Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1913-10-22
SUNDAY SERMON
BY Norman G. Kittrell. sr.
.ALL is VANITY.

beginning of the opening chapter OF
that remarkable book of the Bible, &c,
clesiastes, or The Preacher" Many
of the expressions found in it have be.
come part of the common vernacular
of intelligent humanity.
To the superficial reader and thinker
the words may sound like the wall of
despairing pessimist. but such is
not their meaning. They are full OF
truth, and when rightly interpreted
are ahundantly sustained by the rN'
ords of human experience.
Solomon had been surfeited with all
the grandeur and glory this world
could afford Wealth and splendor be.
yond the dreams of avarice had been
his. Power unlimited was held in his
hands He dwelt in palaces of unriv-
aled splendor. amid all the equipments
Of prodigal luxury. All this he pic
lures in vivid language: Il gathered
me silver and gold and the peculiar
treasures Of kings and of the prov
inces. was great and increased
more than all that were before me in
Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained
with me, and whatsoever mine eyes
desired kept not from them. gat me
man singers and woman singers and
the delights of the sons of men. Then
looked upon all the works that my
hands had wrought and on all the la.
Dor that labored to do, and behold
all was vanity and vexation of spirit,
and there was no profit under the SUM-
What profit hath man of all the
labor which he taketh under the SUM-"
The wisest and richest of men used
his wealth to crafty the passing, tran
silent fancies of the hour. He builded
on foundation of sand He does not
say that he gave to the poor. or sought
to uplift the down-fallen, or tried to
bring comfort to the sorrowing; hence
he found all was vanity, and said:
God giveth to a man that is good in
his sight, wisdom and knowledge and
joy, but to the sinner he giveth ira.
vail"
What Solomon said more than thirty
centuries ago is as true today as when
he wrote it. History is filled with
proof of the truth of this statement.
Napoleon left a trail of blood and
death across continent, and nothing
remains but his momory as a Lave.
maker and soldier and his sarco-
| phagus under the dome of Les Inval.
| ides. A few years ago there were
| scores of men in America whose
names were on every lip, but they
were striving for place and to promote
their selfish ambition, and they have
passed into oblivion.
Thousands of men have lived IN lux
ury and in enjoyment Of great power.
and their fame was worldwide, but
proved as evanescent as the morning
mists, and they are forgotten because
they did not serve their fellow men.
Peter Cooper will be remembered In
New York when hundreds of men far
richer than was he are forgotten. be-
cause he left an enduring legacy to
generations yet to come.
The Morningside Hospital. erected
by John Pierpont Morgan. will be dis
pensing its blessings and benefactions
when the mere riches Of him who
builded it have passed from human
memory.
It is only the spiritual that endures,
and the spiritual is that which has its
birth in mans higher, nobler nature.
1t is the aspirations and impulses of
love and sympathy and justice and
right which lift man next to God and
but little lower than the angels"
Christ said of the repentant woman
who broke the box OF precious oint-
ment on his head: Wherever my COS.
pei is preached this thing she has done
snail De told as memorial or her.
and then and there gave to simple
act of unselfish service and sacrifice
a passport to immortality.
Never was there more need for the
application of riches to worthy needs
than now, never less excuse for heap
ing them up for selfish ends. The. So
cial obligations of men increase as
their ability and opportunities in
crease. No money can be carried
hence. There are no pockets in a
shroud.' He who keens all to himself.
giving none to others, tightening no
burdens, helping no sufferer, succor-
ing none in need, will, when the last
shadows gather, cry out, Gan is
vanity"