The Washington herald., 1922-05-22
Presents High Ideal of
Womanhood, Pastor
Declares.
CURBED BRUTE KING
Preservation of Jewish Race
Yet Deserved in Feast
OF Purim.
By REV. JASON NOBLE PIERCE,
First Congregational Church.


Text: "And who knoweth
whether thou art not come to the
kingdom for such a time as this?"-
Esther WA
Among the books Of the Bible
we md one which does not use
the name of God. never refers to
Him, contains no direct teaching
about Him. recognizes no such
thing as prayer or obedience to a
divine will. But because II deal.
with human relations in such a
way as to exalt the spirit of un-
selishness and patriotism. the book
OF Esther has taken its place in
the sacred Scriptures.
1t may or may not be historical.
Neither Xerxes nor any other ruler
may exactly correspond to King
Ahasuerus. reigning from India to
Ethiopia, over 1877 provinces.
Nevertheless II Is true. in the same
way that the parable of the
Prodigal Son is true-it occurs re-
peatedly with varying modification.
Liquor Flowed Fast.
How would you like to have
llived at that time? Liquor flowed
fast and free. For seven days the
feast went on amid all the luxuries
wealth could command. In vessels
of gold they drank what and when
they pleased Royal wine was in
abundance, and both men and
women had hearts that were merry
vita drinking
In the condition of mind pro-
duced by strong drink certain de-
Icisions were made. King Ahasu-
erus decided to show of his wife.
|Queen Vashti decided not to ap-
pear The wise men decided such
refusal if unpublished would turn
every house in the realm into
place Of brawling. Therefore Vashti
was deposed.
Strong drink doesn't strengthen
family ties.
Woman the Pawn.
II has long been recognized that
{ Is not good. for man to live
hlone. But what about woman7
The method King Ahasuerus chose
for selecting a wife was to gather
the most beautiful maidens from
hll his realm. A different one came
10 him each evening. but returned
10 him no more except the king
delighted in her and called her by
|hame.
U One woman might be elevated
|kxere the rest degraded? The lust
|bf kings and the sins OF men have
made many women live alone. War
ravaged France today has nve
Young women to every young man.
Out of that black background Of
he past shines the pure character
bf Esther. Accepting life and the
standards Of womanhood as she
hound them, she played her part so
Inselhshly and patriotically as to
Become an ideal for countless
Pthers. The very vengeance in her
heart against the house of Haman.
rhile contrary to the later-revealed
teachings of Christ. was In her day
virtue. for il was rooted in
Bprings OF love for her own people.
Proved Her womsnhood.
Having graduated from the home
" Mordecai. and having reached what
hight be thought to be the pinnacle
" success for one OF her position.
queen Esther came to the more cru
tial issue Of life. Would she so re-
ain Mordecai in her affection as to
receive sympathetically his sugges-
ion and advice? She proved her mag
hificent womanhood. The right queen
had come to the kingdom at the right
Kline
The favor Of the king. the humilia-
tion and death OF Haman. the eX-
altation Of Mordecai. the preserving
Of the Jews-these are stirringly
written. and their reading year bv
year at the feast OF Purim makes
he blood of every patriot Jew course
more swiftly
But not Of Jews alonei Universal
ppeals are here. Here is the call
o every individual to achieve
bower for public service. to protect
he innocent against !spoilation. to
ay life down in order to find ones
ife in the public good. 1t is the
Inspiring example OF a woman who
became great but retained a warm
hnd loving heart. And IL reveals
what can be accomplished when
strong men and women will make
he supreme venture in co-opera-
lion with other men and women,
hll being directed and insnired hv