The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-16

was his crown and the significant gl A crown signified achievement, the ment of government, and the love,
 The greatest achievement on earth
 "A short time ago I stood in the old Westminster Abbey by the side of | plain old oak chair. The guide said with pride This is the chair in which every King of Queen of England has been crowned from William~the Con queror down A, little later I stood in the old London tower where the crowns and the gems of the. English throne were exhibited. The guide pointed out the principal crown jewels and said with smile of deep gratifi- cation, This is the largest diamond in the world.' The week before | had stood in the Louvre in Paris in the gal lery de'Apollon where were kept the crowns and gems of the French throne, The guide pointed out the world re- nowned diamond known as the Re gent" This" he said, .'is the finest diamond in the world, worth two and as3half million dollars" As gazed long and interested at the crowns and gems of these two governments, thought of the human lives and mortal struggles they had cost. I thought of the immense glory of King of Eng land, a King of France thought of the brief and stormy career of all the kings and queens-the temporary honor and glory. l wondered what the heroes and heroines of these crowns and king doms would be able to present 'at His coming
 Paul triumphantly asserts that the gfea test honor, the supremest glory and the deepest joy is to be secured in win ming group of human beings to Chris tianity. This text brings us to face worldly achievements and their com parative values. The three words that Paul uses are purposely selected; they cover the field-the crown" the the brilliant display con- neeted with it and the joy and pleasure in the, realization of it all constitute the supreme motive for the ardent puf- shit. The one question to be decided is What is the one achievement, which will bring the noblest crown, the most unfading glory and perennial joy?" As wes watch the restless, ambitious and striving crowd selecting each his choice goal, the battlefield, the race course, the tournament and the contest become a grave or comical study.
 A few years ago a prominent New York woman made known to her conf dential friends that she proposed to give the most brilliant and extravagant ball ever given in the city. When she stepped upon the ballroom floor amid the applause of the throng, it was esti- mated that her dress and jewels cost more than one million dollars. Every thing connected with the brilliant occa- sion was in keeping with her extrava- gant adornments. The gems that only glitter. the gowns that last for sea son, the flowers that fade in a day, the repast that satisfies for the hour, the music and laughter that die without an echo-a contest for night, and the crown is won, the glory is achieved and the joy experienced. How costly and yet how cheap! How valuable and yet how worthless! What a comedy!
 
 A few months afterwards it was an nounced that another woman had deter mined to have the finest cat. An enor- nous price was paid for her feline maj esty. A costly necklace of the richest stones, hired attendant, a special room with private bath and all the silly and humorous things that so with such vain ambition were added. She won her crown. the jewel dazzled, the glory was brilliant, the joy was ecstatic. She owned the finest cat! In the brilliant social halls of the. world the contest of the hour is the brilliancy of gown, of form or the charm of face. How the extravaganza of a gem, the grace ephemeral the crown. how capricious the glory and how fitful the joy.
 In the marts of trade, in the great busy, business world that seems so inn portant, commands such time and strength, so burdens, ensIaves and grinds and so exhausts all the resources and energies of life. the winner finds his crown entails numerous interests to worry over, an extravagant mansion oyer which to- be the curator with his wife the head chambermaid, the en- forced and tircsome parades, functions and displays. Is the game worth the candle? The foolish fads of society seem so frivolous. so little worthwhile to command the attention of a human life. yet as q matter of fact, the man who approaches the judgment seat of Christ with coal mine, an iron ore bank. or n mihion-dollar factory--if his life has been spent wholly and solely in the ambition of selfish accumula- tion-will be no more worthy than a society woman with purring cat clad in silver harness and ornamented with Il diamond necklace.
 In the political world the crown with jewels dimmend and glory besmirched by islanders. false judgments and cheap abuse. has little to offer either of glory or joy I
 In the world of professional sports, masterful muscle and physical prowess win the crown of glory. Abnormal de- velopment of the physical, enlarged mus else and Overdeveloped organs of the body which deform in bodily grace, de- strOy the conditions of health and lon gevity and bring a crown not worthy the struggle. The crown of the prize fighter and the glory of the bulldog coming bloody and victorious from the fight are eXchangeable honors.
 Granting the honor and pleasure of a commendable social career, the noble service of an honorable business and the innocent and healthful delight of out door sports in temperate indulgence, shall we. not agree that there is not enough in any of them or all of them to constitute the chief aim and object of life. Granting that many people are lot wicked. yet how they fritter their lives away! Even good people waste time. neglect golden opportunities and come at last empty-handed to the close of life with mo fruits" mo sheaves.' '
 Was Paul right: Is the real. tho worthy crown of earth to be won in an unselfish, sacrificing service to bring