The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1890-06-05
THE FALL OF PRIDE.
The Lesson Taught by the Hang
ing of Hannah.
Sermon by Rev T. Dewitt Talmage Con-
trasting woridliness and Godi-
ness--The Misery that
Dwelis in Palaces.

Here is an Oriental courtier, about
the most offensive man in Hebrew his
tory, Hannah by name. He plotted for
the destruction Of the Israclitish ma
ton, and wonder not that in some Of
the Hebrew synagogues to this day,
when Humans name is mentioned, the
congregation clench their fists, and
stamp their feet and cry; Let his
name DO blotted out" Haman was
Prime Minister in the magnificent court
Of Persia. Thoroughly appreciative of
the honor conferred, he expects every
body that he passes 20 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
taking off his hat He was 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
be could not be hypocritical; and while
others made Oriental salaam, getting
clear down before this Prime Minister
when he passed, Mordecai, the Hebrew,
relaxed not a muscle of his neck, and
kept his chin clear up. Because Of that
aifront Hannah gets a decree from Aha
suerus, 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-
yealed TO her husband, Ahasuerns. 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 tho night. In the book
read that night to the King an account
was given of conspiracy from which
Mordecai, the Hebrew, had saved the
Kings life, and for which kindness
Mordecai had never received any re-
ward. Hannah, who had been fixing up
nice gallows to hang Mordecai on, was
walking outside the door of the Kings
sleeping apartment and was called in.
The King told him that he had just had
read to him the account of some one
who had saved his 1.-THE Kings life,
and he asked what reward ought to be
given to such one. Self-conceited
Haman, supposing that he himself was
to get the honor and not imagining for
moment that the deliyerer OF the
Kings life was Mordecai, says: "Why.
your Majesty ought TO make triumph
for him, and put crown on him, and
set him on splendid horse, high-step-
ping and full-blooded, and then have
one of your Princes lead the horse
through the streets, crying: Bow the
hor lo ha- co
the Kings lifer"
Then said Ahasuerus in severe tones
to Haman: 81 know all about your
scoundrelism. Now you 20 out and
make a triumph for Mordecai the He
brew. 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
the street. Make haste!n
What spectaclel A comedy and
tragedy, at one and the same time.
There they gol Mordecai, who had
been despised, now starred and robed,
in the stirrups. Hannah, the Chancellor,
afoot, holding the prancing, rearing,
champing stallion. Mordecai bends his
neck at last, but it is to look down at
the degraded Prime Minister walking
beneath him. Huzza for Mordecai
Alas for Haman Bat what a pity to
have the gallows, recently built, entire
ly wasted. 1t is fifty cubits high and
built with care. And Haman had erect
ed it for Mordecai, by whose stirrups he
now walks as groom. Stranger and
more startling than any romance, there
go up the steps of the scaffolding, side
-, IL -
ex-Chancelor. 80 they hanged Hannah
on the gallows that he had prepared for
Mordecai."
Although so many years have passed
since cowardly Ahasuerus reigned, and
TIE beautiful Esther answered to his
whims, and Persia persisted, yet from
the life and death of Haman we may
draw living lessons of warning and in
struction. And, arst, we come to the
practical suggestions that, when the
heart is wrong, things very insignificant
will DESTROY our comfort Who would
have thought that a great Prime Min
lister, admired and applauded by mill
ions of Persians, would have been so
nettled and harrassed by any thing
trivial? What more could the great
dignitary have wanted than his char
lots and attendants and palaces and
banquets? II afliaence of circumstan-
ces can make a man contented and hap
Ply. surely Hannah should have been
contented and happy. No; Mordecai's
refusal OF bow takes the glitter from
the gold, and the richness from tho
purple, and the speed from the char
lots. With heart pulled up with every
imitation OF vanity and revenge, it was
impossible for him to DO happy. The
silence of Mordecai at tho gate was
louder than the braying of trumpets in
the palace. Thus shall it always be il
the heart is not right. Circumstances
the most trivial viii disturb the spirit
1t is not the great calamities of life
that create the most worriment l have
seen men, felled by repeated blows OF
misfortune, arising from the dust, never
Responding. But the most Of the dis
quiet which men suffer is from insig-
nifcant causes, as lion attacked by
some beast Of prey turns easily around
and Stays him, yet runs roaring through
the forest at the ahghting on his brawny
neck Of few insects. You meet some
great loss in business 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 unbearable
annoyance. II you look back upon your
life. you will find that the most Of the
vexations and disturbances of spirit
which you felt were produced by cir
cumstances that we're not worthy OF
notice. II you want 10 be happy you
must not care for tribes. DO not be too
minute in your inspection OF the treat
ment you receive from others Who
cares whether Mordecai bows when you
pass, or stands erect and stiff as cedar?
That woodman would not make much
clearing in The forest who should stop
to bind up every little bruise and
scratch he received in the thicket; noT