The log cabin Democrat., 1909-11-06

the demands Ol the WlcKeu Greeks.
 What if the Greeks have declared it unlawful to keep our Sabbath days?" he cried in the streets. What if they declare that we must share in their feasts and pay homage to their god? Shall we forget our God and his law? What if we gain our lives at the hands of these wicked Gentiles and lose them before our God, the God Abraham and Isaac and Jacob?"
 Some listened to the words of the old man while others turned in fear away, saying under their breath;
 Yes, he may well talk for he is even now an old man and it means not much to him to die. But how is 1t with us who have wives and children and much goods in the city. We may outwardly yield to these Gentiles and still be Jews at heart. Of what avail If we die?"
 Thus was the city filled with conten- tion among the Jews, few choosing to remain loyal to Moses law, while the great majority outwardly obeyed the mandates of the man from Athens.
 It was during these days that the king of Greece celebrated the anniver sary of his birth, and the Greeks in Jerusalem, anxious to do honor to their king and to their great god, made great sacrifices and held feasts and commanded that the Jews of the city enter into the festivities, and eat of the meats which had been offered to their god. And when the feast of Bac chus was kept the Jews were com pelled to go in the procession carrying ivy and garlands before the great i'm. age. Moreover there went out the decree to the neighboring cities against the Jews that they should ob- serve the same fashions and be par takers of their sacrifices. And whoso would not conform themselves to the manners of the Genties should be put to death.
 And that terror might seize upon the hearts of the people who dared to disobey, two women whe had circum- cised their babes after the law and command of Moses, were taken and having been openly led about the city with their babes in their arms, they were taken to the highest point on the wall and cast upon the jagged rocks in the abyss below. And oth- CTS. that had run together in the caves nearby to keep the Sabbath day secretly, being discovered, were all 1 burned together, because they feared to dishonor God and violate his holy l day
 And Eleazar, who had done much to encourage the people to remain loyal i to Gods law, was not to escape, for he was seized and made to open his mouth into which swine flesh was thrust with the command to eat for his good health But he, choosing rather to die gloriously than to live stained with such abomination, spit 1t forth
 Then did those who had charge of the wicked feast, and who had come to know the old mas and understand his great influence With his people, be- ing anxious to win him over to their customs, that 1t might encourage oth- CTS to do likewise, took him one side and said:
 What profit if you should die. Let us tell thee how thou canst save thy self and still remain true to thy law Bring thy own flesh such as is lawful for thee to use, and make as though thou didst eat of the meat of the sac rifiee commanded by the king, but eat that which thou myself hath provided. Then all will be we'll"
 Tt becometh not my age in any wise to disseroble," he declared with dig nity. flor by so doing many persons might think that Eleazar being four score years old and ten, were gone | to strange religion, and so they through mine hypocrisy, and desire to ! live a little time, should be deceived by me, and get a stain to mine old age. and make 1t abominable. For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men; yet should not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive or dead Wherefore now, manfully changing this life. I will show myself such an one as mine age requireth. and leave notable example to such as be young, to die willingly and courage ously for the honorable and holy 1 laws"
 And having thus spoken to those who would have saved him If he would have but dissembled, they were greatly inhamed against him and dragged him off to the torment which was made as awful as possible. his tongue being first cut out and then all his extremities cut off and last of all he was cast upon a red-hot pan. And when he was about to give up the ghost, he cried
 | Tt is manifest unto the Lord, that hath the holy knowledge, that where i as I might have been delivered from l death. I now endure sore pain In my 1 body, but in soul I am well content to suffer these things, for l fear him" | Thus did Eleazar die, leaving his death for an example of noble cour'