The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-05-14

i6;32
Salome reported the matter at once.
inquiring OF the mother what gifts
she should request. We can better
imagine than describe the surprise OF
the girl when told by the mother to
request the head OF John the Baptist
on platter" We may conceive what
disappointment this would mean;
what visions OF the beautiful and
precious things II would destroy!---
with what surprise Salome must have
asked as to why this gruesome gift
should be given. We can imagine the
mother Kissing 10 her that the death
of John the Baptist was the most
necessary thing In the world for them
both-that without 1t any day might
see them hurled from conditions OF of-
fuence into the abyss OF degradation
and poverty. We can imagine her
saying. This, Salome, Is the priceless
gift which you must ask from the
king" And the power OF the woman
over both the king and the daughter
was wonderfully exemplifled in the re.
suit Salome went gaily again amongst
the company OF mobiles whom she had
charmed, and I'm q loud voice accepted
the kings offer Of whatever she would
choose, even 10 the half OF his king
dom and stated that accordingly the
gift should be the head of John the
Baptist on platter.
The kings conscience was not quite
dead. He was grieved but his pride
as we'll as his subserviency to He
rodias controlled him. He reasoned
that for a king to give his word OF
honor In the hearing OF mobiles and
| princes and then TO repudiate II, would
be TO him lasting shame All. what
an illustration OF how the fear or
man bringeth a snare" What a les
/ son We read in this,-that a mans
! first responsibility is TO his God and
TO his conscience. whatever the cost.
! Tradition has IL that Herod was
haunted with fear the remainder OF
his days. II is in line with this that
when he heard OF Jesus and his
mighty werks, he expressed the con
viction that somehow. the spirit or
power OF John had passed 10 Jesus,
i One lesson brings before us two
strong and two weak characters. John
and Herodias were strong characters,
the one for the right and for God, the
other for selfish ambition and sinful
indulgence OF 1t. The one swayed his
nation for their good and prepared
The worthy remnant to receive Mes.
siah's message. The other swayed the
king and her daughter TO tnfamy.
murder and disgrace, and terribly
blackened her own character. Johns
reward lies in the future, when he,
as a member OF the Ancient-Worthy
class. will come forth to better
resurrection"-to be associated with
| Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the
prophets in the early phase OF the
millennial kingdom.
Herodias. surely continuously ur'
happy, finally persuaded the king 10
q course which led to his Punishment,
in which she shared. Her future,
according to the Bible, will be resur.
rection to shame and lasting cons
tempt Daniel 1921 lnasmuch as
she degraded herself and missed grand
opportunities, We may assuredly know
that she will come forth in the millen-
mum greatly handicapped by her i'm.
proper course in the present life. II
may take centuries, even under the
favorable conditions of Christs king
dom, for such deeply-dyed character
to purge itself OF the shame and the
lasting contempt and to rise gradu-
ally to true nobility and human per-
lection. or. failing so to do, to die the
second death.