Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-09-11
(By william T. Ellis)

Noy - N0S
Amid the crash of empires we are
called upon to consider one oil the
most dramatic of the farewell aomo-
nitions of Jesus. The pertinency OF
the present parable is in the mlha Oh
every member of the Sunday School
that uses the International Lessons;
Sohered chastened, awed men and
women to-day are ready to study the
deeper truths of life; and to lend
an attentive ear to hear what the
Master of us all has to say concern
ing ultimate things.
The closing utterances OF Jesus
had to do with the Kingdom OF
Heaven-that kingdom which has out
lasted all empires and still moves for
ward in its beneficient way through
all the shocks to human institutions.
Here we face a subject that is vaster
than this overwhelming war, that
is to-day engrossing the worlds
thought. ,-.
Aiyriads of Christians are asking
themselves whether the present
world upheaval protends the con-
summation foretold by Jesus. All
of us are solemnized by an interna-
tional catastrophe without parallel
in human history. Whatever one
views of the judgment, it is certain
tina this war is the end OF all Things
earthly for myriads OF men. sinai
wonder, therefore, that it Is pro-
found spiritual experience Tor stiil
larger hosts of the living.
The Sufficient Preparation
When we are ready for God, We
are ready for anything. That is the
inclusive truth of the great paraole
of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.
They who go to meet the orldesrooIl
JOYOUS and unashamed, fear nothing
else: at peace with Him, they are at
peace with all the world. Here the
lesson truth strikes down deep into
every mans philosophy of life. Ihere
is absolutely no other satisfaction
possible to human nature equal 10
the surprising peace of preparedness
for the presence OF God.
Every crisis teaches the su-
premacy of things spiritual. When the
storm of unexampled war broke over
Europe. it drove the nations TO thelr
knees. Even irreligious France turned
to prayer. Kings and councils called
their people to supplicate before the
throne of Heaven. Inevitably the war
has set people to thinking OF the Goa
who was before all, and is over all,
and will be after all. When right with
Him. men are right with all the world.
There is no other disaster equal to the
disfavor of the Infinite.
The Ten Maidens
Because the greatest truths may
be mirrored in the humblest happen
ings, Jesus set forth His wonderful
teaching of the last days of the fa-
miliar story of an Oriental wedding,
and of the ten maidens who were
to help give joyous welcome to the
wedding party. OF these ten, five
were wise and five were foolish; for
only five had laid by any store of
the oil needed to make the wedding
illumination. The parao bic is one Oh Oh
preparation. There is no need to
point out any analogy to present
world events; every one must do that
for himself.
The story touches upon our prepa-
ration for life, as well as our prepa-
ration for DEATH it is truth for
every day, as well as for the last
great day; it serves to make charac,
ter for youth, as well as to afford
consolation for age; II makes vivid
the Masters oft-repeated eXhorta-
ton, BE We also ready" That is
the most practical motto for the boy
or girl starting out in life; and it is
the most spiritual counsel for the
aged person waiting deaths sum-
mons
"Too Late, Too Late
Somewhere / have read of a paint
ing that merely showed a shut door,
that was all; but the artist conveyed
to the imagination the impression
that that door stood for separation
and finality. History is full of tragic
regrets of those who have arrived
too late at their opportunity. We see
even such an empire-builder as Cecil
Rhodes crying on his death-bed. $50
much to do; so little done" Queen
Elizabeth's shrieks offers of a regal
bounty for only a minute of time as
she stared into the pitiless eyes of
death as it drew nigh. Let us get
firmly into our thinking the truth
that there comes day when we must
cry TOO late!" opportunities pass;
occasions are not abiding.
In the affairs of business; in mat
ters of pleasures; in the vaster con-
Germs of the spiritual realm. there
surely approaches an hour when in
vitation and opportunity rejected ex-
ist no more; the grace of God Is no
longer heard knocking at the hearts
door; the hour for filling the lamps
of service and of happiness has passed.
Tennyson repeats the refrain in his
"Idylls OF the King"
"Iate. late, so late! and dark the
night, and chill!
Late, late, so late! but we can enter
still
Too late, too late! ye cannot enter
now
"No light had we; for that we do
repent;
And, learning that, the bridegroom
will relent'
Too late, too late! We cannot enter
now.'
"'No light! so late! and dark and
chill the night!
Oh, let us in, that we may find the
light!'
Too late, too late! ye cannot enter
now
"'Have we not heard the bridegroom