The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-15

CONTEXT.-About a year after Daniel
was inducted into the kings service he
had opportunity to exercise his rare abil-
tiles as a prophet. NcbuChadnezzar had
n dream which he was unable to recall
and the wise men were summoned to
make 1t known to him This they were
unable to do. whereupon an order was
issued condemning them to death. That
decree involved the life of Daniel, who
was classed among the wise men, and lac
appeared at court and obtained from the
king n respite, promising that he would
divulge the secret. After much prayer
God revealed the matter to him with its
Interpretation, which he promptly gave
to the king. For this service he was
well rewarded. Later, having increased
in power. NcbuChadnezzar set up a golden
image, which he commanded all his sub
jects to worship. Daniel Is not men
toned in the case, but his associates did
not obey. The fact was reported to the
king, who had fixed a severe penalty
upon disobedience to his will. In anger
no summoned the Hebrews into his pres
ence, and our lesson shows what fol-
lowed.
CHALLENGER came first
question, "Is 1t true?' The word true"
involved the idea of intention. Possibly
the failure to worship was inadvertant.
They may not have purposed to trans
gress the royal mandate. That was very
consideratc 1t would have given weak
men opportunity to escape from an awk-
ward situation (Nerse 1i) NcbuChad-
nczzar may have hoped to intimidate the
young men. Such was his rage and
fury, however, that he did not wait for
the answer, but promptly put forth a
challenge. He would give the dein-
quents another opportunity to show their
,.1t
sound as before--thc instruments of vari-
Gus kinds appointed for the purpose
would summon the worshipors. II the
Hebrews responded the king would be
satisfied and the former neglect would be
overlooked. But If they refused they
should be instantly cast into a fiery fur
mace, which meant death. Then he add
ed, as if he suspected the reason for the
attitude of the men addressed. inquiring
what god could deliver them OEX. V: y,
q word of defiance III Kings xviii: 3J.
REPLY (Verses 1G to 1S).-Nebuchad-
ncZzar misjudgcd the men who stood be-
fore him if he supposed that this threat
would change their purpose. Silent when
he questioned they were not slow to re-
spond when mcnaced. There was, however,
great calmresS in their words, q meas
ure of Difference to the person addressed.
| They first declared that they were not
careful, that is not anxious or con-
cerned. They did not need to take time
| to consider. Their minds We're already
settled. There was no occasion to wait
| for the music to learn their decision
Matt X: 19). They also announced that
| their God was able to deliver them from
| the fiery furnace and that He would de-
| liver them, a sublime exhibition of faith
| CHeb. Xi: 3D, worthy to be recorded for
| the comfort of after generations. And
yet, if God cid not deliver them, their
course was to be unchanged. They were
| ready to die If need be. OF one thing
| the king might be assured they would
| not serve his gods. nor worship his image.
| Rarely in all history have men faced an
| issue with more courage. The words de-
serve to be cherished as the utterances
of moral heroes destined to live through
| all time. What matters the outcome in
| such a controversy? Who can harm
men of such stuff? For once the king
beholds those who fear him not
COMMAND CVerses 10 and 9O).-Such
| language, addressed by foreigners, lately
| AAAAAAAAAAAAA>AA
! time Of it's greatest development. It Is
| improbable, however, that the hole was
made when the ice was at its greatest
| with what we may reasonably believe
were the conditions of those times, to
| suppose that otWard the close of the
| ice epoch the glacier was guided par
| TALLY by the hill bounding this valley,
and the rapid melting of the ice during
| the period of retreat produced many
| and considerable streams over it's sur
| face and bound into its crevices ana
| wore out channels in the rock beneath"
AN AWFUL ROAR.
When the pot-hole was discovered
the stones and gravel it contained
rested on cone Of coal. Mine Fore
| man James NJ. Eaton's attention was
called to it and he ordered the miner
| to blast the coal. When this was
done the stone came tumbling into
| the airway with such an awful roar
that the miners who had gathered
| near thought the mountain was COM
ing in on them. Some of them left
the mine, so frightened were they.
| The debris that filled the pot-hole was
| removed by a gang of men under
| the direction of Hon. NJ. NJ. Gilroy.
| Souvenirs of the discovery in the shape
| OF round stones were very common
here, and are still preserved in many
| homes in town.
There are large views of the Pot
| hole in the Smithsonian Institute at
| Washington. In all the colleges where
| geology is taught, the town is famous
because of its remarkable work ma
| turc.