-room. Loud peals of
laughter broke from the merry throng. Musical instruments poured forth
rich strains of melody. Jehoiakim was complimented on every hand, but the
law of God was ridiculed.

Jehoiakim sat on a magnificent throne, gilded over with pure gold. A
large number of war officers sat near him. A royal herald passed through
the throng, crying, "Listen to the oration of Sherakim! Listen to the
oration of Sherakim!" Soon silence was obtained, and Sherakim the Orator
stood before the vast concourse, and began:

"Princes and Nobles of Judah! With merry hearts, we assemble from
different parts of the kingdom to hail this festal day--the eleventh
anniversary of the reign of our illustrious sovereign. Ye will not think
it strange, nor consider it affectation, when I assure you that I tremble
beneath the weight of honor conferred upon me at this time.

"The death of King Josiah, as ye well know, threw a partial gloom over
Judah. Not because all of us considered his measures expedient and
prudent, but because he was our king, and undoubtedly honest in his
intentions, amid all his imperfections. Let the infirmities and mistakes
of past monarchs be buried in their graves. We are not here to mourn over
the past, but rather to rejoice in the present. We are here assembled to
congratulate one another on the unprecedented happiness that flows to the
nation from the reign of the truly illustrious sovereign that now adorns
the throne of Judah. The faults and deficiencies of other-day kings are
more than made up to the nation in the bright reign of the most excellent
Jehoiakim. We do not expect that even the superior administration of our
matchless monarch will suit the tastes and desires of weak-minded and
superstitious men. The King of Judah, with all his superior powers, is
not capable of satisfying the unreasonable demands of those deluded
creatures who are yet too numerous in our midst. What good can result to
anyone from spending half his time in yonder Temple, and there going
through a long list of senseless ceremonies, with sad and melancholy
looks?

"Princes and Nobles of Judah! We rejoice together under the happy reign
of a king who looks at those things with calm disdain, and smiles at the
foolishness and darkness of other ages. Let us, therefore, banish gloom
and enjoy life. Let deluded visionaries bow their heads, disfigure their
countenances, and utter their plaintive moans; but let men stand erect,
with joyful