The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-07-31
THE FALL OF PRIDE.
The Lesson Taught by the Hang
ing Of Hannah.
Sermon by Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage Con-
trssting WOrldliness and GOdli-
ness-The Misery that
Dwells I'm Palaces.

DIOVAAJA ACducly Va nOSAN AAOAA
text:
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that
he had prepared for Observation-Disclosures viI'
10
Here is an Oriental courtier, about
the most offensive man in Hebrew his
tory, Haman by name. He plotted for
the destruction of the Israelitish ma
ton, and wonder not that in some of
the Hebrew synagogues to this day,
when Haman's name is mentioned, the
congregation clench their fists, and
stamp their feet and cry: Let his
name be 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 to be obsequious.
Coming in one day at the gate of the
palace the servants drop their heads In
honor of his office; but 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 lie, but he
felt no respect either for Ham2n or the
nation from which he had come. But
he 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
affront Hannah gets decree from Aha
suerus, tho dastardly King, for the
massacre of all the Israelites, and that,
of course, viii 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 to 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. Hannah, who had been fixing ur
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 (the Kings life
and he asked what reward ought to be
given to such a one Self-conceited
Haman, supposing that he himself was
to get the honor, and not imagining fol
a moment that the deliverer of the
Kings life was Mordecai, says: ''Why
your Majesty ought to make triumph
for him, and put a crown on him, an(
set him on 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 saye'
the Kings lifer"
Then said Ahasuerus in severe tone
to Haman: 81 know all about you
scoundrelism. Now you go out an,
make triumph for Mordecai, the He
brew, whom you hate. Put the bes
saddle on the finest horse, and you, tn
Prince, hold the stirrup while Mordeca
gets on, and then lead his horse through
the street. Make haste!''
What a spectaclel A comedy ant
tragedy, at one and the same time
There they go! Mordecai, who hat
been despised, now starred and robed
in the stirrups. Haman, the Chancellor
afoot, holding the prancing, rearing
champing stallion. Mordecai bends hi
neck at last, but it is to look down a
the degraded Prime Minister watkins
beneath him. Huzza for Mordecai
Alas fer Haman! But what a pity t
have the gallows, recently built, entire
ly wasted! 1t is fifty cubits high an
built with care. And Haman had erect
ed it for Mordecai, by whose stirrups h
now walks as groom. Stranger an
more startling than any romance, Their
go up the steps of the scaffolding, sid
by side, the hangman and Hannah, tn
ex-Chancelor. $50 they hanged Hama
on the gallows that he had prepared fo
Mordecai."
Although so many years have passe
since cowardly Ahasuerus reigned, an
the beautiful Esther answered to ht
whims, and Persia persisted, vet frol
the life and death of Hannah we ma
draw living lessons of warning and il
struction. And, first, we come to tn
practical suggestions that, when tn
heart is wrong, things very insignifcal
will destroy our comfort. Who wou]
have thought that great Prime Nil
lister, admired and applauded by mil
ions of Persians, would have been
nettled and hsrrassed by any thin
trivial? What more could the gre;
dignitary have wanted than his cha
lots and attendants and palaces ar
banquets? If affluence of circumstaI
ces can make man contented and ha,
Ply, surely Hannah should have bee
contented and happy. No; Mordecai
refusal of bow takes the glitter fro
the gold, and the richness from tt
purple, and the speed from the cha
lots. With heart pulled up with ever
imitation of vanity and revenge, it VIZ
impossible for him to be happy. Tn
silence of Mordecai at the gate W;
louder than the braying of trumpets
the palace. Thus shall il always be
the heart is not right Circumstance
the most trivial will disturb the spiri
Il is not the great calamities of lii