Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-01-31
The First Methodist Episco.
pal Church Continues Re-
vlval. A Series of Scr
mons on The Prodi-
gal Son.

Luke XIV: 1924. Text XIV: 1l-l2.
Scribes and Pharisees have ever been
more interested in social caste than in
the souls of men. Jesus as ever was
extending helping hand to the needy
when all of a sudden the ethical hys-
terra, of those who put all the polish
on the outside, manifest itself in an
unmerited and unchristian criticism.
"that this man receiveth sinners and
eateth with Them" The Scribes and
Pharisees have not only ever been
more for the tjnkling cymbal and
sounding brass than for "pure and un-
defiled religion" but they have ever
male an egregious error concerning
the mission of the Son of God. The
pity is that this class of people did not
pass away with the delusions of the
early days of christianity. But sad as
1t is some of them still exist. And if
Jesus should appear in any modern
city or town and begin his "going
about doing good" illustrating in his
every day life that he was "come to
seek and to save the lost old brother
Sounding Brass and sister Thinking
Cymbal would begin to fear and trem-
BILE lest they should be asked to soil
their dear hands, or ethical robes, in
trying to save some poor lost soul, and
in case Jesus succeeded in rescuing a
few souls from sin, in spite of these
Scribes and Pharisees, they no doubt
would as of old, murmur against the
Christ and His methods, while they,
arrayed in broad phylacteries and flow
ing gowns of spotless white, go about
the streets or assembled at the nome
of the chief tinkling cynbal of their
particular set for criticism and pleas
ure. What are d few souls to them, if
only their fluffy gowns and faultless
comities are preservedY What does 1t
matter if their own sons are leading
dissipated and protligate lives? What
is the difference if their own daugh-
ters are keeping questionable com
pany, and leading life of doubtful
disputation? if Only the customs and
practices of the past be preserved.
What is the value of soul, when COM
pared to these delightful traditions
What is the JOY over one sinner that
repenteth, to the pleasure of an hour
CT ease and selt-satisfaction? l verify
believe that if Jesus was here He
would say to these modern shams as
he did of old. Luke IL: 43, AZ. The
parable of the Prodigal Son is at once
an answer and rebuke to these pre-
tenders. He no doubt takes up the
story of one of the Pharisees present
relating the experience just as it oc-
Cured, telling the story in detail as il
was familiar to the bystanders.
You that criticise my conduct are
no doubt familiar with the career OF
the son of Colonel Sounding Brass
You remember quite we'll how, afte,
he received his interest in his fathers
property he moved into far country
and how he iran through" with his
property in riotous living, and how
after leading disips'ed and degraded
life he returned home and was given q
royal welcome. Well. the Son of man
is come to call sinners and not the
righteous to repentance. My mission
is to save not criticlse; to serve not to
amuse; to give life not waste it
Those who have the spirit of christian.
lty are more anxious for souls than
for shams.