Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-22

Ties conGlnu6Q, ana 6t1ll Cn0 people
would neither submit nor yield.
But Israel was never forsaken. "He
sleeps not and slumbers not, the eternal
guardian of Israeli" and in due and
proper time He always selects and sends
His redeemers; men who value right
and liberty, virtue and justice higher
than life and all earthly treasures.
In the village of Modaim, situated on
the Mount Modal, which is not very far
from Jerusalem, there lived a man,
Mathatias by name. He had five sons,
Jochsnan Gadi, Simon Thassi, Judah
Maccsbee, Eleazer Haveran and JON
athan Hsphus. This Mathatias and his
five sons enjoyed the highest confidence
of all the neighbors for their manly be-
havior and deep religious sentiments.
AS the name of one of their ancestors
was named Hasmon, their whole family
name was the Asmoneans.
The Syrian governor, Philippus, had
heard of the great influence these men
exercised over all their neighbors. He
therefore thought if he could induce
them to give up their religion, their ex-
ample would soon be followed by all the
Israelities.
He sent Appellas to Modaim and ap-
preached the Asmoneans with the
request to offer sacrifices upon one OF the
altars he had there erected, and promised
them on the part of his King the highest
Offices and the richest rewards if they
would comply with his proposal. But
the Asmoneans not only fatty refused
obedience, but before all the assemble
people they loudly declared their indig-
nation at such offers and promises.
The sign for stern resistance had
been given. The ire of the people had
been aroused, and in short time num-
bers of brave Jews hocked around the
aged Mathatias, ready to offer blood and
treasure on the altar OF their holy re-
ligion. Philippus, the Governor, became
seriously alarmed, and collected his
troops to crush the Jews to the ground.
He met with one crowd of Israelites
numbering about one thousand men. He
tried his utmost to persuade them to lay
down their arms, to disperse and 60 to
their homes. But when they refused to
obey his orders, he kept quiet until the
next Sabbath day, believing that they
were not going to resist on the holy Sab
bath, he would then surprise them and
kill them all without grace or mercy.
But the aged Msthatias had already
declared to them that during war the
Sabbath required no observance, and
that his followers were permitted to de-
fend and protect their holy religion on
the Sabbath day.
And as the number of his followers
had steadily increased, they were not so
easily exposed to surprises. They acted |
in self defense, and they were very sue
cessful. Here and there they penetrated |
into the cities, destroying. the heathen |
affairs and began to copy the scrolls of |
the law which they had saved from the
general destruction and re-opened the |
Hebrew divine service. They were |
determined to conquer or to die, but,
under any circumstances, to live and to
die as Israelites, worshipers of Jehovah,
the one and indivisible God.
A few months after this happy begin
ming the old and venerable Mathatias
died. All Israel mourned over the loss
of this pious and veteran hero. On his
leath-bed he had appointed the lion
hearted Judah as his successor in the
command, and, indeed, be could not
nave made better choice; for this
leroic general defeated the enemy in
everal pitched battles. He commenced
he victorious march to Jerusalem and
vas crowned by the daughters of Israel,
inging songs of praise; the white clad
priests returned to their sacred profess
ion; Judah, the warrior, put away his
'teel armor and donned the peace gar
nents of bis priesthood; priests, Levites
md Israelites marched to the house of
dod, cleansed it from Syrian pollution
md reconsecrated it to the holy mission
# the God Of Israel. Then they sang
he sacred song, ''Mi Komocho Boelim
Adonai," (Who is like unto thee among
he mighty ones, o Lord?) And while
he song and the music filled the mighty
emple Judah assembled the platform and
lighted the tapers in the candlestick.
The people listened with the deepest de-
1otion, and their hearty "Amen" re-
sounded throughout the whole temple.
For eight days were these festivities con-
inued. And they were indeed of sim
,ere joy; the people knew what they
'wed to their God and to the brave Mac
;abes. Let us then continue to burn
he merry Hsnukkah lights; let us re-
nem ber the twenty-ffth day OF Kislsv.
[64 B. G. E.. let US not forget to instruct
our children in this glorious history, and
above all, let us not forget to thank God
and to say, "Thank ye the Lord, for he
Is good, for his mercy endureth forever"