SUNDAY SCHOOL LES- .
SON FOR JULY 16U>
BY REV. M. P. HODGES
Subject?"The Handwriting on the
Wall."
Golden Text?"God Shell Bring
Every Work Into Judgment, With
Eviry Secret Thing, Whether it be
be Good, or Whether it be Evil."?
Eccl. 12:14.
Time?688 B. C.
Place?Babylon.
Bebylon reached the mountain peek
, of her glory under Nebuchadnezzar;
he is deed however seme time before
the present lesson. For e period af
ter the death of Nebuchadnezzar the
kingdom had lost in prominence and
power when Nabonidus who was not
of the royal family usurped the
throtye. It appears from the records
that he had married a daughter .of
Nebuchadnezzar and thereby became j
the father of Belshaxzar. We findi
that Nebuchadnezzar is called the
father of this Belshazzar, which isj
only natural when we study the cus
toms of that day.
At the time of the present lesson!
Nabondidua has left Babylon on an
expedition against the Persian, where
in he meets defeat at their hands. In
the absence of Nabonidus from the
throne, he appoints his son Belshaz
zar to rule while he is away, at this
time he is only about twenty years
of'age; like the majority of young
men to whom signal honors came it
made a fool of him and he played the
fool as we shall see from further
study of the lesson. The walls of
Babylon were three hundred and fifty
feet high, broad enough on the top
for six chariots to drive abreast, the
city was fourteen miles square, in the
wall were one hundred heavy brass
gates. Inside of this great outtr wall
was another wall six miles in length
that enclosed the palace of the king.
The entire city was surrounded by a
canal as protection -against enemy
invasion. Inside this inner wall were
the beautiful hanging gardens, one of
Die wonders of the world. Can you
wonder that this young fellow, pos
sessing more authority than sense be
came high-minded and his heard
turned? Just look about you in
ntodren times and see many young
I*ople given a few glad rags, a few
dollars with "in God we trust" erased,
an automobile and turned loose for a
good time as the world calls a good
time and see where they will head.
In most every case they head for the
trash heap and along the way you will
see human wrecks in abundance.This
is not confined to the young in every
case however. Even grandparents
have caught the habit an these latter
years and cannot stand a little proa*
perity. Many heads have been turned
in the past few years. May be some
handwriting will eventually bring
them to their senses.
This young temporary ruler de
cided while his father was away to
have the biggest time of his life. He
calls together a thousand of his lords
and honors them with a big reception.
While Belshaxxar had the high balls,
cocktails and mint juleps served in
abundance, of course he drank too,
his brain became inflamed with alco
hol, he ordered his servants to bring
in the sacred vessels that Nebuchad
nezzar had stolen from the temple of
Jehovah in Jerusalem, in order that
he and his wives, lords and concubines
might drink wine from them. Can
you wonder that Babylonian society
was as rotten as hell? Can you won
der today that some places we might
mention are almost as bad? Only
the law and it is being flouted and
flagrantly violated keeps some places
from being in every sense of the word
a modern Babylon. It is said that
old Nero drank wine, fiddled and dan
ced while Rome was going up in
smoke. While old Herod was having
the time of his life, in the midst of a
big reception, being incensed by drink
and lust he had John Baptist behead
ed to satisfy the hellish desire of a
lewd woman. Study the history of
the ancient and modern ball room and
watch the results; inflamed passions,
animal desires rampant and the road
to hell paved every time it is indulged
in.
While this feast is in progress, Bel
shazzar discovers a man's hand writ
ing something on the wall. The
writing was in mysterious characters.
There was consternation in the ball
room, none could understand, they
never saw the ilke before, Belshazzar
calls for the astrologers,Chaldeans and
soothsayers to interpret the writing.
