The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-06
"A JEWISH STATESMAN "
THE REV. MR.. IRVINE'S ADDRESS
AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

Sunday Afternoon Meeting of the Gem
trail Y. NJ. G.. A.-"Danfel, the Man of
God, and BeIshazzar, the Sensuous
HInn of the World" Compared ia n
ForcibIe Manner
At the Grand opera house yesterday
afternoon the Rev. Dr. Irvine delivered
a stirring address to men. His subject
was "a Jewish Statesmen" He said in
part:
when Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jeru-
vessels of the temple and a number of
Jewish boys of the best families of the
city, among whom were Daniel and his
three companions. The boys were as
signed to the Kings palace, put on
royal fare and introduced to the college
curriculum of the day--a sort of prin-
airy department in the Babylonian col
lege of craftsmanship. 1t may seem
just little fastidious to us of this ac-
strict In the matter of diet, but Daniel
was made Of sterner stuff than the
majority of the young men of to-day.
So when they announced to him that
the king had made an allowance for
them from his own table he forthwith
begged to be excused! This was the
first of three great tests. Now put
yourself In the place of Daniel, young
man, and let the test Of appetite come
to you. How would you stand it? Paul
In one Of his epistles speaks of men
whose god was their belly. Their name
is legion to-day There is vast army
Of bloated gormands whose limit is that
of capacity only. There is another army
of blear eyed tatterdemalions who by
the lash Of appetite are scourged and
whipped off the face of the earth. There
are more people governed by their storn-
achs than are governed by the car of
Russia. This test may come to you
soon; in order to stand it you must
have some Of the stuff that made this
young Jew a hero-you must have a
sovereign principle Now let us con-
trast the two types of human charac-
ter Daniel, the man of God, and Bel
shazzer, the sensuous man of the world;
one living for time, and the other l1v-
5 ing for eternity. Belshazzer invites a
thousand of his lords to dine His
wives and voluptuous concubines are
there The empire contributes to the
loading of his tables. The professional
musicians and dancers are in attend
ance. The banqueting hall is decorat-
ed. The walls are covered with carved
iy,,o MI in
der in the inches are winged statues,
and between are frescoed pictures. 1t
is wild bacchanalian revelry in which
self reverence, self mastery and moder
alton are cast to the cardinal winds and
passion and appetite reign supreme.
The supper over wine is called for. Bal
shazzar in fit of arrogant exuberance
calls for the vessels taken from Jeru
salem. This will give color to the feast
an insult to Jehovah. the God of the
Jews!
Suddenly in the midst of intense ex-
citement Belshazzar starts in his jewel
ed throne. The crimson flush flies from
his face as the shadows before the
dawn, and palsied paleness takes it's
place His hands twitch nervously, his
knees knock against each other. What
is the matter? Over the lights which
crowned the golden chandeliers he sees
hand writing on the wall. Thrones
We're very uncertain quantities in those
days. His conscience whips and sobers
him in an instant.
Young man, what kind of a picture
shall be put to arouse you. Let me lift
the curtain and give you a glimpse
into the future. Here in ten--twenty--
thirty years hence is a wretched drunk
ard; is that you? Here is man with
a wrecked body; do you recognize him?
Here is man who has spent his sub
stance in the qualification of unholy
desires. He is now among the beastly
swine. Did you ever see him before?
Here is a fourth; he is behind the bars;
he never intended to get there, but he
finds himself there, and almost friend
less; perhaps you know him.
Into that banoueting hall of Bel
shazzar comes the imperial statesman,
Daniel. He looks at the writing; then {
at the king, and with prophetic fire in
his voice and eyes delivers the interpre-
ia ton. Thou, Belshazzar, art weigh
ell in the balance and found wanting; {
thy kingdom is divided and given to the |
Modes and Persians.' {
Darius of Mede is already at the {
gates of the city, and Belshazzar has {
had his last carousal. Y
1.-THE two types stand out clear and !
distinct Daniel the friend of God; Bel $
the slave of passion, Both t
types are here to-day. Whom will YOU +
serve, God or mammon?" t
Dr. A. c. Dornan will give his ia
nous lecture on the secret sins Of men t
1ext Sunday. d