River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-05-19

1OHN THE BAPTIST, because
, of his boldness and courage
as a servant and mouth-plece
of God, was thorn in the side or
King Herod and his courtiers and
the great of that day. Herod and
the High Priests and the more
prominent people considered John
the Baptist and Jesus fanatics.
Doubtless they would have made
away with them quickly had it not
been for their fears of the people.
The common people heard the
Master gladly and declared that
never man spake like this man.
the same common people believed
John to be a prophet.
We will not undertake to say
whether John exceeded his COM
mission or not when he reproved
the King and Queen. AS a rule,
however, we believe it to be the
wiser plan for Christian ministers
to speak forth the Word of God
fearlessly and plainly, without at
tempting personal application-al-
lowing each nearer to apply the
message TO his own heart. Herodlas
fortunately represents an uncom'
mon class of women. She was
governed by bour dless ambition.
She married the man who, for a
time, seemed in line for promotion
to a kingly position. But when
the title was given by the Roman
Emperor to his brother, Herod
Antipas, she inveigled the latter by
her charms and, deserving her hus-
band, became H dias the
Queen" John the Baptist, while
fearlessly denouncing sin, felt led
to make a personal application of
his teachings to King Herod.
Some have assumed that Herod
had requested John the Baptist to
visit the palace and give talk on
the reforms he advocated, and that,
in this connection, the prophet
pointed out the wrong of the King
conduct, saying that it was not in
harmony with the Divine Law that
he was living with his brother
Philips wife. Herodias heard of
this and realized that if the King
accepted such counsel it would
mean that herself and her beautiful
daughter, Salome, would become
outcasts from the palace and be
without home, as it would be i'm
possible for her to return to her
husband, Philip. The power of
Herodias over the King led to
Johns imprisonment. Her next
move was to effect his death, for
she realized her position insecure
so long as he lived. Johns fear
less speech might yet influence the
King.
This ambitious, wicked, artful
woman plotted murder, and the
Kings birthday celebration was her
opportunity. She forwarded the ar
rangements for great banquet, at
which were present the mobiles and
princes of the land. Wine was in
plentiful supply. She well knew
that the wine wouli infame the
passions and relax the moral tone
of the company. So she had her
beautiful daughter, Salome, special
ly prepared and attired, and in
structed her to perform one of the
obscene dances common to the east
on such occasions, but not COM
monty INDUCED in except by the
lower classes, and never by prin-
cesses. The occasion was to be a
rare one. 1t was intended to
influence the King exactly as it
did-to admiration and a boast
full offer to the girl of any gift
she would ask. The plan succeed
ed to the letter. The Kings words
were, ASK of me gift, even to the
half of my Kingdom possibly
suggestion of his willingness to
make her his true Queen.
Following her mothers instruc-