The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-10-17
ESTHER The OR :oNAN.
Dr. Talm age Finds Many Leseons IN the
Example Of the Jewess:


Example Of the Jewess:
BROOKLYN, Oct. 7.-Rev. Dr.. Tai.
mage, who is still absent on his roun0
the world tour, has selected as the SUD-
iect of today's sermon through the press
"Hadasssh," !" the text chosen being Es-
ther ii. 7, "And he brought up hadaS-
sah."
A beautiful child was born 10 the cap
ital OF Persia. She was al orphan and a
captive, hsr parents having been stolen
from their Israslltish home and carried
to Shushan and died, leaving their Gaugh-
ter Door and in a strange land. But an
Isrealite who had been carried into the
same captivity was attracted by Inc
csse of the orphan. He educated her ID
his holy religion, and urder the root OF
that good man this adopted child began
to develop a sweetness and excelIepcy
of character, if ever equalled, certainly
never surpassed. Beautiful Hadassa6!
Could that adopted tather ever spare her
from his household? Her artlessness,
her girlish sports, her innocence, her
orphanage. had wound themselves taor.
oughlY around his heart, just as around
each parents heart among Us there ale
tendrils climbing and fastening and Olos'
soming and growing stronger. expecE
he was like others who have loved ones
at home-wondsripg sometimes Il sick
ness will come and death and bereaVe-
ment. Alas, worse than anything the
father expects happens to his adopted
child! Ahasuerus, princelY scouodrel,
demands that Hsdassah, the falresS one
in all the kingdom, become his vile.
Worss than death was marriage to such
a monster of iniquitY. How great the
change when this young woman lett the
home where God was worshipped and
religion honored to enter q palace de-
voted to pride, Idolatry and sensualitJ!
''As lamb to the slaughter!"
Ahasuerus knew not that bis vile was
a Jewess, At the instigation Of the in
famous Prime minister the king decreed
that all the Jews il the land should be
slain. Hadassah pleads the cause OF
her people, breaking through the rules
of the court and presenting herself IN
the very face OF death, crying, If | per-
ish, I perishp On, It was sad time
among that enslave6 people! They had
all heard the decree concerning their
death. Sorrow, gaunt snd CHASTITY, sat
in thousands of households, and mothers
wildly pressed their infants TO their
breasts as the days otmassacre fastened
on, praying that the same sword stroke
which slew the mother might also slay
ths child, rosebud and bud perishipg IN
the same blast.
But Hadassah is busy at court. The
hard heart of the king is touched by her
story, and although he could not reverse
his decree for the Staying OF the Jaws ne
sent forth an order that they should arm
themselves for defense. Oa horseback,
on mules, on dromedarles, messengers
sped through the land bearing the kings
dispatches, and a shout ofjoY went up
from that enslaVed people at the talnt
hope of success. I doubt not many q
rusty blade was taken down and sharp
ened. Unbearded youths grew stout as
giants at the thought Of defending moth
ers and sisters. Desperation strung up
towards into heroes, and fragile women,
their weapons. swung them
about the cradles. impatient for the
time 10 strike the blow IN bshalt OF
household and country.
The Gay Of execution daTned. COY
officials, armed and drilled,
cowe3 before the battle shout of the op.
pressed people. The cry OF defeat rang
back to the palaces, but above the noun.
tains of dead, above 5000 crushed and
corpses, sounded the triumph
of the delivered Jews, and their eothusl-
asm was as when the hghlsnders came
TO the relief of Lucknow, and the Eng
Lish army, which stood IN the very jaws
Of death, at the sudden hope Of assist
ance and rescue lifted the shout abeVe
oslching caanon and the death groao OF
hosts, crying, I'VE are saved! We are
,aved!"
My subject affords me opportunity Of
what Christian character
may be under the greatest disadvantages.
There is no Christian now exactly what
be wants to be. Your standard is much
aipher than anything you have attained
1nto. If there be any man 80 pulled up
ss TO be thoroughly satisfied with the
amount OF excellencY he has already at
aimed, have nothing to say to such g
me. But to those who are dissatisfied
with past attainments, who are toiling
under disadvantages which are keeping
ham from Eeing what they ought to be,
have message from God. You each
If you labor under difficulties. There is
IL your temperament, in your
calling, that acts powerfully against you.
all this, I introduce you to
aadassah OF the tsxt, a noble Christian,
the mosG gigantic Diff
,ulties. She whom you might have
expected to be one Of the worst Of Wo.
men, one of the best.
In the first place, our subject is an
Illustration of what Christian characrer
lay be under orphanaOe. This Bible
inc tells a long story about Hadassah.
'She had neither father nor mother"
4 nobleman had become her guardian,
,at there is no one who can take the
)lace of a parent. Who so able at |
hight to hear a child's prayer or al |
;Rilight to chide youthful Wanderings or
20 soothe youthful sorrows? An indi-
7idual will 60 through life bearing the
marks Of orphanage. It will require |
more strength, more persistence, more
race, 10 make such one the right kind
II q Christian. He who st 40 years
oses a parent must reel under the blow.
Even down to old age men are accus-
omed to rely upon tbs counsel or be
powerfully influenced by the advice of
PARENTS if they are still alive. |
But how much greater the bereavement
Fhen it coraes in early life before the
haracter is self reliant and when natu. !
ally the heart is unsophisticated |
nd easily tempted!
And yet behold what nobility OF dis |
,ositlon Hadassah exhibited. Though |
sthe= and mother had gone, grace had |
over all disadvantages. Her
to self sacrifice. her control
Yer the king, her humility, her faithful !
Worship Of God, show her to have been |
- H. ~. @c