They were promised a scarlet robe,
chain of gold about the neck and be
made third ruler in the kingdom if
only they would make known the
meaning of this strange writing. They
all fail in their attempt at the inter
pretation. About this time feeling
is running high in the ball room when
Nebuchadnezzan's mother appears on
the scene and tells Belshazzar "O
king, live forever; let not thy thoughts
trouble thee, nor let thy countenance
be changed." This voice fails to quiet
the young man's fears. She tells him
again to send for the prophet Daniel
I who has lived in the land for nearly
seventy years. Daniel is now an old
man, near the at* of ninety. She
remembers the wisdom of Daniel in
the days of Nebuchadnenar. Daniel
is called forth and stands before the
proud young ruler undisturbed by his
presence. Doubtless the young man
had never met Daniel before, too
proud to form his acquaintance and
too big a fool to recognise the worth
of God's prophet We have come to
a day when God's messengers^are not
respected in many instances as they
should be and as they were in former
days. Belshazzar asked "Art thou
that Daniel, which art of the children
of the captivity of Judah, whom the
kihg my father brought out of
Jewry?" Again the promise is made
to Daniel as was made to the astrolo
gers, Chaldeans and soothsayers.
Such inducements as the king had
to hand out were in nowise attractive
to-the man of God. "Let thy gifts be
to thy self, and give thy rewards to
another: yet I will read the writing
unto the king, and make known to him
the interpretation." Here let the
reader read verses 22 and 23 and hear
their ring as they burn like fire in the j
conscience of the king. Daniel had all
the qualities of real manhood and j
stood and preached one of the great
est sermons recorded in the Book to
one lone man and that the king. This
young man was just as guilty as his
grandfather had ever been and Dan
iel had the backbone to tell him so to
his face. Daniel makes known the
meaning of the writing on the wall,
was made third ruler in the kingdom
but the fall of Babylon's glory was
ringing out over every plain.
The armies of the Medes and Per- j
sians have been engaged for some |
time, cutting a npw channel for the)
river Euphrates in order to turn thel
river to one side of the city. That
night they complete the task and we
read "that night was Belshazzar the
king of the Chaldeans slain. And
Darius the Median took the throne."
AD through these lessons the height
of her glory and fell. She sinned
away her day of grace. The nations
of the earth today are sick and naus
eated with sin but there are no signs
of repentance.
God was gracious to these sinning
Hebrews and sent them prophet after
phophet whom they enslaved and
tried to drive from among them. They
treated as a light thing this thing we
we call sin, (a thing which we have
come to treat very lightly noekdays,)
until God could tolerate it no longer.
Don't fail to get the practical les
sons from toddy's study; God will
punish sin whether practiced by in
dividual or nation as he has always
done. (2). When we think we ore in
our glory in this world God can quick
ly show us who and where we are.
(3). With all the sin and wickedness
rampant in the world still God has
a Daniel, Ezekiel, Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego who will stand true to
Him. (4). In the midst of all the
temptations common to man there is a
way of escape if we stay close enough
to the Cross. (5). Though the fiery
furnace and the Den of Lions await
the servant of the Most High, He will
be found there to protect his chil
dren. (6). The message of God's
servant will be heard whether we will
it so or not.
BETHLEHEM NEWS
On Friday night at the home of
Mr*. Frank Green, quite a number of
her friends, both young and old, gath
ered to celebrate her fifty-sixth birth
day. The young people played games
and refreshments consiating of home
made cake, ice cream and fruita, Were
served. The guests departed wishing
their hostess many more birthdays.
Mr. Chas. A. Turley, Jr., and little
daughter Ruth Evelyn of Lakeland,
Fla., and Mrs. M. E. Goodwin of
Suffolk, Va., are spending a week
with Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Lowe.
Mr. and Mrs. M. V. Wilson and lit
tle grand daughter Ruby Overton
were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Dan
iel Lowe last Sunday evening.
Miss Edna Ellis of near Center
Grove is visiting Miss Cecil Siamons.
. Mr. and Mrs. Willie Rabey and
Children of Gates, N. C., are visiting
their sister, Mrs. Bettie Adkins of this
section.
Miss Susie Hill and Jessie Vann are
visiting their aunt at Scotland Neck.
The B. Y. P. U. of Bethlehem
church will meet Sunday evening at
eight o'clock.
Mrs. C. F. Peaie is reported as being
ill at her home at this writing.
Rev. Barnes, pastor at Brantleys
Grove spent Tuesday night at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. P. D. Parker.
Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Godwin and
family, Mr. and Mrs. Claxton Godwin
and son Albert, spent Sunday with Mr.
and Mrs. H. S. Hill.
Plans for the picnic and outing for
the 4th of July were cancelled on ac
count of the heavy rians of that
day.
(Ed. Note?The above letter was
received too late for publication last
week.)
