The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-12-20

ing on the top of the house, looks of,
and he sees some one running. He is
coming with great speed, and the man
on the top of the house announces the
coming of the messenger, and the father
watches and waits, and as soon as the
messenger from the field Of battle comes
within hailing distance the father cries
out. Is it a question in regard to the
establishment of his throne? Does he
say: "Have the armies of Israel been
victorious? Am 1 to continue in my inn
perial authority? Have 1 overthrown
my enemies?"
Oh, no. There is one question that
springs from his heart to the lip, and
springs from the lip into the ear of the
besweated and be busted messenger fly
ing from the battle-field-the question:
us the young man Absalom safe?'
When it was told to David, the King,
that, though his armies had been vic
father turned his back upon the con-
CALCULATIONS Of the nation, and went up
the stairs of his palace, his heart break
ing as he went, wringing his hands
sometimes, and then again pressing
them against his temples as though he
would press them in, crying: 80, Abb
salon! my son! my son! Would God
had died for thee, o, Absalom! my sonl
my son!'' Stupendous grief of David re-
sounding through all succeeding ages.
This was the city that heard the woe.
Oh, Jerusalem, jerusalem!
l am also thrilled and overpowered
with the remembrance that yonder,
where now stands a Mohammedan
Mosque, stood the temple, the very
one that Christ visited. Solo
mans temple had stood there, but
Nebuchadnezzar Numbered it down.
Zerubbabers temple had stood there,
but that had been Frustrated. Then
Herod built temple because he was
fond of great architecture. and he
wanted the preceding temples to seem
insignificant. Put eight or ten modern
cathedrals together and they would not
equal that structure. 1t covered nine
supporting roofs of cedar, and silver
tables on which stood golden cups, and
there were carvings exquisite and in
scriptions respondent, glittering balus-
trades and ornamented gateways. The
building of this temple kept ten thou
sand workmen busy forty-six years.
Stupendous pile of pomp and magnifi-
cence! But the material and architect
ural grandeur of the building were very
tame compared with the spiritual mean
ing of its affairs and holy of holes, and
the overwhelming significance of its
ceremonies. o, Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
But standing in this old city all other
facts are eclipsed when we think that
near here our blessed Lord was born;
that up and down these streets He
walked, and that in the outskirts of it
He died. Here was His only day of
triumph, and His assassination. One
day this old Jerusalem is at the tiptop
of excitement. Christ has been doing
some remarkable works and asserting
very high authority. The police court
has issued papers for His arrest, for this
thing must be stopped, as the very gov
eminent is imperiled. News comes that
last night this stranger arrived at
suburban village, and that He is stop
ping at the house of a man whom He re-
suscitated after four days sculpture.
Well, the people run out into the streets,
some with the idea of helping in the ar
rest of this stranger when He arrives,
and others expecting that on the NOR
row He will come into the town, and,
by some supernatural force, GUST the
municipal and royal authorities, and take
every thing in His own hands. They
pour out of the city gates until the
procession reaches to the village. They
come all around about the house
where the stranger is stopping, and
peer into the doors and windows that
they may get one glimpse of Him or
hear the hum of His voice. The police
dare not make the arrest, because He
has somehow won the affections of all
the people. Oh, it is lively night in
yonder Bethany! The heretofore quiet
village is filled with uproar, and out
cry, and loud discussion about the
strange-acting couhtryman. / do not
think there was any sleep in that house
stopping. Although He came in weary,
He finds no rest, though for once in His
lifetime He had pillow. But the
morning dawns, the olive gardens wave
in the light, and all along yonder road.
reaching over the top of Olive toward
this city, there is vast swaying crowd
of wondering people. The excitement
Of hn 10
as the stranger steps out beside an I'M
broken colt that had never been mount
ed, and after His friends had strewn
their garments on the beast for saddle
the Saviour mounted it, and the populace,
excited and shouting and feverish,
pushed on back toward this city of
Jerusalem.
Let none jeer now nor scott at this
rider, or the populace will trample him
under foot in an instant. There is one
long shout of two miles, and as far as
demonstrations and approval. There
was something in the riders visage,
something in His majestic brow, some
thing in His princely behavior, that stirs
up the enthusiasm of the people. They
run up against the beast and try to pull
the rider off into their arms and carry
on their shoulders the illustrious
stranger. The populace are so excited
that they hardly know what to do with
themselves, and some rush up to the
roadside trees and wrench off branches
and throw them in His way; and others
doff their garments, what though they
be new and costly, and spread them for
a carpet for the conqueror to ride
over. "Hosannar cry the people at
the foot OF the hill. '.Hosanna!o