Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-07-21
CalnaSe
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmagc. n. }.


basis for unlimited invitation To all
The wedding was furnished with
guests
Some people are born ascctics. They
love To travel the rough roads instead
of the smooth. They profess to de-
splse every form of comfort and ease.
Like John the Baptist. they world
clothc themselves Ia skins aud banquet
upon locusts aud wild honey. They
believe that primitive man Ia his dug
out. eating his raw meat and herbs as
lie hunts them day 10y day. II II better
type OF the human race than is the
modern man living In a dollhouse and
sleeping upon feather bed aud pro-
tccting himself from the rains OF sum
mer and the colds of winter with UNI
brellns aud rubbers and storm over
coats. Like Emperor William |. of
Germany. they believe that. though
they may live In "a palace, yet the body
rests better upon the hard camp cot.
the relic of many battleields. and the
conrscr the food they eat the more
physical aud mental strength they will
have.
The banquet hall may have bad
name on account OF the gourmets and
gluttons who make out of It's table
shrine yet one OF the most important
political. social. ecclesiastical. financial
and literary factors Of the world has
been the banquet hall When II Glad
stone. Disracli, II Salisbury aud
Bnlfour wanted to explain the state
policy Of the British government. where
did they utter their manifestoes: They
again nnd again spoke to the British
empire aud tO the world over the ban
quet table. which was spread 10 cele-
brnte the induction Of II new lord may
or OF London into office. When Henry
w Grady wanted 10 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 III 1885 10 celebrate Fore
fathers day How did New York aud
America honor the electrical triumphs
of the inventor of the telegraph, sam
uCt H. hOlF Ds PhN'tN
on Dec. -. 1863. How did New York
honor the cable triumphs OF cyrus W.
Field? In the same way. by 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
OF the world. To give them words or
advice: By their annual banquets.
And how did the American pulpit hon
or one Of Its greatest theologians few
wears ago-Rev. Dr. Herrlck Johnson.
than whom there was not at that time
a more powerful personality In any
PROFESSIONAL chair In the VEST by
public banquet given IN Chicago IN
January. 1903. The brainy men or
this country do not gather In the ban
uuet hall for u great feast of material
yiands nearly as much aS for feast
of intellectual moral and spiritual
foods. Thus am glad today that this
symbol OF my text is found IN ban
ouet hall Furthermore. II Is found III
the most fascinating OF all banquet
halls namely at Il wedding feast.
The Guests Were Secured.
You know this parable without our
going into details. The king wanted
to make II great feast To celebrate the
wedding OF his son. The loving father
invites many guests to the wedding.
but they all refuse 10 come. Then the
king says TO his servants. go out into
the highways and the hedges and com
mel them to come" Then the servants
70 and bring In the new guests. Now,
It IL my purpose TO talk TO you about
this banquet hall aud point out for
YOU the different characteristics ana
the social status of the guests. In
thinking over this parable we often
dwell ON the direct lesson of the wide
gospel invitation II conveys without
noticing the characteristics of the men,
the women and the children who We're
finally persuaded 10 sit down at the
wedding feast of the royal son Of God
Jesus Christ.
Let us mud 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 Il man Is Ike
when he Is dressed up and out for an
evening entertainment In order To
lind ont what he truly II you must 20
and talk with him NJ his work. His
Sunday clothes are not the true Index
Of his life. Many man has gone TO
an evening reception In n borrowed
dress suit. Many woman who IL
most deliberately appareled for par
~ IL slattern when In her own home.
Thus In order 10 find ont the different
characteristics of the wedding guests
we should follow one Of the servants
who goes forth 10y 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 us We shall lind bid To the mar.