Newspapers / Hertford County herald. / Aug. 11, 1922, edition 1 / Page 3
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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON BY REV. M. P. HODGES * August 18, 1982. Subject?Esther Saves Her People. Esther 4:10 to 5 :3. Golden Text.?"The righteous cry and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.?Palm ' 84:17. Time.?474 B. C. Place.?Shushan. If we are to understand this lesson we must read the entire book of Es ther which is a most fascinating story. This lesson and the entire book falls in the days of Ahasuerus (Xerxes) during the period between the dedi cation of the rebuilt temple and march of Eira and his company from Babylon to Jerulalem. Esther was born and reared in captivity so she knew nothing of the native land of her people. She was an orphan girl, having been carefully cared for by her cousin, Mordecai. She now comes to a place of power for the salvation of the Jews. Ood deals with men and nations according to light they have and not by what they have not. To day's study as many lessons of the past few months are repulsive to us when viewed in the light we have. Vashti is the most fascinating figure in the entire book, a woman of charm ing modesty. Vashti would rather lose her crown than make a vulgar display of her person. -Would to God that womanhood today would stop long enough to get a lesson of mod esty from Vashti. WW _ i.l_I l_ J * LI I 1 nunan, a nign minaea Digot naa been brought into prominence by the king. Naturally he hated the captive Jews in the realm; when Mordecai failed to bow to him as he rode in splendor along the streets the wrath of Haman knew no bounds. He im mediately calls together his friends and plots for the destruction of all the Jews in the realm. Like many men whom we have studied in the past lessons, he failed to reckon with the unseen power of an all-seeing God whose eyes had ever been on the suffering of His people. In this devil ish plot Haman would use the king to carry out his plans for the destruc tion of the Jews. Haman makes an appeal $o the king that has been at tractive enough to men in the past to yield. He offered to pay into the treasury ten thousand talents. "The love of money is the root of all evil." Ahasuerus took to Haman's bait with out further delay, not even knowing that his beloved queen Vashti was,of rJthe desplced Jews in the realm. - He gave Hainan hii ring with which to seal the letters that were sent com manding the destruction of the Jews. The decree goes forth and as a con sequence there was great mourning, not only in the palace at Shushan, but throughout the whole realm. Morde cai put on sackcloth and ashes and hung about tlfe palace gate, not daring to enter because it meant death to en ter in mourning. When the news of Mordecai'a^nourning reached the earn of his foster daughter, she at once began an investigation, sending her servant, Hatach, to determine the cause of Mordecai's grief. The scene changes now and is in side of the palace. Mordecai requests Esther to intercede with the king on behalf of the Jews. She hesitates be cause to enter the presence of the king except when the royal scepter is extended means sudden death; and she had not been before the king in thirty days. Mordecai sends another urgent request, stating that she being a Jew, could not hope to escape if the bloody orders of fiaman were exe cuted. Esther now rises to the occa sion and orders Mordecai to hpve all the Jews in Shushan pray for her, while she and her friends in the pal ace would do likewise. "So will I go in unto the king, which is not accord- ' ing to the law: and if I perish, I per ish." She took advantage of this only chance left to the Jews and by her courage and daring to do the right wins out ! Haman and big bunch of cowards like himself are planning to build a gallows, fifty, cubits high for the hanging of Mordecai; all the while Esther is planning a couple of feasts for the king and Haman in order that she may ask for the destruction of Haman and the saving of herself and her people. Haman is overjoyed at the first feast and goes away full of fcenceit and boasting. Just look for a moment at this proud, conceited bigot; but receiving no honor from Mordecai he is almost ready to burst with rage. Haman is expecting to see Mordecai dangle from the gallows. Esther has very cordially invited Haman and the king to dine with her the next day. This little measley self-willed fool is wounded in his pride. Those who know say that if you pull a peacock's tail feathers out he will hide himself. King Ahasuerus is unable to sleep and whiles the long sleepless hours of the night away by having the court records read in his hearing. When the servant read how that Mordecai had thwarted a plot made against the king's life by Bigthan and Teresb, ' % that was interesting indeed to the king. Modeeai had been overlooked when plumes were being handed oat. Haman is heard out in the hall of the palace and is invited into the king's presence; he is asked what shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor. Haman again swells with pride and immediately de cides: I am certainly the man about whom the king speaks. "Let the royal apparel be brought which, the king useth to wear, and the horse which the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head. And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes." Haman sees himself now strutting about wearing the king's cast-off garments, riding through the streets of Shushan, while some nobleman leads his Jiorse and all the people bow to him. How his feathers must hav^ fallen when the king commands all the foregoing honors to be given to that despiced