The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-01
OLD TESTAMENT WOMEN
Queen of Sheba and Her Cues
For Truth.
DIR. LoCKWooD'S DISCOURSE AT
TIE ILIFF CHURCH.
Lessons Drawn From Her Visit to
Solomon's Court-Christ the Ever
lasting Mountain

49,
and the reiteration of the same words
in Luke XII, 81, and the picturesque in
cident that has just been read in your
hearing (Which is reproduced almost
verbatim in the ninth chapter of
II Chronicles), we have no record
whatever of the interesting character
before US. But because her name is
linked with that of the magnificent
Solomon and because ii has passed the
lips of him who spoke as never man
spake," it has been remembered
through the centuries and has become
one of the best known names in his
tory.
Since there is so little of vital i'm
portance connected with her life l am
glad that meager reference has been
made TO her, for in the absence of posi-
tive facts it is the delightful preroga-
tive Of the poet, the preacher, and the
romancer 10 idealiZe his characters and
weave out for them rare and radiant
garments in the loom of Imagination.
And the Imagination always warns
and kindleS at the mention of this
southern queen: We smell the spices
and perfumes of Arabia, and taste the
luscious fruits of the tropics; we hear
the tuneful melody of the lutte, and
harp, and timbrel; before US opens a
vista where life, beauty and splendor
chase each other in rapid succession:
and now as our vision extends far
down the open way to the balmy, fruit
full southland a vast caravan energies
from the angle of a mountain and
moves, snake-like, across the broad
plain to where the distant oasis, with
waving grass. and fiuttering leaves,
and flashing waters invites to a night
of refreshment and repose; we see in
Vulnerable camels laden with spices,
and gold, and precious stones; we see
swarthy slaves with turbaned heads
and strong bare limbs; we see courtiers
and soldiers sDlendidly robed and
armed, and mounted upon magnifi-
centlyly caparisoned steeds; and in the
midSt-mounted upon the Surest and
fleetest camel reclining amid downy,
perfumed cushions, and canopied by
curtains exquisite in color, texture, and |
design-we behold the queen of Sheba
as she journeys to the far-off court of
Solomon. In her figure grace and
dignity are perfectly blended. She is
surprisingly beautiful, but the type
of her beauty is so dark, strong, and |
perfectly balanced that you are as
sured she is a queen before you think !
that she is a woman. We cannot say |
that she is young, for her figure is |
firm and mature; and her manner
gives evidence of repose and perfect |
self-possession; nor yet has she
reached middle life-the rich color of |
her cheek and lip, the flash of her lus-
trous eye, and the unfailing vivacity of
her speech indicate that. Purity of
life. earnestness of thought, and buoy
ancy of spirit have left indelible and
refining traces upon her face; and at
once our hearts warm toward this
Queenly woman; we confide in her; and
we are interested in her jcurney-for
she is in search of truth.
And what occupation in life is so
worthy and so fascinating as the quest
for truth? Poet, preacher, and philan-
tnrCpiSt, painter, sculptor, and mu-
sician, doctor, statesman, and philoso-
pher, are all alike in search of truth;
and all alike are great just in proper
ton as they discover or realize truth.
The geOlogist succeeds only as he
Wrings the truth from lips of stone;
genius breathes from the canvas of
the painter in exact proportion as
truth is delineated in his picture; in
vain is the white marble chiseled into
speaking life by the sculptor's hand
unless the form that is liberated be the
divine image of truth. No eloquent
lips, no tongue of fame, no tuneful
chord. no rhythmic melody untouched
by truths magnetic thrall.
In the search for truth it is i'm
portant to remember that reality is
one, not many. Truth is unitary, and
all comDresenhive. So, however, we
approach it, whether with heart, or
will, or intellect, it IS always the same
vast. and solitary reality that rewards
our effort. In the last analysis, truth,
beauty. and the good are one. In fact
they canot be discovered. All truth is
beautiful and all beauty is goodness.
These are only different ways in which
the primal essence appears to the mind
of man. The poet beholds reality and ]
it assumes graceful form and radiant
color; the philosopher beholds the
same reality and his cold gaze crystal
Lies il into q law, principle. a
thought: the righteous will and the
trustful heart meet the same reality
and find il perfect will and loving
heart. The reality is never thoroughly
construed to the finite life until it has
been clothed with beauty, perceived as
law. and incorporated into righteous
conduct and communion. The soul
should not refuse to respond to the
demands of faith and volition- These, !
mite as much as pure intellect de-
mand recognition. In the last analysis
reality. whether viewed from the ra-
tional. moral, religious or aesthetic
standpoint, is for US lust what our /
faith and our volition make 1t. /
Wrought into the most profound :
DEPTHS of our being is the demand that
the eternal universe be orderly; that
goodness preside at its heart; that gold .
and scarlet threads of beauty be woven /.
INTO its every fiber and very essence; =
and that perfection-at some time,
however dim and distant-be its out :
come. 4
We have taken a woman as our eX- y.
ample of a truth-seeker; and l rejoice
that. in our age, we see clearly enough =
and deeply enough to realize that, in
this exalted search for the truths and y
realities that lie at the bottom of all y
life and all action, woman is not to be =
iebarred Most of the discussion over =
the question of woman's rights, and :
the sphere that should be occupied by 7
nan and woman respectively, is wholly =
ouerile and irrelevant. There is but -
me sphere of action for humankind, :.
ana that is the world of truth; the y
Effort to fathom the mystery that en- a
;hrouds human life; the pure and lofty :;
luest for God. 1t is true that man r
most naturally assumes one attitude -
citations are meant TO be harmonious, h
Helpful and Complementary; never con- :.
radictory, destructive or Solitary. Nor RI
S there any possibility that these basal II
citations viii ever be changed or i'm .,
,erilled. More powerful than winters W
rost or summers heat; stronger than 6,
ne invisible cords of force that hold
ne planets to their courses, stronger ~
ven than the giant tug of graVitation ",
hat draws all things toward the center in
I the earth is the affinity that unites {,
he hea rtS the efforts and the lives of I -.