The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-05-28
THE HANGING OF HAMAN.
How the Proud Persian Was Exc
cuted on the Gallows
Erected for Mordecai-Living Lessons oi
Warning and Instruction to be Drawn
from the Oriental Tale-Rev.
Il. De witt Talmage's
Sermon.

text, $50 they hanged Haman on the
gallows that he had prepared for Nor
decai" Esther, vii, 10. Following is
the sermon in full:
Here is an Oriental courtier, about the
most offensive man in the Hebrew his
tory, Haman by name. He plotted for
the destruction Of the Israelitish ma
ton, and wonder not that in some OF
the Hebrow 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 out!" Haman was Prime Min
lister in the magnificent court OF Persia
Thoroughly appreciative OF the honor
conferred, he expects everybody that he
passes to be obsequious. Coming in one
day at the gate Of the palace, the serv-
ants drop their heads in honor Of his
office; but Hebrew, named Mordecai,
gazes upon the passing dignitary with
out bending his head or taking of his
hat He was a good man, and would not
have been negligent Of the ordinary
courtesies Of life, but he felt no respect
either for Haman or the nation from
which he had come. But he could not
be hypocritical; and while others made
Oriental salaam, getting clear down be-
fore this Prime Minister when he
passed, Mordecai, the Hebrew, relaxed
not muscle of his neck, and kept his
chin clear up. Because OF that affront
Haman gets a decree from Ahasuerus,
the dastardly King, for the massacre OF
all the Israelites, and that, OF course,
will include Mordecai
To make long story short, through
Queen Esther this whole plot was re-
vealed to her husband, Ahasuerus. One
night, Ahasuerus, who was afflicted
with insomnia, in his sleepless hours
calls for his secretary to read him few
passages Of Persian history, and so
while away the night. In the book
read that night to the King an account
was given Of a conspiracy, from which
Mordecai, the Hebrew, had saved the
Kings life, and for which kindness
Mordecai had never received any re-
ward. Haman, who had been fixing up
nice gallows to hang Mordecai on, was
walking outside the Kings sleeping
apartment and was called in. The King
told him that no had just had read to
him the account OF some one who had
saved his, the Kings life, and he asked
what reward ought to be given to such
one. Self-conceited Haman, suppos-
ing that he himself was to get the
honor, and not imagining for moment
that the deliverer of the Kings life was
Mordecai, says: "Why, your Majesty
ought to make a triumph for him, and
put a crown on him, and set him on
splendid horse, high-stepping and full
hlooded, and then have one OF your
princes lead the horse through the
streets, crying, Bow the knee, here
comes man who has saved the Kings
life =" Then said Ahasuerus In severe
tones TO Haman: ~ know all about
your scoundrelism. Now you go out
and mako triumph for Mordecai, 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 his horse through
tie street."
What q spectacle! A comedy and trag-
ady at one and the same time. There
they pol Mordecai. who had been de-
spised, now starred and robed In the
stirrups. Haman, the chancellor, afoot,
holding the prancing, rearing, champ
ing stallion. Mordecai bonds his neck
at last, but it is 10 look down at the
degraded Prime Minister walking be-
meath him. HuzEa for Mordecail Alas
for Hamanl But what q pity to have
the gallows, recently built, entirely
wastedl It is fifty cubits high, and built
9th care. And Haman had erected 1t
for Mordecai, by whose stirrups he now
walks as groom. Stranger and more
startling than any romance, there 90 up
the steps OF the scafiolding, side by side,
the hangman and Haman, the ex-chan-
caalor. $50 they hanged Haman on the
Rallows that he had prepared for Nor
decai"
Although so many years have passed
Eince Cowardly Ahasuerus reigned, and
the beautiful Esther answered TO his
vhims, aAs Persia perished, yet from
the life and death Of Haman,, we may
draw living lessons OF warning and In
stsuction. And, flrst we come TO the
practical suggestion that whom the
heart is wrong, things very insgnifcant
wfll destroy our comfort Who would
have thought that . great prime minis
tar, admired and applauded BY Millions
Il Persians, would have been SO nettled
srsd harassed BY anything trivialP What
more could the great dignitary have
wanted than his chariots and attend.
suts, and palaces and banquetsP II affiu'
ence OF circumstances can mako man
cpntented and happy, surely Haman
should have been contonted and happy.
No; Mordecai's refusal Of bow takes
the glitter from the gold. and the rich
usss from the purple, and the speed from
the chariots With heart puffed Ut
With every imitation OF vanity and 70.
venge, II was impossible for him 70 be
happy. The silence OF Mordecai at the
gate was louder than the braying Of
trumpets in the palace. Thus shall II
always be II the heart is not right. Cir
cumstances the most trivial will disturb
the spirit.
tits not the great calamities OF life
that create the most worriment have
seen men, felled by repeated blows oi
misfortune, arising from the dust, never
desponding. But the most OF the dis
quiet which men suffer is from insig
nificant causes; as lion attacked by
some beast OF prey turns easily aroand
and slays him, yet runs roaring through
the forest at the alighting on his brawny