CROWNS AND CHARACTERS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 11, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 24.

CROWNS AND CHARACTERS.

In many of the grandest pageantries of earth the things of chiefest glory have been the gems and jewels, the ornamentation and decoration, the beauties of the art of various cunning workmen. It is not the men and the women that the great mass of people go to see; it is the dazzling brilliance of embellishment, the overwhelming and magnificent display of wealth and royalty, the pomp, and power, and glory which are but for a day. And yet the millions of dollars which will be expended to witness the coronation of Edward VII. are without computation. We are not speaking of the mere expenses of the government and the royal family. These will have to be measured by millions. But think of the expenses of the peers and peeresses, the barons and viscounts, the knights and esquires, the wealthy and learned of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. One estimate gives of the royal family and the nobility alone expenses exceeding $12,000,000. Think of the expense to newspapers in sending their representatives to the great event. Think of the various embassages and commissions of all the various governments which will be represented there; of the wealthy and pleasure-loving from all the British colonies and many of the countries of earth! Hotels, railways, steamship lines, high-art lapidaries, jewelers, tailors, gown-makers, will reap a harvest. There will be a month of festivity, feasting, and drunkenness, followed by a period of remorse, an extra Lent as it were.

We are not condemning King Edward VII. nor his good Queen Alexandra. Much of it all to them will be weariness and vexation of spirit. In spirit and nature it is common to nearly all such occasions, but more magnificent, that is all. It is of the earth, and is but a manifestation of its fading glory. In a little while its glory will pass away forever. Yet how many would sell health and happiness, body and soul, in order to taste of its power and splendor. This desire is per se a proper one, implanted of God, but O, it is sadly perverted. God desires that His children shall “partakers” of glory, wearers of crowns, possessors of dominion; and these are of more value than that which the glorious coronation of June 26 represents in its fulness, even so as to be without comparison. Listen to the promises of the Creator-King of the universe:—

“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the Crown of Life.” Rev. 2:10.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the Crown of Life, which the Lord promised to them that love Him.” James 1:12.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me the Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give to me at that day; and not only to me, but also to all them that have loved His appearing.” 2 Tim. 4:7, 8.

“When the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the Crown of Glory that fadeth not away.” 1 Peter 5:4.

The Crown of Righteousness, the Crown of Life, the Crown of Glory, are identical, and demonstrate the right of the wearer to reign.

They tell of victories won over sin and selfishness in all their lying guises and cruel tyrannies; over hydra-headed and multiformed death; over shame and dishonor.

No questionable transaction mars their past record, no oppression or tyranny, no deceit or guile, no violence or bloodshed, mars or stains their symmetry or beauty. Through the living flowers of their splendor no widow’s moan, no funeral dirge, no sufferer’s agony, no dying groan, breathes sad refrain. Unmarred in beauty, untarnished in glory, they are only less beautiful than the characters they adorn forevermore. And character and crown only reflect in many-hued radiance the greater, but not purer glory of the many crowns and infinitely lovely character of Him who is the “Chiefest among ten thousand,” and the One “altogether lovely.”