Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-11-16
THE BANQUET OF SIN.
REV. Or. TALmAGE'S NEW LESSON
FRoA The FEAST OF BeLSHAZZAR.


Weighed In the balance and Found Want
ing The suddenness OF Gods Judg-
ments-A Thought "a TO Forms Of Pray
er-Look and Live.
WASHINGTON. Nov. I0.-Since his COM
bng 10 Washington DIR. Talmage's pulpit
Experience has been "a remarkable one. Not
My lras the church In which he breaches
,ccn filed. but the audiences have over
lowed into the adjoining streets To an ex-
ent that has rendered them impossible
l.imIlar srcnbs were enacted at today $
lrrvices, when the preacher took for his
Subject, Handwriting ON the Wall, )" the
text chosen being Daniel V, 80. "In that
bright was Belshazzar, the king Of the
lChaldeans, slain.
Night was about to come down on Baby
fon. Tho shadows Of her ESQ towers began
10 lcngthen. Tho Euphrntes rolled on,
ouchcd by the fiery splcndors of the set
ing sun, and gates of brass, FURNISHED
nh gliticring. opened and shut like doors
4 u me. The hanging gardens of Baby
ION, wet with the heavy dew, began 10
pour from siarlit flowers and dripping leaf
u fragrance for many miles around. The
streets and squares We're lighted for dance
hnd frolic and promenade. The ihcatcrs
bind galleries of art invited the wealth and
hOmp and grandeur of the city to rare en-
kertainmcuis. Scenes Of riot and wassail
wcre mingled In every street, and goddess
mirth, and outrageous excess and splendid
Mickcdncss came 10 the kings palace TO
do their mightirSt deeds Of darkness.
A royal feast tonight Mt the kings pal.
peel Rushing mp 10 the gates are chariots,
upholstered with precious cloths from De-
Han and drawn by fire eyed horses from
rogarmah. that rear and neigh in the
grasp Of tho charioiccrs. while thousand
lords dismount and women dressed in all
thc splcndors Of Syrian emerald, and the
color blending Of agate, and the chastencss
hf coral, and the sombcr glory of Tyrian
purple. and princcly embroideries brought
from afar by camcls across the desert and
by ships of Tarshis!I across the sea.
A Great Banquet.
Open wide the gates and let tho guests
come in. The chambcrlains and cupbear-
crS arc all ready. lIark to the rustic OF
the silks, and to the carol of the music
See the blaze Of the jewels! Lift the ban
Blow the trumpcis Let the night go by
with song and dance and ovation, and let
that BabyloEish tongue I've palsicd that
will not say. 80 King Bclshazzar, live
forevcr!'
All, my friends, IL was not any common
banquet to which these great people came.
All parts Of the earth had sent their rich
est yiands 20 that table Brackets and
:. a.. n. 81. a.
nrds Of FURNISHED gold. Fruits, ripe and
lucious, In baskets OF silver. intwincd
with leaves, plucked from royal conscrya-
tories. Vases. inlaid with emerald and
ridgcd with exquisite traccrics, filed with
nuts that were thrashcd from forests OF
distant lands. Wine brought from the
royal watts, foaming in the decantcrs and
bubbling in the chaliccs. Tufts of cassia
and frankinccnse waiting their sweetness
from wall and table. Gorgeous banners
unfolding In the breeze that came through
the open window. bcwiiched with the per
fumes Of hanging gardens. Fountains
rising up from Enclosures Of ivory, in jets
Of crystal, Ia fall in Gathering rain OF dia-
monds and pearls. Statues OF mighty men
looking down from inches in the wall
upon crowns and shields brought from
snbdued empires. Idols Of wonderful work
standing ON pcdcstals of precious stones.
Embroidcrics STOPPING about the windows
and wrapping pillars of cedar, and drift
ing on floor inlaid with ivory and agate.
Music, mingling the thrum of harps, and
the clash of cymbals, ana the blast OF
trumpcis In one wave Of transport that
went ripping along the wall and breath
ing among the garlands and pouring down
the corridors and thrilling the souls of a
thousand banquctcrs. The signal is given,
and the lords and ladies, the mighty mon
and women Of the land, come around the
table. Pour ont the wine. Let foam and
bubble kiss the rim. Hoist every one his
cup and drink 10 the sentiment: 20 King
Bclshazzar live forever" Bcstarrcd head
band and earcanet OF royal beauty CLEAN
TO the upliftcd chalices, as again and again
and again they are cmpticd. Away with
care from the palace! Tear royal dignity
to tattcrsl Pour out more wine! Give us
more light, wilder music. swccier per-
fume, Lord shouts TO lord, captain ogles
IA captain. Goblcts clash; decantcrs rat
tie. There come In the obscene song, and
the drunken hiccough, and the slavcring
lip, and the guffaw of idiotic laughter,
bursting from the lips Of princes, flushed,
Keeling bloodshot; while mingling with Il
all / hear. "EIuzza, huzza! for great Bel
shazzarr'
What is that on the plastcring OF the
wall? Is it spirit? Is 1t phantom? Is
It God? The music stops. The goblcts fall
from the neryelcss grasp. There is thrill.
There is IA start. There is thousand voiced
shrek Of horror. Let Daniel be brought
In TO read that writing. He comes in. HS
reads it" Weighed in the balance and
found wanting"
Warning.
Meanwhile the Modes, who for two year:
had been laying siege to that city, took