The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-26
HAMAN ON THE GALLONS.
TALMAGE TAKES THE STORY FOR
HIS SUNDAY SERMON.

Drawn from the Story.
BROOKLYN, May 25.-In the Brooklyn
Academy Of Music this morning, after the
preliminary exercises which in this oongre-
cation are considered as important as any
OF the others, DIR. Talmage preached from
the text, $50 they hanged Haman on the
gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai."
Esther vii, 10. Following Is his sermon in
full:
Here is an oriental courtier, about the
most offensive man in Hebrew history,
Haman by name. He plotted for the
destruction Of the Israelitish nation, and
wonder not that in some of the Hebrew
synagogues to this day when Hamans name
is mentioned. the congregation clench their
fists, and stamp their feet and cry: "Let his
name be blotted outp Haman was prime
minister in the magnificent court Of Persia.
Thoroughly appreciative of the honor con-
ferred, he expects everybody that he passes
to be obsequious. Coming in one day at the
gate of the palace, the servants drop their
heads in honor Of his office. but a Hebrew,
named Mordecai, gazes upon the passing
dignitary without bending his head or taxi
ing off his hat. He was a good man and
would not have been negligent of the ordi-
nary courtesies Of life, but he felt no respect
either for Haman or the nation from which
he had come. But he could not be hypo--
critical, and while others made oriental
salaam, getting clear down before this
prime minister when he passed, Mordecaf
the Hebrew relaxed not muscle of his neck
and kept his chin clear up. Because of that
affront Haman gets decree from Ahasu-
erus. the dastardly king, for the massacre
OF all the Israelites, and that, of course. will
include Mordecai.
To make a long story short, through
Queen Esther this whole plot was revealed
to her husband, Ahasuerus One night
Ahasuerus, who was afflicted with insomnia,
in his sleepless hours calls for his secretary
to read to him few passages of Persian
history, and so while away the night. In
the book read that night to the king an ac-
count was given of a conspiracy, from
which Mordecai, the Hebrew, had saved the
kings life, and for which kindness Mordecai
had never received any reward. Haman,
gallows to hang Mordecai on, was
walking outside the door Of the
kings sleeping apartment and was
called in. The king told him that ne had
just had read TO him the accouutlof some one
who had saved his (the king's) life, and he
asked what reward ought to be given I'd
such one. Self-conceited Haman, suppos-
ing that he himself was to get the honor.
and not imagining for moment that tho
deliverer Of tho kings life was Mordecai,
says: why, your majesty ought to make
a triumph for him, and put crown on him,
and set him on a splendid horse, high step
ping and full blooded, and then have one Of
your princes lead tho horse through the
streets, crying, Bow the knee, here comes
man who has saved the kings lifer" Then
said Ahasuerus in severe tones to Hamans
II know all about your scoundrelism. Now
you 60 out and make triumph for Morde-
cal, the Hebrew, whom you hate. Put the
best saddle on the finest horse, and you, the
prince, hold the stirrup while Mordecai gets
on, and then lead bis horse through the
street. Make hasteln
What spectaclel A comedy and tragedy
at one and the same time. There they gol
Mordecai, who had been despised, now
starred and robbed, in the stirrups. Haman,
the chancellor, afoot, holding the prancing,
rearing, champion stallion. Mordecai bends
his neck at last, but 1t is to look down at the
degraded prime minister walking beneath
hlm. Huzza for Mordecail Alas for
Hamani But what pity to have tho
gallows, recently built, entirely wasted.
And Haman had erected it for Mordecai, by
1t is fifty cubits high, and built with care.
whose stirrups he now walks as groom!
Stranger and more startling than any ro-
nance, there 60 up the steps Of the scaffold-
ing, side by side, the hangman, and Hamau
the ex-chancellor $50 they hanged Haman
on the gallows that he had prepared for
Mordecai.n
Although so many years have passed
| since cowardly Ahasuerus reigned, and the
| beautiful Esther answered to his whims,
and Persia perished, yet from the life and
death OF Haman we may draw living les.
sons OF warning and instruction. And first.
| we come to the practical suggestion that.
| when the heart Is wrong, things very insig-
nihcant will destroy our comfort. Who
would have thought that great prime
minister, admired and applauded by mill.
nettled and harassed by anything
triviala What more could the great
| dignitary have wanted than hit
chariots and attendants, and palaces and
banquets2 IL affluence Of circumstances can
make man contented and happy, surely
| Haman should have been contented and
happy. No; Mordecai's refusal of bow
takes the glitter from the gold, and the
richness from the purple, and the speed
from the chariots With heart pulled up
with every, imitation of vanity and revenge,
| it was impossible for him to be happy. The
silence Of Mordecai at the gate was louder
than the braying of trumpets in the palace,
Thus shall it always be if the heart is NOT
right. Circumstances the most trivial will
| disturb the spirit.
1t is not the great calamities Of life thai
create the most worriment have seen
men, felled by repeated blows of mis-
fortune. arising from the dust, never de-
spending. But the most of the disquiet
which men suffer is from insignificant
| causes; as lion attacked by some beast Of
prey, turns easily around and slays him,
| yet runs roaring through the forest at the
alighting on his brawny neck Of a few in
sects. You meet some great loss in bust
ness with comparative composure; but you
can think of petty trickeries inflicted upon
you, which rouse all your capacity for
| wrath, and remain in your heart an un
bearable annoyance. If you look bacl
upon you life you will find that the most
of the vexations and disturbances
of spirit which you felt were
produced by circumstances that were moi
worthy Of notice. If you want to be happy
you must not care for trifes Do not b.
too minute in your inspection Of the treat
ment you receive from others. Who cares
whether Mordecai bows when you pass. o,
stands erect and stiff as cedar? THAI
woodman would not make much clearins
in the forest who should stop to bind ul
every little bruise and scratch he received
| in the thicket; nor will that man accom-
| plish much for the world or the church
| who is too watchful and appreciative OF
petty annoyances. There are multitudes Of
| people in the world constantly narrowed
! because they pass their lives not in search
ing out those things which are attractive
and deserving, but in spying out with al