Suppose we should write out here to-night this excuse, how would it sound?

To the King of Heaven: -- While sitting in the Tabernacle in the City of Chicago, January -- , 1877, I received a very pressing invitation from one of your servants to be present at the marriage supper of your only-begotten Son. I PRAY THEE HAVE ME EXCUSED.|

Would you sign that, young man? Would you, mother? Would you come up to the reporters' table, take up a pen and put your name down to such an excuse? You would say, |Let my right hand forget its cunning, and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I sign that.|

Just let me write out another answer:

|To the King of Heaven; -- While sitting in the Tabernacle, January -- -, 1877, I received a pressing invitation from one of your messengers to be present at the marriage supper of your only-begotten Son. I hasten to reply: BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WILL BE PRESENT.|

Who will sign that? Is there one who will put his name to it? Is there no one who will say, |By the grace of God I will accept the invitation now|?