizabeth, but also about other women to whom Christ's Greek physician, there could coming brought testing and op- not be sufficient undcrstanding'poriunities. if Jesus without inquiring into the wojnen know of it. In 5very design, women fill a part.

Bethany Sisters A these were Bethany Sisters of Lazarus, Luke purposed discover it. Martha and the other the He strode 'along the of Nain; the penitent Prom time to time, trains oflharlot. Mary Matjilalcne; Sus- rraders passed, wcolbuyers re- ianna, Joanna the wife of Chiuas turning to Tyre or Sidon with I and other ministering women of packed mules; camels laden Galilee, the prophetess. An his interviews at the crowded Bethlehem inn and elsewhere, lest undue suspicion be aroused against him. Along an outlying road Luke encountered tt young lad crying and imploring passersby for help.

Luke was led by the youth to a shepherd's camp where an old man lay with a He had been hurt in a fall. Luke set the leg and was prevailed on to take supper with the shepherds. There, around the campfire, he gained other special remembrances lor his book. Luke did not finish his writing until later, probably in Rome following the execution of Paul, after 65 or 70 A.D. Luke himself, tradition says, lived on until he was 74, and died a bachelor in Thebes.

Sole Record But this cultivated doctor, with his consideration for women and his artistic touch, left the sole record of some of the most memorable cameos of Jesus. Only Luke records the par- with wine casks from Cyprus. By foot it was aboui a three- day journey from Caesarca to Jerusalem, but it had taken him five. Several times he had stopped to treat the afflicted. Gathering Facts Besides the vials and instruments he carried with him.

a quiver of quills hung at his side, and a pouch of folded papyrus. He already had been in Galilee, gathering facts for his book, and he now preceded into Judea. As he later stated in his introduction, he set down information "delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses." It included material about Christ's coming unrevealed in any other document. Of particular note was what he ascertained from women, to whom most scholars, in those days paid scant heed. it was the aged Anna, Luke learned, who stirred such' agitation at the temple when the child, Jesus, was brought there by Jewish custom, for his dedication.

It may be that Luke gave such attentive ear to women, partly because his friend and teacher, Paul, customarily advised them to keep silent. Doing otherwise, Luke elicited their help and brought unknown details to light. He also uncovered the boyhood episode, when Jesus disappeared from a family caravan returning to Nazareth, and after a frantic search by his parents, was found at the temple talking with learned rabbis. Through his inquiries in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, coupled with what he had heard in Galilee, Luke also determined the historical circumstances that had caused Joseph to take his a Gentile heathen bride away from in ner verted to Christianity, had be-1 re nancv an associate of the missionary Paul, who had been ar- AU Enrolled rested for sedition in 58 A.D., and was in Roman custody in Caesarea. He was kept in jail there for two years.

Knew Jesus During that period, it is feasible that Luke made his investigations. Most of those who had known Jesus, in the flesh, still lived. Luke had taken the coastal road, avoiding the i i was lorn with raids, pillage, executions and Roman patrols. Arrests and massacres multiplied, a insurrection smouldered. At Joppa, he had turned eastward through the hill country to the Holy City, teeming now ivith soldiers, spies and gladiators brought there by the procurator, Festus, and also with hidden hostilities and cabals, including the dread daggermen, the Siearil.

Luke learned that the Apostle Paul had sold his property in Galilee and purchased a house on Mount Olivet for Mary, the mother of Jesus. There, Luke must have found her and talked with her, for the account he gives. could have come from no other source. Welcomed Luke Mary was an humble woman, of calm and grace, in her final years. She welcomed him warm' ly.

"Blessed be your coming." They sat in the garden, as tradition has it, and Luke, a painter by avocation, did her portrait, "In those days," Luke learned, "a decree went out from Caesar Augustus lhat al! the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the City of Nazareth, to Judea, the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his bethrothed, who was with child. "And while were there, the time came for her to be delivered.

And she gave birth to her first-born Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." Luke stood inside the limestone grotto, which inhabitants thereabouts had pointed out to him as the place. There, still, he could see the hollowed-out rock food trough for oxen where the Child had lain. Washed Him There, the gentle woman had washed him with salt water, warmed by Joseph over an open lire. There she had wrapped Him around and around with long strips of muslin to hold His body firm and stimulate breathing through His nostrils. Things had been difficult then, as they still were for believers.

Luke worked with caution in ables of The Good Samaritan, the prodigal son; the lost sheep. He saw the htraan side of Jesus, his responsiveness not only to men but to women, customarily relegated to secondary place in those times. Indications are that Luke incorporated some items from Mark's book, and from the logia known as presumably by Matthew. But his most famous contributions are his own, chiefly his intimate portrayal of the first Christmas. One of the most stirring scenes was gleaned from those shepherds he had befriended.

