Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-07-20
Calnage
sermon
By Rev.
Frank De Witt TalmaGe. d. ID.

parable OF the kings wedding supper
Is presented by the preacher Ia this
sermon In a new light and is made the
basis for unlimited invitation to all
classes. The text is Matthew xii. 10.
The wedding was furnished with
guests"
Some people are born ascetics. They
love to travel the rough roads instead
of the smooth. They profess to de-
spise every form OF comfort and ease.
Like John the Baptist. they would
cloths themselves In skins and banquet
upon focusts and wild honey. They
believe that primitive man In his dug
out, eating his raw meat and herbs as
he hunts them day by day. Is a better
type OF the human race than Is the
modern man living Ia a dollhouse and
sleeping upon feather bed and pro-
tecting himself from the rains OF sum-
mer and the colds of winter with um-
Dreiias end rubbers and storm over
coats. Like Emperor William 1. OF
Germany, they believe that, though
they may live in palace. yet the body
rests better upon the hard camp cot,
the relic OF many bettlefields. and the
cosrser the food they eat the more
physical and mental strength they will
have.
The banquet hail may have a bad
name on account OF the gourmets and
gluttons who make out of its table a
shrine. yet one OF the most important
political, social. ecclesiastical. financial
and literary factors of the world has
been the banquet hall. When Glad
stone, Disraeli, Salisbury and
Balfour wanted to explain the state
policy Of the British government. where
did they utter their manifestoes? They.
again and again spoke to the British
empire and to the world over the ban
quet table. which was spread>to cele-
brnte the Induction OF new lord may
or OF London into Office When Henry
W. Grady wanted to bind the new
north to the new south with the golden
cords Of love. where did he do Il? At
the New England banquet held In New
York city ia 1856 to celebrate Fore
fathers day. How did New York and
America honor the electrical triumphs
of the inventor OF the telegraph, Sam
uel L. b. Morse? BY a public dinner
on Dec. %, 1888. How did New York
honor the cable triumphs OF Cyrus w.
Field? In the same way. by a public
banquet three years later. How does
the New York chamber OF commerce
not only cement the business interests
OF the new world together. but also
bring before its chief merchants and
manufacturers the greatest financiers
70 ola ~
advice? BY their annual bauquets
And how did the American pulpit hon.
or one OF Its greatest theologians a few
years ago-Rev. DIR. Herrick Johnson.
than whom there was not at that time
more powerful personality in any
PROFESSIONAL chair In the west? BY a
public banquet given In Chicago In
January, 1903. The brainy men OF
this country do not gather In the ban
quet hall for a great feast OF material
viands nearly as much as for a feast
OF intellectual, moral and spiritual
foods. Thus am glad today that this
symbol of my text is found in ban
quet hall. Furthermore, il Is found In
the most fascinating of all banquet
halis-namely. at wedding feast.
The Guests Were secured.
You know this parable without our
going into details. The king wanted
TO make great feast to celebrate the
wedding OF his son. The loving father
Invites many guests to the wedding,
but they all refuse to come. Then the
king says 10 his servants. Go out Into |
the highways and the hedges aud com
pei them to come" Then tina servants |
md hrit, In h.
1T Is my purpose to talk to you about |
this banquet hall and point out for |
you the different characteristics and |
the social status OF the GUESTS In
thinking over this parable we often |
dwell on the direct lesson OF the wide |
gospel invitation it conveys without |
noticing the characteristics OF the men,
the women and the childron' who were
finally persuaded TO sit down at the
wedding feast OF the royal Son OF God
Jesus Christ
Let us ind a vantage ground to
stand on. Let US, In the first place.
learn how we can best study the per-
sonal characteristics OF these wedding
guests. Shall we do this by entering
the brilliantly lighted banquet hall and
watching the actions OF the guests who
are gathered about the table? Nay.
You cannot tell what man is like
when he Is dressed up and out for AMI
evening entertainment. In order TO
ind out what he truly is you must GO
and talk with him at his work. His
Sunday clothes are not the true index
or his life. Many man has gone to
an evening reception In a borrowed
dress suit. Many a woman who is
most deliberately appareled for a par
~ Is slattern when In her own home.
mus in order to find out the different
characteristics OF the wedding guests
we should follow one OF the servants
who goes forth by the kings COM
mand to gather in the guests for The
wedding.
Those who Accepted.
Now. what did the king say? Go We.
therefore. into the highways and as
many as We shall find bid to the mari
riage." That means: "Oh, servant. as
soon as you get into the street, give
this weddin invitation to the first men
and women and children you meet.
Make no exceptions to this rule Slight
no one. Ask all who will to come.-
Now, whom do you suppose the servant
naturally first accosted? Probably the
most conspicuous person In the street.
IL was doubtless the rich merchant or
me military chieftain. astride his war
charger, or it was the royal prince
driving In bis chariot. These men were
naturally the most conspicuous In that
crowded thoroughfare, therefore they
were the first to whom think the sery-
ant went and said: "Comel The king
bids thee to come to the marr,ac,a of ,