The morning call., 1892-03-14
FEAST OF PURIM.
Its Celebration by the Free Re.
ligi0us School, /. @. B. B.
History Of Its Origin - Esther's Sacrifice.
Humans Arrogance and Cruelty.
Mordecars Victory.

.
free religious school. conducted under the
auspices of the Independent Order of B'nai
Birth, celebrated the Feast of Purim with
appropriate exercises at B'nai Birth Hall.
There were present 260 of the $50 children
comprising the school. aud many of their
parents and guardians. The exercises con-
sisted of an opening prayer by a six-year-old
tot, Master Simon Harris; school song.
Hear Israeli; essay. p. l.. Bush school
song, "Purim"; address. Rev. DR.. j. Voor-
sanger; school song, America" and a
closing prayer by seven-year-old Helen
Schwartz.
The main interest in the celebration GEN.
tered around the essay In which Colonel
Bush's son related the story Of the origin of
Purim, which he pointed with the morals
and lessons to be deduced from it In his
introduction he went largely into proiane
history to establish the period at which the
events related in the Book of Esther took
place, and sustained the idea he advanced
that they took place in the reign of Xerxes,
who hourished between the years 4S6 and
465 before the present era.
HISTORY OF ESTHER.
The story as related by the young essayist
is alike interesting 10 Jew and Gentle, tell
ing as it does in simple language Of an
ring year, and are yet very imperfectly in
formed upon. He showed in the first place
that the custom OF cOnQueTOrS in those days
was to scatter the vanqCished people over
distant portions of their realms for c0ioni-
zaton purposes. and the settlement of the
subjugated province with people loyal to the
victor. 1t was in this way that the ancestors
of Mordecai were removed to Babylon.
Mordecai himself settled in time at
Shushan. and moved by charity took
care, OF the orphan maiden known both
by the Hebrew name "Hadassah." meaning
Myrtle" and the Persian name of
Esther" meaning "a star"
The early history Of the Jewish heroine
is passed over until Vashte was divorced by
XerXes. and Esther became Queen Of Persia.
A bout this time Mordecai discovered plot
to kill the ruler, and exposed the couspira-
tors, who were captured and executed.
Baman then was raised to power, and being
vain of his imagined greatness issued an
order that all should bow down before him.
Mordecai, who was daily on guard at the
Kings gate, refused compliance, and ia
revenge the despot obtained permission 10
cause the slaughter of the whole Jewish
race in the Persian dominion.
THE FEAST OF LOTS.
Upon obtaining Anthony TO commit the
crime upon a peaceful, law-abiding people,
Haman proceeded TO draw lots (pur) for
lucky day upon which TO Gauss the mas
sacre, and the lot fell upon the 18th day of
the twelfth mOnth-hence Purim, or the
feast OF lots. He wrote the proclamation
on the 18Th day Of the first month. sealed it
with the Kings ring and sent II to the
rulers of all the provinces. The document
authorized all 10 whom it came ITO destroy.
Kill and cause 10 perish all Jews, both
young and old, children and women" on
the day denoted. and ito take the spoil of
them for prey"
When the news went abroad Mordecai
in sackcl0th and sent a message unto the
Queen that she should 60 unto the King and
make suppllcation for the people. Esther
replied that 10 do so without the Kings
permission would cause her death, but upon
Mordecai's nsistanc she prepared to make
the sacrifice demanded of her. After sea-
son Of prayer and fasting she entered the
Kings council chamber. Xerxes looked
up, smiled, raised his scepter in token
of his pleasure aud asked, what wilt thou,
Queen? Enter. What is thy request? 1t
shall be given to thee 10 the half Of my
kingdom" Knowing the Kings fondness
for the delights Of the table she invited him
10 attend q banquet she had prepared for
him and asked that Hannah might also at
tend.
At the banquet the King again asked
what Esther desired. She fatered and again
invited XerXes and Haman TO another ban
quet next day.
HAMANs DOWNFALL.
Hannah then left the palace and meeting
Mordecai, who refused again to bow TO him,
he returned home to tell of the great hODors
which had been paid to him by the Queen
and the continued refusal Of Moriecai to
salute him. Thereupon Humans wife urged
him 20 cool his anger, erect a gallows in his
court and get the Kings permission on the
morrow to haug the obnoxious jew.
That night the King ordered the chroni-
cies to be brought 10 him. and the record Of
Mordecafs timely discovery being read to
him, he asked what reward had been
granted the man. The answer was none"
Just then Haman entered and Xerxes
asked of him: What shall be done to the
man whom the King delights to honor?"
Hannah, thinking the question had refer
enee to himself. answered that the man
should be attlred in the Kings robe,
mounted on the Kings horse, and wearing
by one OF the princes. who should proclaim
aloud the Kings pleasure. Go" said the
King, find the Jew Mordecai. who sits at
the Kings gate, and do TO him as you have
advised" and Mordecai was led through
the streets Of Sbushan with Haman at the
stIrrups.
AT the feast next day Esther, being again
pressed by the King To make the request
for her-Own safety and that of the people.
called TO his recollection the edict issued
for their destruction. XerXes demanded to
know who had taken this on himself, and
Esther pointed out Haaan. The King
ordered his instant execution, and he was
taken by the people and hanged oE,the gibbet
he himself had prepared for Mordecai. The
Jew was then invested with the office held
by his arch enemy. and to circumysnt the
edict which he had published obtained the
Kings consent to authorize the Jews TO arm
themselves and kill all who should attack
them on the thirteenth day of the twelfth
month, ii being impossible to withdraw she
edct previously issued, the laws of the
Modes ana the Persians being immutable.
so that once proclaimed they could not be
altered.
DELIVERANCE OF THE PEOPLE.
History records that, taking advantage of
this authorization the Jews killed $1,000 of
their gSsailants, among whom were the two
sons OF Haman. Thereafter the 18th day of
AGar was set apart as day of fasting and
in the evening the book of Esther was read
in the synagogues, while the 14th was OBJ
served as day OF Teasing and rejoicing
over the deliverance of the people. To this
day the event Is cOmmemOrated in its re-
ligious sense as laid down in the law The
Teasing and rejoicing took many forms, ac-
c0rdiDa to the prevailing custom of the
times, and generation ago were accom-
panied by the visits OF masqueraders from
house to house, where open-handed hos
ptality was always extended to them This
custom was entirely secular and partook
largely Of the character of New Years WIS.,
iting. Like 1t. indeed, Ii is fast dying out,
and save for a couple Of public balls which
now enter into the local celebration the
visit of the maskers is but memory, The
day is in no sense a holiday. 1t is merely
GaY OF rejofcing-of secular celebration.