The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-10

The gospel invitations must be given
to all men, and in all ways. Christian
ingenuity has only touched the outer
fringe of the possibilities in the way
of expressing religions call to men.
The church is herein neither so mod
ern nor so inventive as the world. She
has not learned how to press home the
supreme opportunity and the supreme
obligations in terms of today. Even
the pulpit-the one department in
which the church should surely excel
is not always so fresh and vigorous
and alluring as the political platform.
AS for the use of the talking machine
and the moving picture machine and
the newspaper press and the poster,
these are all fields that still lie ahead
of the church.
Nor do the representatives of the
gospel go. in any adequate sense, like
the kings servants in the, parable, to
the partings of the highways, to pro-
claim the invitation to the multitudes
on the highways. One traverses the
crowded streets of great city on Sat
urday night-which is the night when
the great mass of common people fare
forth in search of pleasure and new
single evidence that there is a gospel
which Yearns for the attention and al
legiance. of mankind that it may give
to them the fullness of joy and salts
faction. Did it ever occur to
Christian Endeavor Society or to
Brotherhood or to a Young Mems
Christian Association, to undertake to
see that every young person who goes
abroad on Saturday night shall have
some intimation of the glorious truth
that both God and men care for his
soul? Why not a Christian moving
picture display on the most available
vacant lot or street corner? Or cor
net to sound the musical message of
invitation? Or a beautiful invitation
card? This lesson would not have
been studied in vain if it should re-
suit in a single schools resolution to
make sure that every person in it's
neighborhood receives an Individual
invitation of some sort before next
Sunday to the great Kings feast. 'All
things are ready" Today is the full
ness of time.
Marring the Function.
Strange stories have lately come
from Japan of American tourists adj
mitted to the emperor's garden party
who have gone unsuitably clad. and
have behaved without ceremony and
without ordinary politeness. The in
dignation of even the courteous Jap
aneSe at this has not been concealed.
The unpleasant news recalls the close
of the parable spoken by Jesus con-
corning the kings wedding feast, from
which a guest was cast forth for not
wearing a wedding garment.
All who accept a royal invitation
must do so upon the kings terms. No
body is received at the court of st.
James except clad in the conventional
court dress. God wants all men to
come to him, but he will have them
only upon his own terms. We can
not accept the divine proffers in our
own time and way. God must be God,
and his sovereignty must be held in
regard.
The guest without a wedding gar
ment was cast out because he, like the
men who had spurned the first invi-
tation, had flouted the honor and ma
jesty of the king. Be it remembered
by all who would press the parable
closely that it was customary for the
host to provide the wedding garment.
It was not poverty that kept the guest
from arraying himself suitably. God
has made all provision for those who
accept his invitations: The robe of
his righteousness must be assumed in
stead of the filthy rags of self-right-
eousness. We cannot come before the
King clad in our own merits; only they
who have been arrayed in the new
robe which God provides are prepar-
ed to share in the marriage supper of
the Lamb.