Evening star., 1912-08-31
Supper, Scandal, Sobered.

Herodias waited for her opportunity.
She had been foiled in her earlier plans
because of Herods fear Of the people
and respect for John. The convenient
day finally came, when her intrigue sue
ceeded The birthday OF the king fur
nished this EVIL woman. who has been
called the Jezebel of the New Testament.
her opportunity. She is an exception
| o all the women of the New Testament.
She has but few modern followers mo
will stoop to the lowest and West iife
10 accomplish their evil ends. She s. Mtlted
until the birthday of Herod fulnisAsed tAe
opportunity for which she lonScd 4
court banquet. when the KING, o. ser1oiila
by wine, was not likely to resist. tur-
| nished her the opportunity. She kne~
his weakness, so when the leading Niyi
military and social men. as weii as mo
king, had been overcome by wine the
queen executed her plan. She sacrinced
her daul hter to secure her ends. Sa.ome
degraded herself by executing a lasciv-
ious dance that had been planned by her
evil mother to catch the king una ares
Herod as cared as little for her dauSh-
ter's character as she did for her own.
When Herod, flushed with wine, lost his
head (as many others have done, for
Herod is not the first nor the last man
to be dragged into committing a crime
by a beautiful dancer), and swore that
he would give her anything she desired.
even to half of his kingdom. though
properly speaking he had no kingdom to
give for he was only a vice ruler under
Rome. Herodias won and Herod lost.
Salome directed by her mother. imme-
diately demanded John the Baptist's
head. 1t was worth more than half OF
the kingdom to Herodias. Ii might cost
Herod his throne. The unexpected de-
mand sobered him. 1t was too late to re-
call the rash promise. The craven soul
was afraid to do what was right. He
did not have the backbone to break<>a
1 k<I
holic brain storm. The king ordefed the
foul murder rather than to confess he
was wrong in making such rash prom
Use. The vindictive woman mad her way
the bloody details OF the Crime by which
the last and greatest OF Ehe prophets per-
ished. He did not diet however. before
his work was accomplished, for as the
falling blossom let's the sunshine to the
fruit and by its death helps enlarge the
fruit Of the tree, so John died.
1t was an hour when his influence ana
power might have clashed with Christ.
1t is significant that when His disciples
buried the headleks trunk of John the
Baptist they "capde and told Jesus" Sin
had undermined the character of Herod.
The progress o6 evil i'm mastering the
king is being repeated today in the lives
of men. The Snares of the dance are
furnished by some of the modern ones
which are as lascivious as the one Salome
danced. John is not the only one to
lose his life after wine supper. New
York city has been stirred for over a
month by icrinre committed by men
after they had been filled up with liquor.
The interlinkihg of iniquitous interests is
as apparent In the sinful spoils system as
that Of the interlocking of directors in
great financial systems. Facing the
problems Of the present hour. we are all
apt to cry 'tiod give us men to do the
tasks whent the message from the AL
mighty and lthe life of John the Baptist
says to us ira the word OF the poet:
Be strong. wt-hre hot here to play. to dream.
to drift.
We have hard work 10 do and loads to lift.
Shun not the struggle. Face II. tbs Gods gin,
be strong..
Say not the ihys are eyiI-who's to biame7
And fold the Hands and acquiesce-0 shame!
Stand up. SPEAK, out. and bravely, In Code
name. be stilong
It matters not h6w deep intrenched the wrong.
How hard the ba ktle goes the day, how long,
Faint not, fight oniA Tomorrow comes the song.
The death of John the Baptist cast n
shadow over the pathway OF our Lord. He
recognized its me aning, that II distinctly
predicted His owt death. This may De
it's lesson for usA If duty Calls US tn
danger, even death itself. let us not fail
but bravely face our task, encouraged
not only by the Example of John. but
also by the promiees of our Lord. who
says. BE thou faithful unto death and
will give thee thea er6wn OF lne."