Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Nev. County, Ark.) 1885-1???, 1892-03-10
RELIGIOUS COLUMN.
THOS II WARE, EDITOR.
JOHN THE BAPTIST BEHEAD-
ED.

alrocious and objectionable crime
when they themselves are guilty OF
the same offcnsc, and it may be are
less iustiiiable than was he.
Admitting all that the admiring
friends of John claim for him-that
he WAS great and good man, en-
dcavoring to work a moral reforma-
ton among his people, that he was
preacher of righteousness whose
thrilling eloqucnce and bold denun-
citation of sin had attracted immense
crowds of people who waited upon
his ministry, and were baptized un-
to repentance. In a word, that he
was doing much good. Docs all this
argue that Herod must break his
promise-fail to keep his word? The
simple facts are these: Herod was
a sort OF semi King Of Judea, and
had taken Mrs. Phillip, the wife OF
his brother, to be his wife. So far
as We are informed, there was no
domestic infelcity-there's was a
happy home, until John came down
from his pulpit and began to inter
fere with their domestic relations,
charging them with adultery. This
greatly enraged Mrs. Herod, alias
Mrs. Phillip and as result OF this
rash and impolitic act, John was cast
into prison. Mrs. Hcrod, formerly
Mrs. Phillip, was the mother OF
little daughter, who, aside from her
natural graces, had been educated in
the poetry Of notion" the graces
OF the dance. A part OF the pro-
gram at an entertainment given by
King Herod to some OF his friends
was a dance by this damsel. Her
part was so we'll performed that the
friends of Herod were pleased, and
the King himself was delighted, and
following a precedent long establish
ed-to make present to those
whose performances were satisfactory
-Herod determined to reward this
damsel whose graceful attitudes were
so pleasing to the sense OF sight, and
hence he said to her il she would
make known to him her wish he
would grant it. The dutiful and af-
fectionate daughter went and con-
suited with her mother before max
ing known her wish. Mrs. Herod
who felt greatly outraged at the
boldness of this preacher, advised
that she ask for the head Of John the
Baptist. The request was made and
granted. John was beheaded."
Where was the sin, SO shocking to
the moral sensibilities, even at this
late day? There was certainly no
wrong in one occupying such high
official position as Herod giving an
entertainment to his friends. There
are those who are opposed to promis-
cuous danciug-the mixing OF the
sexes Gold fogies they may be, who
are jealous to guard the purity OF
their homes). But this damssl
danced alone, and rendered it so
graceful, after the most modern and
approved method, that it gave pleas
ure to the cultured" guests OF the
king, and he was delighted. Any
wrong here? The giving of presents
to those who render pleasing service,
was a custom established long be-
fore the days of Herod, and he was
only following precedent. There
could be no wrong in this. The girl
was an affectionate, dutiful child,
and she consulted with her mother
before making her request. Certain
" no wrong in that. John had great
" offended Mrs. Herod, whose for
mer husband was Phillip, and he
was now in prison, an expense to the
State and practically dead as a
preacher, and if he were allowed to
go unpublished, others might be dis
posed to offer an insult to the wife OF
Herod, and so she used her influence
with her daughter, which was sue
cessful, to have the head OF John
presented to her in a charger.
John, the brave, courageous,
moral reformer and forerunner OF
Christ, is dead. His CHASTITY feat
ures, like toy, is presented to lit
tie girl, the reward for services rem
dered. But should he not die, rath-
err than that king should fail to
keep his promise? or that little
girl, who had INDUCED in most inno-
cent but graceful and pleasing seryi
ces, should be disappointedY Shall
a 'back- woods" preacher, who