ESTHER THE BEAUTIFUL QUEEN.

Motueka Star, Volume III, Issue 105, 15 August 1902, Page 3

ESTHER THE BEAUTIFUL QUEEN.

f f ‘ l rr.V - 5 > V'i kviili.* lU :r iiufH -i } Li If. /J-ms sqetficl i§ r |to. J; |^' chqljs qf,'Sjb. -Thpipas’' , Methodisfi Chprch. jwais ? epuippsedi, afidl 1 pvpd|icpd in ? J %: B; Br^d-, : bury, t j ap 4r; t >, apjhieyed distinction not only native countr?y hut also i n England apd. on; the cantipen q, ; The book of Esther,' with which all readers of the ,Old Testament are cpnversanti , vyas. selectqd by Mr Bradbupy and in thg cantata .the; chi,ef pervsormges mentioned therei n a rp represented. s h eru .§> the. king,; wkp ? >reigned. .from lndia even unto, , f^^popia, . jn.. the third. year of , his reign a royql to which he invited the queen, The quepn who,had q fpas-t qf. her own, refused to gnfn whei:pM His.., ;! Majesty , wfatliful,,and after cpnspltation . with the fy’ise rqep, deposed, her, fearing the , ridicule of the, men and women of . his * provinces. ; ! In addition, he issued a ; decree that ‘ henceforth .every man shoujd bear rule in hjs pwn house-—a yqyy/sensible law to make, worthy of being observed in tliese latter days, whp 1 there is so much talk about women s, rights.,. Npt epptent with single: Ahaseurus gathered together in his palace all the fpir young virgins in his territory and after much critical inspection selected as his part-:, ner Esther, step-daughter of Mordecai, a jew who liad,been carried away captive from Jerusalem, who enjoined Esther not to disclose her kindred. The second marriage Droved a happy, one, for it is j-eporded the “ king loved Esther abqve all women,” as all loyal Husbands should treat their wives. In those days there, was. plotting and counterplotting in the king’s household and when M or dpcai obtained information as to the determination of two chamberlains to lay hands on their s wereign, he promptly disclosed the plot to Queep Esther and she in turn acquainted the king of his danger, with the result that, after enquiry, the traitors were hanged on a tree. Haman, the king’s favorite prince, used to. ;the reverence and servility at the hands of servants, became annoyed because Mordecai would not salute hiim, obtained permission from the king to Cause all jews “both young and old, little children and women” on a certain day of the month to be killed, representing that “ certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people” kept not the king’s laws. In consequence of this decree there was great mourning amongst the Jews throughout the king's dominion and upon hearing the state of affairs Esther was exceedingly grieved and afterwards obtained from Mordecai details of the compact between the king and his prime minister. MOl decai appealed to the quqen to intercede on behalf of the Jews, but she excused herself on the plea, that to enter the king’s presence without his approval meant death. Mordecai was* not;to be put off and .warned the queen that she would not escape any more than other Jews. Queen Esther, realising the position to be parlous, put on her best clothes, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, where she was noticed by His Majesty, who held out to the queen the golden sceptre, a sign that she could step along. , Ahaseurus gallantly asked bis voyal spouse what she desired and in i-eply Queen Esther invited him, -and the prime minister to a banquet. Haman was highly pleased and left the court with ; a glad heart, but was shortly after filled with indignation because Mordecai,. sitting at the king’s gate, failed to notice him. Upon reaching home, he told his wife of the, queen’s invitation and of the attitude of Mordecai to.vai-ds him. At the sug-

of his wife and friendshe rigg k which ihe intended ntfte even- If £qg iqthe king became troubled with fcWdfchfe 'Dffichl rfefcords, • finding writbm tnerein , detarfe of life, discovered !by' .; .enquired, -of JQatnair^). who i;^\P^?h e d to i»e within the precincts with the\object of« jspea k- - jpg Ito His Majesty about the gallbws he had ; erected), what should be “unto thefjQaan whom . the king dejighteth,to houpv.” i 'OfftwiaXip- Haman thought there was something in store for him and he, proposeti royal apparel from the wardrobe,.a thoroughbred horse-and a; royal crowri.. The king approved and ssaid< to Haman, ’ “npake haste and do even so to Mb*decai, thq Jew, that sittetb at the kind’s gate ; Jet nothing tail of all that thbu hast; spoken.” The prime minister obeyed and brought Mordecai on through the street of the and proclaimed before him. After that .he went; home and told his better l half what had happened ; she cheered him up by predicting disaster at the hands of Mordecai and the Jews. At " the queen’s banquet, on the second day,. Esther, being . assured by the .king.that he.would grant hei request, pleaded for the lives of her people and the cancellation of the decree issued at the instigation .of Haman and obtained by The. king, acquainted with the tiue nature of the edict, became wrath and ordered the hanging of Haman from the gallows intended for Mordecai. After that, Mordecai advanced in the king- t f.iv.n-, a teet tal destruction of Has man’s sons and enemies of the Jews took pjsce, followed by a festival on the 14tji and 15th day of the month Adar