The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-05

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
A mans first sentiments when ele-
waited to a place of honor reveal his
character. Is he more impressed by
sense of the personal honors that have
come to him, or by the opportunity of
service? A noble nature, such as
Queen Victoria revealed when she was
called to the throne, is overwhelmed
by a sense of unworthiness. So King
Solomon, touched to the depths, cried
out at his accession that he was as a
little child, and could not rule his
kingdom without help from above. It
is when he is highest and most honor
able that man profoundly feels this
sense of deep humility.
There is no hope for the self satisfied
man. Had Solomon been such, he
would have Joined the innumerable
company of complacent Oriental po-
tentates who form hazy background
for the life of history's occasional real
man. A 'divine discomfort" is never
absent mark of highest ability; the
first effect of the gospel upon the
awakened nations. as the world is now
dissatisfaction with themselves and
with their own ways.
This warming for better equipment
which characterized Solomon's en-
trance into sovereignty adorned him as
royal purple. He began well. He re-
membered that God was above, as
well as that Solomon was below. So
he inaugurated his reign by a great
a dream Jehovah later appeared to
him, saying, ASK what I shall give
thee" This is the voice from above
that comes to every life at the open
ing of its opportunities. God is for
ever bidding US to take our choice of
life's offerings. Aldrieh, in his "Sea
Longings." expresses this experience
of youth:
an youth, beside the lonely sea,
Voices and visions came to me;
In every wind felt the stir
OF some celestial messenger"
Facing a Career.
Not every one would care to answer
in public the searching question:
''What do you want most?" Desires
of low ambitions. 1.-The wish is father
to the thought we say. Yes, and
the wish is father to the deed, and to
the character.
It is a recipe for noble living that
the apostle gives when he eXhorts,
"Covet earnestly the best gifts" Solo
mon must have possessed in measure
the thing he craved, for it takes wis
dom to enable one to choose wisdom.
He elected the best, and received also
the second best. Had he chosen the
second best, he would forever have
missed the best. He asked for wis
dom rather than for wealth and honor,
and wealth and honor came to him
unasked in the train of wisdom.
WnOSO puts ire HTSI nTSI
finds all secondary things falling into
harmonious order thereafter.
This is the day when Success" is
apotheosized. The young people of
this generation, as they face their ca
reers, are called upon to make choice;
and it must be confessed that the wor-
ship of Success has nowadays be-
gotten q baneful lust for riches. This
SOrdid pursuit of gold has depleted the
gospel ministry, has robbed literature
of many workers of promise, and has
turned artists into tradesmen. In GER
tain quarters there is manifest a hope
full reaction in these days against this
intense materialism and worship of
the golden calf. For it is only by the
Solomon route of electing highest wis
any thrones of prosperity and peace
and helpfulness.
Fables Versus Facts.
The legendary lore concerning Solo
mon is peculiarly sumptuous. Tradi-
ton has loved to embelish this story of
his choice of wisdom. In contrast with
all the fanciful tales of his uncanny
and supernatural knowledge stands the
simply dignity of Scripture. We do not
need to go to Josephus or the Koran or
the books of the rabbis, to learn the
glory of Solomon. 1t is honor enough
for him that, despite weaknesses which
will later appear, he enjoyed the most
illustrious reign in the history of Israel
a reign blessed with peace and pros
perity. Because of his choice of wis
dom he gave to the Jewish people an
intellectual bent which persists to this
day.
1t is a mistake of some few million
persons in school and out, to confound
book taught knowledge with wisdom. "A
of the libraries and still be far from
wise senSa of Iife'S sfenificance and