The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-08-29

Sz A the son whom he
A M had chosen to
- N --- succeed i'm
crowned king. As he lay dying he
called the young king into his pres
ence, and this is what Solomon heard
David, his father, say: Il am gong
the way of all the earth. Show thy
self a man."
Not by Clothes.
Solomon must have pondered the
meaning Of these words, and as we
look back over his life 1t might be won
dered If he did not interpret, "Show
thyself q man." to mean that he should
wear costly and ornamental array. Ills
magnificent clothes made such an I'm
preston that our Lord, holding forth
n lily, said: Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these
Strange, is It not, that even in these
days, when the realities Of life are be
ing borne In upon us as never before
there are folks who act as If they
thought clothes instead Of character
make the man.
You can test this in most any social
gathering. Two men enter; one, witt
heart as black as hell, but dressed like
fashion plate and with the airs OF
gentleman; the other, with sterling
character, but green and awkward
wears ordinary plain clothes. The mrs
is a center Of attraction while the sec
ond Is unnoticed unless some one, ou
OF pity, keeps him company. / do no
say this would be so If the real value
of each man was known, but In the alb
sence Of such knowledge, is 1t not tru'
that often we act as If clothes and no
character, make the man?
Not by Wealth.
1t may be Solomon thought his fa
ther meant that he should acquir,
wealth, for he amassed a great fortune
and became the richest man of al
time. He erected palatlal residence
that took thirteen years to build, ant
had such sumptuous surroundings ant
so much wealth, that the queen o
Sheba, hearing of his glory. came t
visit him and when she saw II all, eS
clalmed "The half was never told"
How many there are today to WHOM
wealth Is an Indication of manhood
Let 1t be said that one Is rich, and In
medlately these people do him honor, n
II what he possesses, instead OF what h
Is, makes him man. II Is bad Gus
tom we have of asking how much
man is worth, rather than what Is hi
character. A man may have goo
character with dollars, and Just a
easily, he may have bad characte
without them. 1t Is not money, or tn
want of II, that determines n man
character. 1t Is what he actually Is.
Wealth may induce to badness, an
so may poverty; neither, however, nee
be blamed for ruined character, b,
cause God will give strength and grac
to bear either, If we ask him.
Not by Culture.
Possibly Solomon thought that GU
ture makes n man, for we read that }
became the wisest Of all men. "
after acquiring understanding in man
things, II was he who said at last
"Trust In the Lord and lean not
tbina own understanding"
We should remember that God pu
no premium upon ignorance. He e
poets us to develop and increase
knowledge.
The splendid schools and colleges
our day offer youth great opportunlti'
for development; but should all Il
culture and learning Of the world
acquired, and one know pt God NJ
Jesus Christ whom he has sent he
still ignorant of the greatest and mo
q vital truth-truth that Is essential
I his character, and without which
{ incks the power to build that Christie
character which alone can stand q
: testings of God, and having sto'
them, endure throughout eternity.
The apostle tells us that 10Th
foundation can no man lay than tn
Is laid, which Is Jesus Christ" Al
he says: "If any man build upon I'll
foundation"-not learning, not cultul
but Chrlst-"he shall receive n
ward" provided Of course, his buildi
be of such material as will stand t
test Of fire. And so he adds; "Ta
heed how ye build thereupon."
Yes, let us take heed how we buI
thereupon; what kind of Christi
characters we erect; but first of q
we need to be definitely sure that
are building upon the only foundatlt
which Is Jesus Christ our Lord. Tn
as we build our Christian charact
upon him, may each one of us sh'
himself man.