Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-10

Religious liberty, that our country wa
the first nation to make part Of it:
Constitution, had an early champion If
Daniel. He was a pioneer in the cause
of spiritual freedom. He risked hi
life, when his enemies plotted to destroy
his power and remove him from tho
commission of three who ruled Babylon
| as the representatives of Darius. His
administration was of such high char
acter that his own colleagues were jeal-
| Gus Of Daniel and his power with the
people and the king. Darius had evil
| IDENTIFY confirmed Daniels appointment
by Belshazzar upon the recommendation
of CYRUS. Daniels success and excel
lent spirit attracted Darius to such ar
| extent that he was considering promot-
ing Daniel to be his vice regent over
all the kingdom because OF his faith
| fulness, fidelity and successful service
In Babylon.
| Power, prestige and position usually
produces luminosity and jealousy. OPP
position is the price men pay for their
advancement In life. Daniel was nc
exception. He was Jewish captive
and held the chief place in the affairs
of Babylon. They disliked having an
alien rule over them. His associates
were jealous. They determined to UNI
dermine him, because he stood in their
way of carrying out their well laid plans
Every attempt to find flaw, to prove
a weakness or to Justify suspicion,
either of disloyalty or maladminiStra-
ton, had failed" Daniels career, con-
duct and character were as clean as a
| hounds tooth. They could not touch
! him in reference to anything concern
! ing his administration, so they had to
look in another direction.
Daniel was a deeply religious man.
The plotterS recognized that the only
way they could reach Daniel was
| through his faith. His reputation for
the strict observance OF stated periods
of prayer was we'll known, for he prayed
three times every day with his window
open toward Jerusalem. 1t was quite
common in the Orient to make no dis
tinction between the gods and the king.
They appealed to the Kings vanity,
claiming that 1t would serve to unite
more closely the kingdom II an edict
was issued that prohibited the making
of any request to q god or king, ex-
cept to Darius, for period OF 80 days.
Darius approved of their request and
issued the decree, forgetting for the
moment that it would imperil the life
of Daniel because all who neglected to
obey the decree were ordered to be cast
into the den of lions. Had he thought
for a moment that it was trap to en-
snare Daniel and that he would be the
first one to pay the penalty. Darius
would not have issued the decree. Once
issued il was not subject to amendment.
The early Christians were frequently
called upon to endure prosecutions be-
cause they would not worship ruler
as God. They followed the heroic ex-
ample of Daniel and refused to worship
any king as God.
Courageous Faith.
When Darius signed the edict, the
| foes of Daniel thought they had him
completely under their control. They
knew that he would continue to worship
his God. It was the basis OF their plot.
When Danield learned about the signing
| of the decree, he courageously demon
strated his faith. He continued his Gus
tom of praying three times daily with
| his window opened toward Jerusalem
He made no effort to conceal his devo-
lions. The heroic soul publicly prayed,
as his habit had been, even when he
knew that it might cost him his life.
He put his faith in Gods protecting
care. Jehovah had never failed him in
trying times and Daniel believed that
He. would not fail him If he kept up his
| prayer life. He knew that spiritual
| communion YVES necessary ZOE LllS SOul .
development and his spiritual uplift. 1t
had been o source of help to him
throughout all his days. When he
| prayed, his enemies listened beneath the
open window and obtained suffcient
evidence to convict Daniel of violating
Darius decree. This meant that he
would be cast into the den of lions.
When Darius learned Of the charges
that had been made and proven against
Daniel, he recognized that he had been
made the means by which Daniels en-
emies could strike fatal blow against
| his faithful and loyal servant. The in.
fallibility and unchangeableness Of the
law called for the punishment OF Dan
lei. Darius expressed the hope that
Daniels God would protect him, when
| he was cast into the lions den. Daniel
was prepared for that critical moment
| He entered the den without any fear
| His whole life of faith had fitted him
| for that crisis. Most of us have seen
men and women walk without being
harmed among lions and wild beasts
that had been tanned and GAINED. DAME
walked among them all that night. HI
! fearIessness made him the master oi