Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1909-08-12

ely pflEHt N NE IQii FtK&lA Was IfE8
ent Tn help carry nut the service. The
great brazen image stood on q high
mound and a long fight OF steps led
up at the side 30 that the priest would
be able 10 reach the immense out
stretched arms and place therein the
offerings which the people brought
The image was hollow and was so ar
ranged that the FIRE which the priests
kindled within would heat the arms
and hands 10 a white heat. and con
sumo the offerings therein. Around
the great image there had been erect
cd sis beautiful ehapsls, each stand
Ing for a degree in the worship Of the
sod To the one offering fine -four
the door OF the first and simplest chap
81 vas opened and he was Initiated in
to the FIRST rites and fellowship with
the mighty FIRE god. To the one offer
ing turtle doves or young pigeons. the
door Of the second chapel was opened
and he VAS accorded a closer fellow
ship. The third chapel was opened
70 the n offering q lamb, the fourth
to him Who offered a ram. the fifth TO
him who offered a calf. and the sitth
10 him vho offered an o :.
To this last structure which had lust
been completed by the builders that
week. the king directed his steps after
leaving the chariot which had stopped
on the outer rim where the chapeIs
had been placed.
Yea. II is well that the king IL the
first 20 open the door Of this, the
sixth chapel devoted TO the worship
OF the great Moloch.- said the prizes,
as he received the king and conducted
him to the doorway. To one side
could be sect the or which had been
provided for the kings offering. and
at a signal from the priest. the attend
ant plunged In his knife TO the heart
Of the beast and as the animal sank
to the ground almost without a groan
so deity had the vital spot been
struck-the door before the king and
the priest swung open. apparently OF
its own volition.
Come. said the priest. Again by
thy devotion thou shalt please the
great Moloch. and win his continued
favor. six chapels hast thou already
caused to be erected for him, and
there still remaineth one to be set
up 10 test thy devotion" And as the
priest spoke the words. his eyes fixed
themselves upon the little prattling
child who had trotted in by the side
OF the king.
The father. following the Eyes OF the
priest. looked fondly down into the
beautiful face Of the child as IL was
lifted up in confidence to his ov a.
and his cheek paled as intuitively he
caught the thought and meaning II
the priest.
- seventh ehapei?" he falteringiy
questioned.
Yea. thy nation cannot be said TO
know and serve the great God Moloch
until the seventh and last chapel hath
been built and TO whom should It's door
first swing to give entrance but to the
king himself"
True. but how can ~" aud a shud-
der shook the form Of the king.
But ans thou expect favor from
the god from whom thou wouldst with
hold thy best treasurer"
Nothing more was said. but the next
day the order was sent the priest that
the seventh chapel should be built
and It was noised through the city
and nation that ,ha Lfr~ -.
the great Offering to Moloch. and at
the appointed time. after the chapel
had been completed a great
Of people came together In the place
where Moloch stood. The arms and
great hands relentlessly outstretched
were glowing with the intense heat
which burned within. The eyes of
the people were fixed upon them with
an awful fascination. which was only
broken by the cry: The king, The
king" as the royal chariot rolled up
amidst the blast Of the trumpeters.
Down the marble laid isle came the
king and by his side the little son.
whose hand lay confidently in that of
his father.
4 gasp OF intense feeling swept over
the Of people as one of the
attendant priests came forward to take
the little boy while Manassas. the
king. turned with the high priest and
assembled the steps to the last chapel.
With neither look to the right hand
or the left. but a blank. intense awful
stare direct before him the king stood
before the closed door. the priest re-
naming impassiye by his side. BY
this time the priest bearing the boy
had assembled the steps by the side
OF the great image. An intense, awful
silence had fallen upon the people.
They did not even so much as breathe.
The rustic OF the priests robe was
the only sound which came az ne
raised the boy aioft. Then a terrific
burst Of music from trumpet and drum
which drowned the tiny shrek of the
child and the groan Of the peo
pie. And with II the door swung open
before the king and half stumbling.
half falling. he crossed the threshold
and collapsed il a swoon.
Yea" spake the priest. as the king
recovered consciousness. thou hast
graciously honored the great Moloch.
and a hundred to-day have in the
ffenzy Of devotion followed thy ex.
ample. Great is MoIoeh.-
Followers Of Christ.
The friend of the master is not de
voted TO him simply as to a beautiful