Evening journal., 1922-03-23

Special 70 The Evening Journal
CAMBRIDGE. Nd. March 22.-
At the mornings session Of the Will
mington Methodist Episcopal Con-
ference, the Rev. L. w Layfield. pas
tor Of First Methodist Church. Del
aware City. preached his semi-cen-
tenniai sermon. DR.. Layheld IL the
second minister to complete fifty
consecutive years OF ministerial and
pastoral work IN the conference.
The peculiar feature Of this is the
fact that the late Rev. Thomas r.
Martindale, ID. D., who preached the
first semi-centennial sermon, was the
minister to whom DR.. Layfeld was
assistant at his first conference ap-
pointment. DR.. Layheld has been
in active pastoral work since 1872
and is completing his flfty-second
consecutive year as an ordained min
lster. He has spent his entire minis
teriai life In the Wilmington Con-
ference, and is weil-known through
out the peninsula. having served
some Of the largest churches.
DR.. Layfieid is 70 years old. is
one OF the oldest in point OF years
n the conference. as well as being
he oldest in number OF years OF SER
rice. His text today was Matthew
chapter xiii. - As verses, which
read as follows: 44th-"Again, the
Kingdom Of Heaven is like unto a
treasure hid in a field; the which,
when a man hath found. he hideth,
and for 10Y therefore goeth and
selleth all that ne hath, and huyeth
the field; 45th Again, the
Kingdom OF Heaven is like unto a
merchantmen, seeking a good-pearl.'
THE Master is an adept al franz
Ing parallels. none so fun OF interest
as the cluster recorded in this chap
ter" DR.. Layfeld said. and what
makes them so valuable the Master
has interpreted each OF them. Each
OF the mcontains one and the same
truth. while each parable presents a
different phase OF the same truth.
We notice In each the actor and sub
ject; There Is the sower. the lcaven,
the net. and the seeker. Then we
notice the subject. the field, the
meal, the sea and the treasure, the
pearl Of great price.
The Masters Interpretation In
the field Is the world; the sower IL
the Son OF man; that being true the
Master. not only represents the
sower but also the leaven, the ne
the man who found the treasure ir
the field as well as the merchant VIII,
found the pearl. Man is nowhere
noticed In the cluster as the seeker
with this Introductory, we are
prepared to inquire what is tn
hidden treasurer What is the Pear
Of Great Price7'
"The FIST parable has 10 do Will
the extent Of the purchase; the sec
ond parable specifies the value o
the treasure found. Tt Is the Pear
y Value Something has been foun
IN this fald; something brought u
out OF the depth. 10 impress upo
our minds the immense and count
less value OF the thing found
This Is In harmony with tn
trend OF the entire new testament
The Kingdom Of Heaven IL like
shepherd who had an hundred sheer
ninety and nine are safe in the folk
but one Is missing. Immediately n
goes out seeking 10 md the lost on
The Kingdom Is like a poor woms
who has lost a coin, the price Of
days work. who with lighted cand'
seeks until she finds Il.
'The Kingdom II like fathe
Hnf
'giveth me the portion OF goods TIL
falleth TO me- The son took his po
ton and went into far country ar
spent It in riotous living. The ell
er son, who was In the field came
tho house and found his father sa'
the blinds closed; the house darl
enod and the music hushed. tt
servants subdued because the faith
was sad; his younger son was gon
Immediately the elder brother re
resenting Jesus, said father I ha
plenty at hand; I go and seek n
brother. Father said, ison there W
be dangers as well as difficulties
the way But the son was persistei
saving no matter the cost I will
and bring my brother
HE went in search and found
brother in poverty and hunger
After telling him OF their fathe
grief, and the sadness existing In
old home. persuaded his brother
return with him. And when
father saw them at a great distan
ran and met him. this my Son, "
was dead. Is alive
The elder son Is your and my mi
ter. who came into the world to Sc
and save that which was lost.
Il have heard touching sermo
on man seeking God; but no m
seeks God until first God finds
man God found the Eunuch
sent Philip down the desert way
greet him that he might preach
him Jesus.
He found Cornelius. and sent