The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-06-08
STORY OF HAMAN.
Rey. DR.. Talmage Used It to Good
Advantage.
He Drew From 1t Many Instructive Lessons
Pride GOeth Before a Fall-EarthIy
Possessions DO Not Bring Happi-
ness = Reward of Fidelity.

The tragic tale which the popular
Washington divine used as a basis for
his most recent sermon can be found
in Esther Il 10: $50 they hanged Ha-
man on the gallows that he had pre-
pared for Mordecai."
Here is an oriental courtier, about
the most offensive man in Hebrew
history, Haman by name. He plotted
for the destruction of the Israelitish
nation, 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 appreci-
atlve of the honor conferred he ex-
poets everybody 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
a Hebrew, named Mordecai, gazes
upon the passing dignity without
bending his head or taking off his hat.
He was a good man, and would not
have been negligent of the ordinary
courteses of life, but he felt no re-
spect either for Haman or the nation
from which he had come. So he could
not be hypocritical, and while others
made oriental salaam, getting clear
down before this prime minister when
he passed, Mordecai, the Hebrew, re-
laxed not a muscle of his neck and
kept his chin clear up. Because of
that affront Haman gets decree from
Ahasuerus, the dastardly king, for the
massacre of all the Israelites, and
that, of course. will 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 affict-
ed with insomnia, in his sleepless
hours calls for his secretary to read
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
heveived any reward. Haman, who had
been fixing up 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 an
one. Self-conceited Haman, supposing
that he himself was to get the honor,
and not imagining for 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 and set him
on splendid horse, housekeeping and
full-blooded, and then have one of
your princes lead the horse through
the streets, crying, Bow the knee,
here comes man who has saved the
kings life'" Then said Ahasuerus in
severe tones to Haman: 81 know all
about your scoundrelsm. Now you
go out and make triumph for Morde-
cal, the Hebrew, whom you hate. Put
the best saddle on the finest horse, and
you, the prince, hold the stirrup while
Mordecai gets on, and then lead his
horse through the street. Make
haste!"
What a spectacle! A comedy and a
tragedy at one and the same time.
There they go, Mordecai, who had
been despised, now starred and robed,
in the stirrups. Haman, the chancel-
lor, afoot, holding the prancing, rear
ing, champing stallion. Mordecai
bends his neck at last, but it is to look
down at the degraded prime minister
walking beneath him. Huzza for Nor
decai! Alas for Haman! But what a
pity to have the gallows, recently
built, entirely wasted! 1t is fifty
cubit high, and built with care. And
Haman had erected it for Mordecai, by
whose stirrups he now walks as
groom. Strange and more startling
than any romance, there go up the
steps of the scaffolding, side by side,
the hangman and Haman, the ex-chan-
cellor. $50 they hanged Haman on
the gallows that he had prepared for
Mordecai."
Although so many years have passed
since cowardly Ahasuerus reigned, and
the beautiful Esther answered to his
whims, and Persia perished, yet from
the life and death of Haman we may
draw many living lessons of warning
and instruction. At first we come to
the practical suggestion that, when
the heart is wrong, things very insig.
nifcant will destroy our comfort. Who
IoE a
prime minister, admired and applaud.
ed by millions of Persians, would have
been so nettled and harrassed by any.
thing trivial? What more could the
great dignitary have wanted than his
chariots and attendants, and palaces
and banquets? If tflvence of circum.
stances can make man contented and
happy surely Haman should have been
contented and happy. No; Mordecai's
refusal of a bow takes the glitter from
the gold, and richness from the pur.
pie, and the speed from the chariots
With heart puffed up with every in.
flation of vanity and revenge, it was
impossible for him to be happy. The
silence of Mordecai at the gate was
louder than the braying of trumpets
at the palace. Thus shall it always be
if the heart is not right. Circum
stances the most trivial will disturb
the spirit
1t is not the great calamities of life
that create the greatest worriment.
have seen men fellel by repeated
blows of misfortune arising up from
the dust, never respondent. But the
most of the disquiet which men suffer
is from insignificant causes; as lior
attacked by some beast of prey, turn.
easily around and Stays him, yet runs
rnnrinr thrnnnh t.e fnrast nt thi