The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-03

Is wiping his mouth on the back Of
his hand; he has no notion OF a nap
kin. Look at that fat man conveying
food to his mouth with a knife-did
you ever see the like! That woman.
there. the one with frouzy hat on.
she Is eating with her head almost In
the plate. And Just beyond her. do
you see those crutches lying halfway
across the table? There is that blind
man cropping around and getting his
hand into things Quick. now. down
on the right side--he's picking his
teeth with the prong of his fork. How
utterly impossible is this---this ignor-
ant rabble, What a feast! And how
shockingl
| Christianity Absolutely Democratic.
Yes, how shocking. Is heaven to
be like that? Heaven will be filled
| with multitude of people who were
+ once like that. From your stand
point, my friend, heaven may be made
up OF the altogether undesirable TAX
ing the world by and large people IKE
that are in the overwhelming ma
jority. People you find In the hlgh-
ways and hedges haven't much time
for the niceties of life. But We pause
for an objection just here. This par
able, admittedly fgurative language.
Is not to he construed literally IN all
its features. Homeless poverty and
/ lie rcpitude here typify the neekness
and humility and self-abnegation
necessary to an entrance into the
Kingdom of God. This is true.
Christ puts no premium upon poverty.
decrepitude and ignorance-they are
not virtues. The whole trend OF
Christianity Is cultural to elevate ana
refine and enlarge the life.
~, 10 a anfNfefy AAn1n-
cratic In it's cultural effects and alb
| bors any aristocracy OF rights and
privilege 1t welcomes the rich and
| the moor alike, and teaches the one
humility and the other respect for
I hts Christian character. 1t has moth
| ing In common with worldly stand
| a rds. and resists the intrusion OF aru-
! acial distinctions. The apostle Paul
! has this to say in his first episne to
the Corinthians.
"A man should continue to live in
/ the condition which the Lord has alot-
/ ted to him, and In which he was when
! God called him. Were you
slave when you were called? Do not
| let that trouble you. No, even II you
/ are able to gain your freedom. still
! do your best. For the man who was
| n slaye when he was called to the
/ Masters service Is the Masters freed
| man; SO, too. the man who was free
when called is Christs slave. You
were bought and the price was paid.
! Do not let yourselves become slaves
! TO men. Brothers. let everyone remain
/ IN the condition in which he was
; called. In close communion with God"
/ Perhaps this Is one OF the things
Brother Paul wrote hard to be I'M
derstood 1t does not At this restless.
| discontented, ambitious age. We can
hardly bear a lesson like this with
patience. We are In the clash OF the
masses and classes, in the struggle
upward, on the ladder of success. in
( the oeaselsss whirl iato prominence
/ and conspicufty and power. We are
not locking in the highways and by
( ways; we have an eye on very de-
sirahle property In an extremely choice
| neighborhood out in the other end.
We are missing much of the efYec-
| tiveness of the gospel. of the resist
less. soul-compelling power OF the
gospel, because we DO not bear II
where II will always be most effective
because we seek 70 save the cultured
and respectable and call to q repent
ance which displays little evidence of
! the unworIdly life.
Cannot Ignore Gods Way.
But we cannot ignore Gods way OF
filing heaven. Let US turn again 70
this first epistle to the Cortnt hians:
For behold your calling, brethren.
| how that not many wise after the
flesh. not many mighty. not many
noble, are called. but God chose the
| foolish things OF the world. that He
| might put 10 shame them that are
! wise: and God chose the weak things
! OF the world. that He might put TO
shame the things that are strong: and
the base things OF the world. and the
| things that are despisec. did God
| choose yea. and the things that are
! not. that He might bring to nough.
| the things that are: that no flesh
should glory before God"
I For after all IS said and done which
! can be said and done for us In this
+ world, we shall leave II as we en-
tered II is the Masters house He
/ spreads the feast: II Is His invitation
I and He tells us where 70 60 and who
! 10 invite. am thinking tina. the
Gospel Mission" down in the slums.
and the Salvation Army working
among the outcast come nearer our
| Lords way OF getting at people than
/ the magnificent Church OF Grace
I Preferred" on Avenue A At least In
/ the Gospel Mission YOU DO not get
! into the wrong pew and disturb any
| ones family worship There Is not
/ 80 much culture In the Salvation Army
as in some other circles: and must
be frank enough 10 say that I could
not adopt their methods What most
etnharrasses me Is that they are doing
| in their way the things I am failing
to do in mine. They are reaching
| the very people Jesus came TO save
and sought. or all the folk In heaven.
how many you and shall have led
there will he OF the houseless and
/ homeless, the poor. the lame and halt
and blind?