The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-01-23
.BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
REV. EODY'S THEME
Famous American Is Compared
With Solomon as Maker
of Proverbs.

Rev Frank Fay Eddy preached yester-
day on THE Viewpoint Of Wise Man
hnslng his sermon on the ife OF benjamin
Franklin, whose anniversary occurred on
the 18th OF this month, The solo was by
Miss Emily Larson, whose sweet voice
was heard with fine effect In calvary
Tho anthem BY the Unity quartette was
entitled Just As l Am"
Tho text OF the sermon was Proverbs
Ill. l3-li, Happy is the man that hndeth
wisdom; and the man that setteth un-
dersanding; for the merchandise OF II
is bettor than the merchandise OF SILVER :
and the gain thereof than fine gold
Franklin and Solomon.
Mr.. Eddy said IL was appropriate TO
take a text from Proverbs In referring 10
benjamin Franklin. toT he was OFTEN com :
pared To Solomon, the supposed autnor OF
Proverbs In truth. II appeared That
Franklin wos not only quite as great as
a maker and ndapter OF proverbs as 500
mon. but was rather better deserving lhc
title OF being man OF wisdom for ms
torlcal rca sons, too. Franklin could be
better used as a type OF the wlse man
than Solomon, for VIC are certain Oh
Franklin's acts and words as Sdltor,
diplomat and scientist. while OF Solomon
there is little reliable information where
by We can justify the reputation Tor the
wisdom he Is credited with, We know
but no man can say with assurance VINO
put the Book OF Proverbs Into Its pres
cnt form.
Man of Great Wisdom.
Rev, Mr. Eddy then said Two hun
dred years have passed since Benjamin
Franklin was born In what was then the
small town OF Boston In the judgment
OF his contemorslries and even more in
tho opinion OF later generations he was
wise man. So II cannot be Improbable
for us 10 study his character or the man
himself. his point OF view or his relation
TO the universe and finally TO ask our
selves what lessons are to be learned
from this man and his actions and opln-
Ions that are OF significance TO the pres
cnt day
Marvellous Self-Control.
THE first thing to impress ono in the
character OF Franklin is the remarkable
poisc and power OF self control that was
his This was not easily or soon won
Strong natures arc not INCREASINGLY put
in leash Some people who easily win and
retain the appearance OF conventional
virtue really deserve little credit. Fear
OF what other people would gay Is sufii-
Client TO keep them In check. But with a
youth Of powerful individuality. strong
passions and abounding energy. the prob
lem Is less easily solved. Such was Frank
lin. but yet endowed apparently with a
certain caution and common sense that
saved him from dangerous eXcesscs.
Prominent Characteristics.
Nothing was more characteristic of
than his use of everything and
almost every one as a tool 70 accomplish
his ends. Sometimes he seemed to almost
descend to the level of petty craftlness in
men Early he became an
adept in the SocratIc method OF leading
men on by apparently prevalent Ques-
tions to commitc themselves to prepoS-
ferrous differences. He became one of the
best prose writer's of his day, or any
day, because he needed a tool OF express
sion He mastered the modern languages
them as tools In his work His was a
practical genius which turned oil things
TO account"
His Success in Life.
In speaking OF Frankllns viewpoint,
hr Eddy showed that such n man wes !
resumed TO success In private business
-Ds unusual talents coupled with his
PRACTICAL genlous made this a Certainty
sui ne mnde his fortune by StraI9ht-for- |
ward. honest dealing, He was the best |
'rlnter In the colonies and he edited n |
PAPER that was the only readable one on
MS side of the Atlantic while his Al
hanec was read by all OF America and
lalf OF Europe
Franklins scientific work was only
,riehy alluded to. Mr. Eddy said Frank.
In was a scientist by instinct He had
he Keen questioning mind and early
roined himself to habits of obseIvatIon
nat he could add to the sum OF human |
was source of deeDest craft
cation to him. With all his InvcntIna
nd writing he never took out a nntepf
T secured a copyright.