MEETING OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
The Board of County Commissioners of Hertford County met on the
10th day of July, 1022. Present J. M. Eley, Chairman, John C. Taylor, E.
W. Whitley, E. H. Eure, and T. G. Tayloe.
This being the day set for equalisation, the Board proceeded to examine
the Tax lists and to hear complaints on equalisation.
On motion and carried it was ordered that the "Moore" tract listed by
G. O. Hare in Murfreesboro township, be reduced $600 on account of lumber
having been sold from said tract.
The Board upon motion and carried orders the Clerk to list tract lumber
purchased by E. O. Hines from G. O. Hare in Murfreesboro township, at
valuation of $1050.00.
H. C. Faison appeared before the Board and made complaint that '
lumber had been sold from his farm Winton township and upon motion and
carried the Board orders that valuation on said tract be reduced $6,450.00.
On motion and carried the Board votes to reduce tract of land (wood
land) purchased by Camp Manufacturing Company from Robert Matthews
be vislued at $1,000.
On motion and carried the Board votes to reduce tract of land Ahoakie
township, known as Newsome land, belonging to O. L. Joyner from 120
acres to 79 acres and at a valuation of 11,300.00.
The Board orders that Wynns estate be relieved of what property
was sold from the original Wynns farm, and that the valuation of the
remainder of said farm be placed on the tax list at $16,500.00.
The Board upon motion and carried, votes to relieve P. D. Collins of
valuation of $400 on Kiff place making same read $4,267.00.
On motion and carried, the Board orders that Spiers Quarter and
Howell tracts in Maneys Neck township be listed to Jordan Bros., at a valua
tion of $2,760.00, the timber having been sold and listed to Camp Manu
facturing Company.
The lot owned now by W. A. Sykes Winton, purchased from E. O.
Hines is ordered by the Board to be reduced to $885.00. '
The Board orders the Clerk to change the valuation of house and lot
listed by Basnight and Curtis known as the Mitchell lot to read $1,048.00
on account of an error.
The Board upon motion and carried votes that the Weston tract listed
by E. Brett, Murfreesboro township be reduced to $8,000.00 on account of
an error in listing.
Representatives of the Hertford County Pair Association appeared
before the Board, and requested an appropriation be made for prises for
the best Agricultural exhibits, and upon consideration of the matter the
Board, upon motion and carried, grants an appropriation of $200.00 for ?
this purpose to be used by said Association for the coming 1922 fair.
The following bills presented and ordered paid, to-wit:
Overton and Hall, moving houses at County Home $125.00
S. P. Winborne, services registrar primary election 32.85
R. O. Hill, services Judge election primary election 9.20
J. B. Majette, services judge primary election. 4.00
J. A. Northcott, paid for indexing vital statistics 2.76
J. R. and W. M. Jordan Co., nails etc 6.50
Barnes-Sawyer Grocery Co., supplies to County home 35.55
W. E. Doughtie, amount paid E. O. Hines moving flat to Taf Landing. 154)0
B. Scull, summoning jurors etc 11.05
T. V. Jenkins, taking tax lists 1922 100.90
W. B. Pollard, paid for toxin-antitoxin 54)5
No further business appearing before the Board it adjourned to meet
again on the first Monday in August 1922. J. M. ELEY, Chairman.
JOHN A. NORTHCOTT, Cleric to the Board.
COMMERCIAL PRINTING OF ALL KINDS NEATLY AND
PROMPTLY DONE AT THE HERALD OFFICE
I Bankrupt Sate!
Beginning WEDNESDAY. JULY 19, TINUE1NG 10 DAYS II
We will offer the Entire Stock formerly owned by Mrs. Helen Benthall, Regardless of Cost.
I Dont be misled by anyone?The Bankrupt Sale will be held in the
CORNER STORE IN NEWSOME'S BLOCK
Formerly occupied by Mrs. Benthall, and it will be a sale that will be long remembered by those
who take advantage of it
? ...
When you deal with the AHOSK1E DEPARTMENT STORE you are assured of a clean honest sale and
I a Square Deal. This stock was bought cheap and will be sole the same way, so don't fail to attend this
Bankrupt Sale which will be held by the
AHOSKIE DEPARTMENT STORE, Inc.
I AHOSKIE, N. C