Mordecai. "Pride goeth before de struction and an haughty spirit, Wnrg J a fall." At the feast tomorrow all will be settled. Esther relates all this plot to the king and tells him that this wicked Haman is responsible for the whole affair. The king leaves the room for a while and on his return commands , that his servants hang Haman on the gallows built for the hanging of ?Mor dfcai. This is not the only instance recorded where the wicked have been caught in the snares set for the right ous. Some times wicked men in a community, young men at that, bid defiance to all the warnings against sin and go headlong in their pursuit of worldly pleasure until destruction meets them. Haman was made to swallow a bitter pill and that of his own make without any sugar. "Be sure your sins will find you out." There is a God who is able and will always defend His children. Esther is the important figure in the last scene when the curtain rolls back. She has secured permission from the king and sends out a decree giving the Jews permission to defend themselves against their enemies on the day appointed for the slaughter. They fought and won. The God of battles was with them. Their enemies were defeated and they had peace and rust. Practical lessons. 1. Results of in tercessory prayer. "The effectual fer vent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Esther's prayer was for the good of others. 2. Qualifica tion for duty is unbounded faith. 7* * ? v ? v^ i. w^r.i ?* f ; f f "ctymue* They are GOODIE Bmy tkii Cigmrettt and Sate Momty o ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE Having qualified aa administrator of the estate of Martha E. Godwin, deceased late of Hertford County, N CT, this is to notify all persons having claims against the estate of said de ceased to exhibit them to the under signed at Cofield, N. C., on or before the 12th day of July, 1928, or this notice will be plead in bar of their Neovery. All persons indebted to ?aid estate will please make immediate payment. This 12th day of July, 1922. G. E. HOLLOMAN, Administrator, 7-14-6t-pd. of Martha E. Godwin. Believing that right and truth will win in the overthrow of the wicked. S. God is working with His people for the confusion and overthrow of every evil work. 4. What we need today is more modest1 Vashtis, courageous Es thers, praying Daniles, brave Jere miahs, true prophets like Ezekiel and a people able to see what God intends to make of His people if only they are willing. In this day when our fair maidens are to a great extent losing their modesty and self respect it will be well to stop and ponder the action of Vashti. She would rather lose her place as queen and retain her modesty and self respect than to be queen and lose that which is beyond price. May the day soon come when mothers and their daughters will no longer put their modesty on the market of the world at the small price of a little pleasure. Give us again the day When men and women >will have respect enough to dress decent in public. Self-respecting, true hearted young men do not seek companions among the immodest cheap society dames 11 _ , I .. | JUDGMENT DAY I For Eastern N. Carolina Tobacco Farmers f i Comes Next Tuesday, August 15 I 1 With Your Last Chance to Sign | 1 Where Will Yon Stand Tuesday Night? I I on the road to prosperity with 78,000 mem- | H bers in the Tobacco Growers Cooperative f| | Association, or facing another year_of the || S Auction System which has kept us poor in a a E Land of Plenty? I WILL YOU SIGN or DUMP YOUR CROP? 1 I TAKE YOUR CHOICE TODAY! | B Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association Raleigh, N. C. minim Hill Ill Illlllllllllll SUBSCRIBE TO THE HERALD?$1.50 PER YEAR __ NORTH CAROLINA STATE COLLEGE AGRICULTURE AND ENGINEERING STATE COLLEGE STATION RALEIGH, N. C. Technical Education at State College prepare* It* graduate* for pergonal aucceaa and for leaderehlp In lnduatrlal progreea. The college offer* aucceaa FOUR YEAR COURSES IN: Agriculture?Including General Agriculture and Specialized Courae* In Fa mi Crop*. Agricultural Engineering, Animal Husbandry and D.lrylng. Biology, Horticulture Poultry Science, Sol la. Veterinary Medietas, Vocational Education cuuitry Ckemiatry, Agricultural Chemiatry, Textile Chemistry and Dyeing Civil Engineering, Architecture and Highway Engineering. Electrlgal E*gl***rl*g. Mechanical Engineering. Taxtlle?1Textile Engineering, Textile Manufacturing, Textile Chemiatry and Dyeing. Agricultural Ea***miee, Busiaass Admlnletratl**, Rural Life. y TWO YEAR COURSES IN: Agriculture, Mechanic Art*, Textile Manufacturing. 0** Year C**ra* I* Auto Meehaeic*. Winter Coure* I* Agriculture for Farmer*. Summer 8*esh>n for Teachers, for Collet* Entrance and for College Credit. Excellent equipment In all department*. Keaalon 1811-23 begin* September S. > Entrance requirements for Freeh man Claas, IS units?Engllah, S; History, 1; Mathematlra, 1H ; Science, 1; Elective, *ty. ; For catalog, Illustrated clrculara, and entrance blanks, write E. S. OWEN. Registrar. ? 1 1 I 1 I ??- ? .1 I H I I 'S Listen Tobacco Growers!! * After you have worked hard planting, cultivating, curing and grading your to bacco. And you have not signed your rights to your crop away for five years. And can sell it for yourself. And get your money as soon sis it is sold. And use your money as you like. And will not have to let somebody else spend it for you. I Say Men, Ain't it a GRAND and GLORIOUS Feeling ' - * SELL Your TOBACCO With PHAUP THE FARMERS WAREHOUSE TKN ? r _ **"** *" * Ahoskie, N. C. C. H. Phaup, Prop. Market Opens Thursday, August 17th., With a Full Set of Buyers .
Aug. 11, 1922, edition 1
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