The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-11-22
GEL|ST TALKS Of
BELSHAzZAR'S FEAST
At CHRISTIAN CHURCH

1NAsA~F H&s A+t bANoANSA 0AN mus
far in the Brown-Fitz revival at the
First Christian church. Ten were
added to the membership, all the au-
diences We're large, the money was
easily and quickly raised for the
meetings and a fine evangelistic spirit
peryaded all the services. The day
began with a big Sunday school. DIR.
Brown spoke at IL o'clock on the
text. HE Loved the Church" \
baptismal service was held at 4
o'clock. In the evening he spoke on
The Handwriting on the Wall"
Mr.. Fitz was dangerously i'll Sat
urday night and was not in any Of
the meetings Sunday. He is reported
much improved this morning and will
be able TO sing tonight. Miss Avis
will also sing. Or. Brown will dis
cuss "Satan's Sermon" The ordi-
nance Of baptism will be administered
at the close of the sermon.
Tuesday night the service will be-
gin at 7:15 sharp and will close at
S;25 in good time for every one to
attend the Eddy Brown concert at
Convention Hall.
DR.. Brown closes his work in Ard
more Thursday night with his popu-
lar lecture on THE Pot of Gold at
the Foot Of the Rainbow Mr.. Fitz
gives his concert on Friday night.
Speaking last night on "Belshaz-
zer's Feast" DIR. Brown said, in, part:
THE story Of our text carries us
back to the greatest city OF ancient
times. Babylon was the proud me-
tropolis OF 200 provinces. Into it
poured the and travel Of
all lands. 1t had the five things
that have made all great cities, geo
graphical location that focuses COM
merce, an abundant supply Of fresh
water, salubrious climate, riches Of
contributing territory and all h a con-
tributes to health and pleasure. To
these natural advantages had been
added all the treasures of mans in
genuity. Il was the capital OF earth's
greatest king. In 1t was one or
the seven wonders Of the world, the
hanging gardens, the mountain rest
ing on massive arches seventy-five
high, built by acknowledgements to please
the girl he had married in. the hill
country.
The city was fortified with the
greatest walls ever constructed by
man. According to Herodotus they
were Sc miles in length and enclosed
an area Of 1856 square miles. Ctesias
says they were 800 feet high n that
a four horse chariot could travel on
the top. Twenty-Five b~oulevards east
TO west and their entrances were
guarded by one hundred brass gates
and above these were one hundred
great towers from which massive
stones could be hurled on any vader.
Around the walls on the outside
was d moat filled with sharp spikes,
hidden by he water.
Drunk With Power
"Our lesson pictures a gorgeous
banquet in the palace Of the king
BelshaZzar and a thousand of his
princes, with their wives and CON
cubines drank from golden vessels
taken from the temple at Jerusalem.
Nude dancers moved TO the strains
of v%oluptuous music, adulation was OIL
fered to all the gods of passion But
at the height OF the revelry the kings
| countenance became ashen, the Il
of ribald laughter was stilled, the hand
| of destiny, the hand of judgment u
hand of fire wro.e in letters that
famed the crytic words Counted,
Divided" Weighed" When the
hand had faded, the letters, like phos-
phorus in the darkness, remained
From n dungeon the same prophet
who had interpreted the dream OF
! ACKNOWLEDGMENT is again brought 10
the palace and before the craven KING
and trembling court, ~pronounces IN
awful tones the judgment of the Lord
THY days are numbered, thy king
dom is sundered because thou art
weighed in the balances n found
wanting" Then they heard the roar
OF battering rams on the doors OF
brass and that night was Belshazzar
slain and Babylon surrendered TO Cy-
rus.
For many years defenders OF the
faith were greatly troubled because
~excavators in the ruins of ancient
cities found records that Naboneddus
was king when Babylon fell and no
reference was made to any ruler
named Belshazzar. Scoffers pointed
to the bible with scorn rs a collec-
ton OF unhistoric traditions. Is,t
later discoveries cleared away the
mystery. Naboneddus was king but
had started for Egypt with a mighty
army. leaving his son Belshazzar 20
reign in his stead. This explains the
strange promise OF BelshaZzar to
make Daniel the third ruler" in the
kingdom. He could do no more for
he himself was only the second ruler.
Let no man fear to have the bible
put TO the severest test. Like the
anvil pom which hammers pound
themselves away the old book stands
unmoyed under the giant blows OF the
many centuries
An Awful Lesson
Belshazzar thought he was safe
with wheat sufficient for seven years
in his g%ranaries, with a i've Of pure
water, with towering walls OF stone,
with soldiers on the ramparts he
thought he could hurl defiance at any
foe. The great King cyrus had
thrown around the city when he heard
that Naboneddus had gone away and
for six months had been demanding
It's surrender. But Belshazzar thought
he was safe. Every man who has
ever gone to ruin has thought the
same. No man ever planned to end
his life on the gallows or behind pris-