Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-04-03
MOST MODEST SET
IN HIGHEST PLACES
Christ Pointed Out Many Lessons
While Seated at the
Dinner Table
WERE FOUNDERS" THEN, TOO
Person Who Seeks Social Career
as Life Goal Will Taste
Apples Of Sodom
The International Sunday School Les
son for April 5 is "Christ's Table
Talk'--Luke t4:7-24.
BY William r. Ellis

The convivial Christ is the central
figure of this story. No anchorite or
ascetie he, but a frequenter of feasts.
a desired diner-out. Because he spent
his early life in a carpenter shop is
no warrant for chasing Jesus as So
cially unsophisticated. The three years
of his ministry reveal him often in So
cial aspects, and frequently as feasts.
The boorishness which regards the
possession of evening clothes as a
mark of worldliness would get no en-
couragement from Jesus. He was so
true a democrat that he could meet
all men on their own level, from the
highest to the lowliest.
There was good dining over in the
transit ordan country, even as to-day
1t is a fat land. No traveller can for
get the fruits of Damascus. At the
time of this lesson, Jesus was sojourn-
ing in Perea, where the forms of cul-
tivated society were farther advanced
even than in Jerusalem. We must
see the story in this setting. Orien-
more of the outward forms OF
graciousness than we in the West
Anow. In a recent Atlantic Monthly
the Rev. DIR. A. NJ. Rihbany, Syrian,
tells how he at first declined dinner
invitations in America, because they
were so curt and casual; he was look
ing for oriental urgency.
Out of the table talk of dinner
party the text of this lesson is taken.
Good table talk Is the surest mark
of good society. How would that of
your home look in a book? Not the
viands, but the guests and the con-
versations make a dinner notable. No
other comment is needed upon some
elaborate dinners that are reported in
the daily press than that the guests
have to be entertained by hired per-
formers; they have no resources in
themselves To sit at some tables is
as good as a college education; while
as for others, the school teachers say
that all their instructions in proper
speeches and refined usage are nulli-
fled at home. The best stories, the
most important news, the discussion
of all that is worth while in the world, !
belong at the dinner table. Even
though the roast be tender, if the talk
be tough. the dinner is a failure. /
know one family with young folks in
it that has moved its Encyclopedia !
Britannica to the dining room, as an
aid to profitable talk
"Bounders," Then and Now
AS it was, so it is. The keen words
of Jesus concerning the socially ambi- !
selves forward into prominence, are as
up-to-date as though spoken of last
nights function Then, as now, there
were "bounders." and climbers, liv
ing to be seen in the right "set," and
reverting to the jungle for their code
of manners in order to attain this am
bition. The selfshness and ruthless |
ness of it all, and the bitter heart |
burnings and jealousies engendered,
DIi 80 ~ 6
life can blase Wise Mans words be
more truly spoken, Vanity of vani-
ties! All is vanity!" The person who
seeks a social career as life goal is
due to learn to the full the taste of
Apples of Sodom.
Everybody seems to be in a con-
spiracy to drag down the person who
seeks the best seat for himself. Jesus
pointed out, in a few luminous SEN
tences, how such one is sure to be
called down. while the wiser, more
modest person is set in the higher
place. That is social sophistication,
as well as good manners and funda-
mental modesty.
No truer life appraisal was ever
made than these words of Jesus: For
every one that exalted himself shall
be humbled; and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted" The shores
bittered wrecks of the once proud and
self-exalted. And 1t is as common
as sunrises to see persons who despise
social attention having it steadily
showered upon them. Thus the laws
of the kingdom work out in life.
How "Set" Swaps Dinners
We rather rub our eyes at the mod
ernity of the conditions revealed by
these words of Jesus: "And ne said
| to him also that had hidden him,
When thou makest dinner or sup
| per- call not thy friends, nor thy
friends, nor thy brethren. or thy Ikins-
men. nor rich neighbors; lest haply
they also bid thee again. and a recon-
pense be made thee" That sounds
like a present-day social satirist.
The thing we call society" be it
in New York or in Podunk, Is made
up of an exclusive set who exchange