The Green Forest tribune., 1911-09-15

reign.
 The empire was composed of various countries and races, diverse from one another in disposition, char acter and interests. They were united by no natural affinity, but by conquest The whole empire might easily fall to pieces.
 Nebuchadnezzar would bind these di- verse elements by the power of re- ligious worship, at a common center, of one chief god over all the multitude idols. As the Jews were bound togeth- CT by a magnificent temple at their capital, Jerusalem, whither all went up to worship. so NebuchadneZZar would place at his capital a huge and costly image, the glory and attraction of the empire. His making Babylon a magnificent city would aid this work Great Notifications, towers. walls, temples, gates of bronze, hang ing gardens, palaces, public buildings of blue, red, yellow and white, the Tower of the Seven Spheres, the Won der of Mankind palace-all these "OuAO SiSbA StSN PCCPiO tO SAO SoPibeAAt N>S Mohammedans are drawn to Mecca
 The multitudes were gathered on the plain around the golden image gilt tering and radiant in the sun. Besides the officers in their richly colored at- tire, there was a motley gathering of tribes from every direction. All di- versailles of speech and dress and man. ners were there; all varieties of com plexion, from the pale bronze of the Persian to the black of the Ethiopian. National enemies stood side by side, Dwellers on plain and mountain, in walled towns and in tents of the des- ert, were in the throng. They spoke many languages, as if the confusion of tongues had been repeated in the same Babel
 Heradls cried aloud their proc lamation in all languages, that when the bands struck their martial music all the people must fall down and worship the golden image; And whoso falleth not down and worship eth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace"
 The bands played, and the whole multitude bowed their faces to the ground. Then a strange thing took place; three men stood up alone, and were conspicuous all over the plain, like city set upon a hill, by their unbowed forms and their splendid robes of office. These three were, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego the three young men who joined with Dan iel in refusing to defile themselves with the kings meat. They must have been at this t'me 30 to 35 years old, in the prime of young manhood and usefulness. They were rulers in the province of Babylon, and therefore prominent men. This conduct was quickly reported to the king.
 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury said: Now if ye be ready, to obey, the past will be forgiven. But If ye worship not, burning fiery fur mace, Let the music sound. And who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
 The three, with truly magnificent and unf1inching courage, appear to have answered promptly and without hesitation, showing that they had care fully considered the subject and that with them it was a matter of settled and intelligent principle: We have no need to answer thee," to explain how God could deliver them, or why they must obey him. There was no time, nor would the king under stand If it be so, we are cast into the fiery furnace, in spite of all you say, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us"
 They were put into the furnace. A writer thinks they were bound hand and foot with their own clothes. The king sat watching the issue of the matter, looked through the door into the furnace, and saw sight at which he was astonished and terrified. He was astonished that the three men were not consumed; that they were loose; that a fourth was with them. The thought flashed upon him that he has come into conflict with new and unknown power. He rose up in haste. expressing the strength of his aston ishment and terror. The princes saw these men. The deliverance was public, unmistakable, and proved by many witnesses. The king recognized the power of the Jews God.
 The miracle would make such an impression on the princes and peo- pie that the king could more easily treat the Jews kindly. Men who were so faithful to their God that they would die rather than do wrong would be faithful to their king, and could be trusted in all matters. Hence they were reinstated in their places with more influence and permanence than ever.
 There are still fiery furnaces for those who refuse to worship the gold en image-social ostracism, unpopular ity, losses of place and honor. failure tn business.