The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-06-24
BY+THE REV. E

experience in the court of the WISE King the preacher finds a lesson of high spiritual encouragement. The text is II Chronicles ix, 6, "The one-half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me-
 It Is amazing to find how much the incidents and the thrilling scenes of the Bible are reproduced under other names fin the literary masterpieces of the pres ent day. Like the huge trees of the Mari posa grove, which anchored their roots in the soil centuries ago and have lately had tackled upon their bark the names of Grant" "Lee" "Washington," Dewey" or Roosevelt" these old Bible scenes have been rechristened with modern names. But they still remain the same old scenes as the Marposa trees remain the same old trees, no matter what sign boards have been nailed upon their sides. Furthermore, many of our greatest writ CTS attribute the strength of their books to the fact that they have gone to the sacred writers to find their inspirations. 'Most of my great characters and scenes have been drawn from Bible lore" lately wrote an English novelist. Some peo- pie may not recognize their antiquity be- cause they are not Bible students. But these supposed creations of my brain lived thousands upon thousands of years ago, although l have dressed them up in mod ern clothes and given them Anglo-SaXon names" These are not the identical words of the noted English writer. l cannot remember his exact expression, but they convey his confession just the same.
 Afaa hA K Solomon as young prince, choosing wis dom, reproduced in many different lt- erary masterpieces. Alphonse Lamartine, the great French poet, who died In 1855, gave a beautiful description of it in hls story of King Nimrod. The King had three sons. He offered to them three vases, the one of gold, the second of am- Der, the third of clay. The gold represent ed "empire," the amber glory of fame." the third represented wisdom from God" "Choose!" cried King Nimrod. "Choose!' And when the youngest son chose the vase of clay King Nimrod said: Thou hast chosen we'll Thou hast chosen best of all, for the man who chooses wisdom shall wave the scepter as well as mount the throne of fame"
 Wisdom Instead of Gold.
 We find the wonderful Bible character of young Solomon being reproduced ln Ehakespeares Merchant of Venice. When the young Hebrew prince stands before God and says, Give me now wls- dom and knowledge that l may go out and come in before this people for who can judge this people that is so great? we seem to see Portia standing with her three caskets, the one of gold, the other of silver and the third of lead. Then we see the avariciouS man reaching for the casket of gold. Then we see the selfish man reaching for the casket of silver But lastly we see the true lover lifting up the casket of lead. And when Bas- sanio chose the leaden casket he won all that his heart could wish, for he won fame and honor besides wisdom and love- Thus, as Shakespeare and Lanlarthe have their heroes lift the vase of clay or the casket of lead, they say: Well donei Well done, though sagacious man! All success shall be thine' We seem to hear God speak to the young Prince Solo, mon these words when he chooses wisdom instead of gold "WiSdom and knowledge is granted unto thee, and I will give thee riches and wealth and honor such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there be any after thee have the like" Thus -the fame and riches of Solomon not only spread through his own country, but also to the farthest parts of the sea.
 The scene changes. We are today stand ing In the Davldic capital. There is great excitement everywhere. The royal cour- tiers are riding every whther. The kings guards are marching to the citys gates The whole capital is in gala day attire "What is the matter?" you ask Why" says a courier, halting his chariot, do you not know that the beautiful Queen of Sheba from the great nation of the south is coming to visit our king? She has heard so much of the fame of Solomons S wealth and wisdom tha she has come to test them with her own eyes and ears Here she comes with her courtiers now Make way there. Stand back. There is the king alighting to meet her. Are they rot a glorious pair of rulers?" Was not this the welcome that was given to the Queen of Sheba when she came to prove Solomon with hard questions?
 You know the rest of the story. After the Queen of Sheba had seen all and heard all and communed with Solomon all that was in her heart. she turned to him and said, 'Tt was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts and of thy wisdom" Yes, the reports of Sol- omon's wisdom were great. but they were not exaggerated. Indeed, they were un- destand. For after the Queen of Sheba had gone enumerating what she had heard she cries out in the words of my text, ''The one-half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me-" Now as the WlSdOmsOt King SOlOmOn naS alWdyS Deeil used by the pulpit commentators as a symbol of Gods wisdom, thought today l would try to tell you in a humble way a little about that divine wisdom. Truly, like King Solomon's, Gods wis dom is a wisdom which passeth all under standing.
 Wisest of Old Men.
 King Solomon stands the symbol of the "All Knowing One" He was the wisest of all men. The Bible distinct Nv declares it. Not only were all the secrets of the past ages to him open book but he was the reader of men s minds and the prober of the innermost secrets of their hearts before they had opened their lips to speak to him a word You all know how the wisdom of King Solomon was first tested by the queen of Sheba before she came to the Jeru- salem capital to visit the wisest of all men, Legend tells us that she first sent a letter to Solomon by her am bassadors. Accompanying these ambas- sadors she sent 300 youths dressed as maidens and 800 madens dressed as youths Then she sent a chalice and a