Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-06-10
DOOM OF ARROGANCE.
OR. TALMAGG TEACHES A LESSON
FROM THE HANGING OF HAMAN.
Vanity and Sin Ever Anxious TO Have
Piety Bow Before Them-Quickly Turns
the Wheel of Fortune - Happiness For
the Soul.


WASHINGTON, June 5.-The doom Of
arrogt cce ard the reward Of fidelity are
lessons which Dr. Talmage here draws
from N. rdecai on horseback and Haman
afoot; text, Esther vii, 10, $50 they
hanged Haman on the gallows that he
had prepared for Mordecai.
Here is an oriental courtier, about
the most offensive man in Hebrew his
tory 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 con-
gregation clinch their fists and stamp
their feet and cry, Let his name be
blotted out " Haman was prime minis
ter in the magnificent court of Persia.
Thoroughly appreciative Of the honor
conferred he expects everybody that he
passes to be obsequious. Coming in one
day at the gate Of the palace, the serv-
ants drop their heads in honor Of his
Office. but a Hebrew named Mordecai
gazes upon the passing dignitary with
out beuding his head or taking off his
hat. He was a good man and would not
have been negligent Of the ordinary
courtesies of life but he felt no respect
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 be-
fore this prime minister when he pass
ed. Mordecai, the Hebrew, relaxed not a
muscle of his neck and kept his chin
clear up Because of that afir0Rt Ha-
man gets decree from Ahasuerus, the
dastardly king, for the massacre Of all
the ISraelites and that Of course will
include Mordecai.
To make a long story short, through
Queen Esther this whole plot was re-
vealed to her husband, Ahasuerus. One
night Ahasuerus, who was afflicted
with insomnia, in his sleepless hours
calls for his secretary to read him a
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 Nor
decai. the Hebrew, had saved the king 5
life. and for which kindness Mordecai
had never received any reward. Haman,
who had been fixing up nice gallows
to hang Mordecai on, was walking out
side 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
a 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 Nor
decai, says, "Why. your majesty ought
to make a triumph for him and put a
crown on him and set him ON splen'
did horse, high stepping and full blood
cd, and then have one Of your princes
lead the horse through the streets, cry
ing. Bow the knee. here comes a man
who has saved the kings life. , " Then
said Ahasuerus in severe tones TO Ha-
man: 81 know all about your scom-
drelism. Now you go out and make a
triumph for Mordecai, 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 hasteP
Comedy and Tragedy.
What n spectaclel A comedy and
tragedy at one and the same time.
There they gol Mordecai, who had been
despised, now starred and robed, in the
stirrups Haman, the chancellor, atoot,
holding the prancing, rearing, champ
ing stallion. Mordecai bends his neck
nj last. but it is to look down at the
degraded prime minister walking be-
meath him. Huzza for Mordecai Alas
for Hamanl But what a pity to have
the gallows, recently built, entirely
wasted. 1t is 80 cubits high and built
with care. And Haman had erected II
for Mordecai. by whose stirrups he now
walks as groom. Stranger and more
startling than any romsnce, there &c
MP the steps of the scaffolding, side by
side. the hangman and Haman, the ex-
chancellor. $50 they hanged Haman on
the gallows that he had prepared FOL
Mordecai. "
Although so many years have passed
since cowardly Ahasuerus reigned, anc
the beautiful Esther answered to his
whims. and Persia perished, yet from
the life and death of Haman we may
draw living lessons of warning and IN
struction. And, first, we come to the
practical suggestion that, when the
heart is wrong, things very insignificant
will destroy our comfort. Who would
have thought that great prime minis
fer. admired and applauded by millions
of Persians. would have been so nettlec
and harassed by anything trivial? What
more could the great dignitary' have
wanted than his chariots and attend
ants and palaces and banquets? If afiiu
ence of circumstances can make MAJ
contented and happy, surely Hamai
should have been contented and happy
! NO. MOfueCdl ltluodl Va WV ''-'~
the glitter from the gold, and the rich
ness from the purple, and the speed
from the chariOts With heart puffeC
up with every imitation of vanity an'
revenge it was impossible for him to b
happy. The silence Of Mordecai at th'
gate was louder than the braying o
trumpets in the palace. Thus shall
always be if the heart is not right. Cir
cumstances the most trivial will disturb
the spirit
Annoying Trihes-
1t is not the great calamlties OF III
that create the most wOrriment. L hav
seen men, felled by repeated blows o
misfortune, arising from the dust
never desponding. But the most OF tn
: disquiet which men suffer is from IN
significant causes; as lion attacked b.
some beast of prey turns easily afouA'
and slays him, yet runs roaring throug
the forests at the alighting on ~
brawny neck of a few insects. 10
L meet some great loss in business wit
NmaH