They told him how they had trembled as the sky brightened at midnight and rang with a glad proclamation: "Be not afraid: For behold. I bring you good news of great joy which will come all the people; for to you is born this day in Hie City of David, a savior, who is Christ, the Ixrd. Suddenly as that night Luke writes, the whole shimmering heavens had pulsed with celestial melody, with vast, angelic chorus: "Glory io God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased." Visit From St. Nicholas Manuscript At Columbia The original manuscript of Dr. Clement Clark Moore's "A Visit from St.

which was shown at the Rensselaer County Historical Society during the Christmas Greens Show, went oa exhibit (his week a( Columbia University. H. Maxson Holloway, director of the Historical Society Who was loaned the priceless manuscript by the New York Stale Historical Society, brought it (o Troy in person. After the greens show at the Historical Society mansion, 59 2nd which was visited by more than 5,000 people, Holloway carried the manuscript back to New York. Dr.

was a Columbia man, Class of 1789. His world famous poem was first published in the oid Troy Sentinel 140 years ago this Christmas. The poem is read every year at Columbia's yule l.og lighting, this year from (he original manuscript. Or. -Moses Hadas, one of the world's foremost scholars of Greek and Latin, presented annual reading.

After it a foreign student asked a question, "Why did your American Clans collect more rabbits than eagles?" There was some consternation until somebody suddenly saw the light and explained to (he student (hat he had misheard the line, "More rapid than eagles his coursers they came." Reporters later asked Dr. iladas how he, a famous scholar, fell about (he poem. "It has class and style," he replied, "Socrates would liave loved it." Pupils Present Operetta Members of the Parent-Teacher Assn. of Public School 1 were guests of the pupil? yesterday afternoon when a two- act operetta, "Windows of Christmas," with lyrics by Kuth W. Kelsey and music by Dr.

Margaret Joy, was presented under the direction of Miss Gokey, Anita Lewis, Ktthy Ris ley, Dawn Vincent. Frost Bites Mary Ann Cavanaugh, Lis? Daniels, Angeline Trimboli, ren Dissoway, Barbara Raymond, Darlenc Kornick, Schuck and Barbara McCarthy The school band, under direction of Francis Balistre'ri Dorothy Eccles, teacher of vocal Played the overture and Christ I music. i mas selections. Susan Sharp; The cast of characters in-i a Stephanie Molt were fea 'lured in a clarinet duet. Miss Adelaide Ott acted choreographer.

Pupils of the eluded: Elgin children, Dagroar Uhmann, Joseph Ashley. Wendy! Carpentier; Christmas i i 5th. 6th, 7th and 8th sang the theme songs of the operetta and the recessions' carol, "Silent Night." Darla Hayner; New Christmas Cards, Robert Shelter, Sharon Ryan. Joan Kowlcr. Sandra Boisclair; Old Christmas Cards, Itandy Armstrong, Ruby -Malloy, jJohn Jordan.

Robert Abbott; Mother. Kathy Farrinpton; Glcn- da, Dcaise Daniels; Little Lost Card. Stephanie Molt; carolers, Michael Whalcn and Larry a Mrs A a Mac Moak Mis Wert; snow man. Fred Bayly; i Jmlcs Qf fro ere recett Ofher Ujnsimss Cards, Patricia cal ers a home of Mrs Shtishan Mrs. J.

Roherson S31-31H Karrington, Michael Baldwin, Susan Houlihan. Larry Farrell. Holly Sprites, Thomas Armstrong, Anthony Montcpare, Ernest Vincent, Wayne Barry, Ty- Charlotte Cramer. Arne Saari Jr. is in Vori for a short vacation.

Dennis Saari, son of Mr. Mrs. Arne Saari has joinee lor Sawyer, Daniel Bcchand, Re-iihc Navy and is stationed a 1 gina Trimboli, Carla Wynn, Kim (Great Lakes Training CenUr. Adorn her with the nicest blouses. See us for an array of sportive or dramatically dressy styles.

to 12. Sketched: A white $7 crepe beauty at Give Her Towne' Shop Gift Certificate NEXT YEAR HAVE CHRISTMAS ON US Save now and pay later. Simple as that A $5 weekly deposit totals $260, plus interest. That's enough to fill any stocking enough left over to boot. Hope this Christmas is as good as next year's can be for you.

2nd State Streets AS 2-3800 SAVINGS BANK Open 9-3 Monday-Thursday 9-6 Fridays.