The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1910-12-30

God, and stedfast for ever, and his
kingdom that which shall not be de.
stroyed, and his dominion shall be
even unto the end. He delivereth and
rescueth, and he worketh signs and
wonders in heaven and in earth, who
hath delivered Daniel from the power
Of the lions"
These words proclaimed through the
streets of that far off city Of Darius
realm fell upon the ears Of one Of the
earnest devotees of the gods OF the
Modes, n Of the priestcraft. In his
heart was a struggling hunger for the
truth. He believed in the gods before
whom he served. He believed they
were the great gods before whom no
other gods could stand. And now,
behold, here was the word from the
king, the great Darius, proclaiming
the power and majesty of another,
and an unknown God, a god he called
the living" God.
Our gods are not living gods" he
thought to himself as he ~pondered the
meaning of the words Of the proclama'
ton. And deep in thought he entered
the temple where the images of their
gods repOsed.
Can 1t be that there is one God
and these are no gods at all?" came
the vague questionings into his heart
as he came and stood before the hid
eous creatures of wood and stone that
looked down in meaningless way upon
him.
Surely some great thing must have
happened at Babylon that the king
should have sent out such a Decree
he exclaimed aloud. who is this man
Daniel, to whom the king refers and
whose God hath delivered him from
the raging fury of the lions"
art thou troubled by these
things?" asked a voice at his elbow.
The young priest started violently,
for he had supposed he was alone. and
turned to look into the face Of his su-
perior. He was too surprised to an
swer at first and the question was re
peated with fresh emphasis.
Il would know concerning this man
Daniel and his Cod" at last came the
h%esitating response.
A dark look shone in the face of the
older nan as he said, half menac.
ingly:
1T were not well for thee to wander
after other gods than thine own, lest
the first thing thou knowest thy call
ing shall be gone"
But what il the God Of this man
Daniel should be greater than our
gods? questioned the young priest.
Dare you to question the greatness
Of the gods whose priest We are?" de-
manded the other.
II would know Of this God whom
the king declares is the greatest OF
gods," was the earnest response.
Turn from this folly of thy mind
exclaimed the other with intense
voice. Let well enough alone" And
with those words he turned and left
the younger man standing alone.
A strange resolve had been forming
in the mind of the young priest while
his superior had been talking to him
and now that he was alone he started
to put it into execution. He Invested
himself of the robes of his priestly of
fee and, hastily DOMINIC the simple
clothing of a traveller, and placing his
few possessions in a bundle, he start
ed forth.
Il will not even return home and le
the family know of my intentions les
word reach the chief of the temple ant
he forbid my going" he exclaimed tt
himself, as he fastened through thu
now dark and deserted streets Of thu
city. He knew of the road which LEI
from his city toward the great Baby
lon, and when he had reached the gait
of the city he slipped quietly through
and struck out boldly into the dark
ness.
Footsore and weary many weeks la
ter a d%ust-covered traveller was see
to enter the gates of Babylon, and h
was soon surrounded by the WONDERING
people in the market place. 1t was tn
young priest from the far off corner o
Darius kingdom. He spoke a strang
tongue to those in Babylon and tn
! people around him shook their head
! as he strove to make himself undel
stood. At last one word seemed t
catch their ear and they repeated afte
: him, questioningly, "Daniel?"
. A great light of Joy broke over hi
8 face and he shook his head vigorousl.
! He wants to sec Daniel" spoke tn
: people, and with willing eagernes
. they had o guided him to the pa
= ace.
Would Daniel see a traveller from
I far of province?"
Surely" spake Daniel himself, an
he had soon found an interpreter fo
X the young priest and was listening a
n tentively to his story.
o "Thy journey has not been in vain,
e Daniel responded. when the youn
l. man had finished, and he went on I
e tell the young man all the wonderf,
story of his devotion to the true Go
Of heaven and o. his miraculous deli
erance from the mouths Of the lion
l vrylAl zx-cl-@I ~ A~-v A.