The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-08-28
Sunday School Notes
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils.
Edited by cHAS. x. MEYERS.


| sept l.-Dealn OF JONI the bdptlSt.
Mark 6, 1929.
We have for our consideration this
week one Of the most sorrowful parts
of the New Testament We are told
how the great John the Baptist was
beheaded at the request of an i'm
moral dancing girl, to satisfy the re-
venge of a sinful mother. OF course
it is appointed to man but once to
die, and the life work of John was
done, but yet it has ever seemed as
if some other way than the one given
could we'll have been the ending of the
career of this remarkable man.
With the death of john there will
naturally come up thoughts as to his
life. 1t will be called to mind how
his birth was foretold by an angel to
his father; how his mother, Eliza
beth, spoke forth words OF brilliant
prophesy as to her sons career; how
he came out from the wilderness
preaching repentance and living lives
showing that the repentance was true !;
how when he baptized Jesus there
came the words from heaven saying,
This is my beloved Son."
1t was John who, fearing no man
or woman, denounced the King for
marrying his brothers wife. For this
he was put into prison.. HeFUd hest
tated about putting John to death,
for ne not only feared the wrath Of
the Jews who believed in him, but
was superstitious as to him. This
comes to light when Herod said that
John had come to life again, when he
heard of the miracles and sayings of
Jesus
All are probably familiar with the
bible account of the death of john
how during birthday celebration
when Herod and his court were
drunken with wine, daughter of his;
wicked wife came in and danced so
pleasing before them that Herod
called out the rash pledge that he
would grant to the dancer whatever
she, might ask even to the half of
his Kingdom 1t appears she made
known the promise to her mother, and
fendi;sh woman that she was, she
seized the chance to avenge herself
on. john for his boldness in denounc-
ing her sinfulness. Herod thought
he could not appear before his assO-
ciates as not fulfilling his promises,
and so ordered that the request that
John be beheaded and his head
brought to her, should be obeyed.
That the death of John the Baptist
is made the basis for a talk on the
temperance question: is but natural.
The determination to kill the inno-
cent John, because OF the king having
lost his better sense with liquor is
but one of ten thousand examples of
the terrors of th.> drink habit Men
have strangled their own children in
mothers, murdered their best friends,
all becaues of craze by drink. We
had a case i'm Denison not long ago
of son striking his mother with an
axe while insane by excessive drink
ing. Then there comes to mind the
condition of things when. tie father
comes homte often under the Influence
of drink. In the ideal home, the home
coming of the father is thing of
delight to the little ones They rush
to meet him, and JOY is in the house
hold when father comes" We have
in mind a home full of bright chill
dren where the news, father is COM
ing" spreads terror to their hearts,
there is no going out to greet him,
but each child flies to cover to be out
of his sight and thus his wrath.
| The results of the drinking of
King Herod as seen in the case of
John the Baptist caused terror and
pain for but short hour, but consid-
er the terror and pain to the wife
and mother in the home who must
endure the ''living death" for years
and years, when the husband and
father is given to drink; consider the
girls and boys who must face the
world with this disgrace upon them
and are powerless to stop it. One is
appalled, at the act of King Herod
and his name is connected with in
fanny to the end of time, yet things
as terrible go on in the country week
by week and yet the habit of drink
ing Intoxicating liquors finds defend
ers TO totally abstain is the right
thing and this should be urged with
forceful arguments in every Sunday
school in the world
In many places the question of
dancing will be under discussion.
While many will defend the social
I FL