Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-01
Afternoon
"SOLOMON'S EXPERIENCES"

"SOLOMON'S EXPERIENCES"
What profit hath a man OF all his
labor which he taketh under the sum-
Ecclesiates |. 3.
THE question was asked and answered
by Solomon, and its meaning is what
does a man get out of life IL he lives
only for the things which the world can
give him?' If man has ever been able
to give an answer out of his own wis
dom and experience, that man was Solo
mon. He was one who was born with a
silver spoon in his mouth. Solomon
was a son of one of the greatest men
of the Bible-of David, who was a man
after Gods own heart-which means that
he was a man who just suited God.
Solomon was made king of the great
est kingdom in the world when he was
still q young man, but he had his father
to help him and advise him. He had
knowledge and wisdom such as no ruler
ever had before or has ever had since.
He had an invincible army that he had
only to and it would obey. He
had only to express a wish and 1t was
gratified. He had wealth such as man
had never known before.
Solomon wrote 300 proverbs and 1905
songs, and they are full of wisdom. If
he hasn't qualified to speak as al ex-
pert, show me where I can &C to find
one.
NOW listen: There was a fellow who
had it all. Just listen, Inc you'll hear
what he had to say before he got through.
Solomon was a close observer, Just as his
father, David. was. He said: L have
seen all things under the sun.
some time in our lives we I'VE en-
WED men of great fortune or of high
scholarship, and we have thought that if
we only could have or know as much as
they do, we would have a foretaste of
heaven. Solomon had the greatest for
tune in the world, and he was the wisest
among men.
After he had found out just what wealth
can do, he said, Let's see what pleas
ure can do and the way he went to it
would make a baseball fan at the worlds
series look like a clothing dummy.
He hit up the booze. He tried a lot
of things. He had a great natatorium
built. and 1t was supported by great
lions. And he loved many strange
women. That's where he struck out. He
had 700 wives and 300 concublnes.
HE constructed the great building,
known as Solomon's Temple. 1t took 10
years to build 1t. 1t took 10000 men II
years just to cut the trees that were
needed, and it took 10000 hewers of wood
and 10000 men just to prepare the boards.
and there were $4,000 squared stones in
the building. Then, after it was all com
pleted, he declared a festival of seven
days in celebration of the finishing of the
work, and 1900 sheep and a lot of oxen
were killed and eaten at the dedicatory
festivities.
"Then, after Solomon had constructed
this great building, he turned his talents
to the making of Jerusalem into a beau
tiful city. He planted trees from every
cline, and flowers of every kind and
hue were there. These were kept green
oil fba war; around nv streams brought
from reservoirs In the mountains. But
these pleased Solomon's fancy for only
a little while, and soon he was weary OF
them. l can see him rs he walks In the
beautiful gardens among he trees, look
ing at the flowers and plucking a ponce
granate here and there, and l can see
him wiring his hands, n / can hear
him say. all is vanity and Vexation OF
spirit
Just think of 1T! He had great wealth
why, in one year 20 millions in gold
came to him from the mines Of ophtr-
and came as a gift. He had gratiied
his every within. He had tasted OF every
pleasure OF which he could think or that
others could suggest to him. He had de-
MED himself nothing, He had probably
been an art collector, and had gotten
together from every land the finest paint
ings and the choicest sculptures that he
could find. He had the finest china that
men could make anu Hholo5 Spufu puS'
'sThe wise and honored king drinks
from one golden cup after another only
to say at the last: None of them SATISFIES
me-
"Just a puff OF wind-a bubble that
had gone. So. as he o upon the
wreck of all his hopes OF happiness
through qualification of his tastes and
appetites, he said: All is vanity and
vexation of spirit
EVERY man wants to be satisfied. l
do. So do you. Every one Is reaching
out for happiness and peace n rest
There are men in this tabernacle tonight
who have tried many things In pursuit
Of happiness. You have climbed high
and you have probed deep, and some OF
YOU have not found what you have
sought. All who are here tonight are on
the edge of eternity, The past is sim
ply a memory, the future an uncertainty.
"Why don't you be a mani Why don't
YOU show a mans courage and take up
the cross of the Son OF God2 Why don't
you rise TO what you might bel We
we're never meant for the slop and swirl
barrels OF the devil. Why do you let
the devil control you? Why do you let
him make you a pawn upon the board on
which he plays his gamer
Some men are content 20 let other men
FEED. fatten and g~ormandize on the blood
OF wives and children. / wouldn't give
a SNAP OF the finger for your applause
unless you let Il crystalline into activities.
1 believe GOD Almighty = tired OF seelng
men scatter Ike sheep. yet longing foF
better things. some OF you poor fellows
are numbering your own souls Wont
you give ~ the thinss thai are Fohblng