Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1909-10-21

made his way into the province Of
Phenice. There he found an eager.
willing listener in the person Of the
governor Of the palace, even Apol1
/ lonius, the son of Thraseas.
THE treasury in Jerusalem is full
Of infinite sums of money" declared
Simon. "Yea, the multitude of their
riches is far beyond that which the
king now possesses and 1t Is possible
to obtain 1t all, for the city of Jerusa-
lem is unable to Withstand such forces
as the king may choose to send
| against it,"
Now when Apollonius had brought
1 these things to the attention of the
king, and how 1t was possible for him
to bring these riches into his own
/ realm, the latter chose out Heliodorus.
his treasurer, and sent him with n
strong force to Jerusalem. But that
he might take the city by surprise he
made as though he would make a jour
ney to certain other cities and having
come to Jerusalem en- route was re-
ceived courteously by Onias the high
priest of the city, who suspected
nothing.
Nay" / cannot deny that such mon
ey is in the treasury" Onias admitted
| when questioned by Heliodorus, but
it is a trust fund laid up for the relief
| of widows and fatherless children.
! And some of it belongs to Hircanus,
son of Tobias, a great man of the
city. It is altogether impossible that
such a wrong should be done that we
! should give it to your king. Think
you that money which has been COM
mitted to the holy sanctity of the
temple of God can be thus laid under
tribute? Never"
What holiness hath the temple, or
what claim has it upon this treasure
which is greater than the claim of our
king" proudly spoke Heliodorus IT
have come for the treasure. Deliver
it into my hands"
Il cannot" declared Onias.
Thou canst and thou must. To
morrow at this time l shall enter the
temple prepared to receive from thy
hand this money" and having thus
said Heliodorus departed.
Now when it was noised abroad
throughout the city that the treasure
of the temple was in peril, it caused
no small agony. The priests prostrat-
ing themselves before the altar in the
priests, vestments, called unto heaven
that the Lord should help to be safely
kept that which had been committed
to his temple. And while the priests
prayed the people of the city hocked
forth from their houses and joined
in the duplication. And the women,
grit with sackcloth under their breasts,
filled the streets. And the virgins that
were kept in, ran, some to the gates,
and some to the walls, and others
looked out of the windows. And all
with hands raised towards heaven
made duplication for deliyerance
from the enemy whom Simon, the trail
tor, had sent into the city.
But Notwithstanding all this heart
rending scene, at the appointed time
Heliodorus advanced upon the temple
to execute his decree.
Now as he presented himself with
his guard about the temple a wonder
full thing happened, for the Lord Of
spirits, and the Prince of all power
caused a great apparition, so that all
that presumed to come in to the tenn
pie with Heliodorus were astonished
at the power of God and tainted and
were sore afraid. For there appeared
unto them horse with terrible rider
upon him, and adorned with a very
fair covering, and he ran fiercely and
smote Heliodorus with his forefeet,
and it seemed that he that sat upon
! no. Aar -
gold Moreover, two other young men
appeared before him, notable IN
strength, excellent in beauty, and
comedy in apparel, who stood by him
on either side and scourged him con-
tinually and gave him many sore
stripes, so that Heliodorus fell sud
denly to the ground, and was COM
passed with a very great darkness.
And those that were with him took
him up and laid him on a litter and
carried him forth.
Then did a great shout Of praise
arise from the lips of the inhabitants
of the city, and the temple which a
few moments before had been filed
with fear and trouble was now re-
J sounding with the glad cries of the
{ people.
Then a hush fell as the word was
passed around that Hellodorus was dy-
ing. Then certain of his friends sought
} out the high priest, Onias, and be-
sought him that he would offer a sac.
= rifice for the recovery of the stricken
man. And Onias, moved with COM
( passion, did so, and while he was max,
, ing atonement for the sacrilege which
) Heliodorus had sought to commit
against Gods holy temple, the same
two young men, in the same clothing.
, which had smitten Heliodorus in the
! temple appeared before him and said:
"Give Onias the high priest great
thanks. nsomueh as for his sake the
, Lord hath granted thee life. And see.
LL..,. ka.t k,n.. ..c-..........l L.