About that time, an order was issued by the Emperor Augustus, (he made the original of this famous statue, you remember) that a census should be taken of the whole empire. (This was about the first census taken during the time when Quirinius was Governor of Syria). Accordingly everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the town of David, in Judea, (because he belonged to the family of David and was one of his descendents), to be registered. Mary his espoused wife who was shortly to become a mother went to be registered with him. Her time came while they were there, and she gave birth to her first child, a son. And as there was no room for him at the inn, she laid him in a manager.
In the same district there were shepherds out in the open fields, watching their flocks that night, when an angel of the Lord suddenly stood by them and the glory of the Lord shone around about them. They were much frightened. "Do not be afraid," the angel said. "Listen, I am bringing you good news of a great joy which is in store for the whole nation, for there has been born for you today, in the town of David, a Savior, who is Christ and Master. And this is the sign you shall have. You will find a baby lying, wrapped up in a manger."
At this Herod secretly sent out for the Magi, and found from them the exact length of time the star had been in sight. He sent them to Bethlehem with directions to go and make careful inquiry about the child, "and as soon as you have found him," he added, "bring me word, that I, too, may go and do homage to him." The Magi listened to what the King had to say and then set out. To their surprise the star which they had seen in the sky led them on, until it reached and hung over, the place where the child was.
"Let us go to Bethlehem and see what it is that has happened, of which the Lord himself has told us." So they went quickly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger; and when they had seen him they told what had been said to them about the child. Everyone who head the shepherds was astonished at their story, while Mary, on her part, treasured up every word they said, and turned it all, over and over, in her mind. Then the shepherds went back full of praise to God for all they had been told.
Then, all in a minute, there appeared with the angel a multitude of the army of Heaven, and as they praised God, they said: "Glory on high to God, And on earth peace among men in whom he delights." Presently when the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the shepherds began to say to one another:
Far away on the mountains, therefore, it must have been where nature was hushed and still, that solitary watchers heard whisperings above them and sounds like the rustling of wings. Now let us listen to the report of one who doubtless talked to the people of Bethlehem, about the remarkable events which occurred at the time Christ was born, and let him speak to us through a very faithful translation of his words into our present day English.
The Roman conquest of Britain was the indirect cause of the introduction of Christianity and of the Bible there at a very early period. Prior to the arrival of St. Paul in Rome, the Roman legions landed on the shores of Britain and took many captives, whom they sent to Rome. Some were sold in the market. Others, it is said, were summoned to the Court of the Emperor and allowed to return to their own land. These carried with them the news of the new faith. It is further said that Bran, the father of Caractacus, had been in Rome on some affair of state, had come under the influence of St. Paul, had returned with three Christian teachers, and these instructed the people from the Bible, telling with thrilling effect the story of Jesus and his love. About the close of the sixth century some captives from Britain were being exposed for sale in the Roman slave market, when an Italian, who afterwards became Pope Gregory the Great, was passing by, and seeing the youthful and fairhaired captives, he asked where they came from and what they were called. He was told they were Angles. To this he replied, "Not Angles, but Angels," and decided to go to their land to convert them to Christ. He was made Pope instead. He did not forget the Angles, however, but sent Augustine with a band of missionaries to take his place.
In the monasteries, the Scriptures were read and studied every day. During meals, the monks who could read well were appointed in turn to read to the others. The long winter evenings were spent listening to God's Word. The Book of Genesis was read in a week, Isaiah in six evenings, Romans in two. The reader sat on an elevated platform, and the hearers were ranged on benches along the walls. There was no light except where the reader sat. As there was danger of some of the hearers falling asleep one of the monks was appointed to walk around with a wooden lantern open on only one side. If any brother was found asleep, nothing was said, but the latern was set down with the light falling on his face to wake him. As soon as he was aroused he knew he had to take the latern and go around until he should find another monk asleep to take his place.