Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-27
DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.
PULPIT THEMES AND SUNDAY
SCHOOL CAROLS.


Large Congregations at the Churches
Rev. A. NJ. wynn's inaugural Sermon
at Wesley Monumental Church-st
Johns and Christ sunday School FEES
Observation-Disclosures by the First Pres
byterian School.
The weather yesterday was like that Of
Christmas day. Nearly everybody went
to church, and, in consequence, the
churches were crowded. In the Catholic
and Episcopal churches the music was
the same as on Christmas day. At the
Cathedral there was an immense cOngre-
cation at the high mass, and at st. Johns
and Christ Episcopal Churches there
were large congregations. In nearly all
of the churches the sermons were on
Christmas themes.
Rev. A. NJ. Wynn filed the pulpit at
Wesley Monumental Church in the morn
ing, Mr.. Winn bad charge OF this church
nine years ago, and very kind remem-
brance of him still remained with those
who were connected with the church
during the period OF his former pastorate.
This fact, and the additional one that il
was his first Sunday since he was sent
back to the church, drew out large con-
gregaticn.
Alss q :
"The voice of Him that crieth in the viii
derness, prepare We the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert highway for
our God"
"EiGhteen hundred and eighty-six years
ago." he said, ''Chrlst. came into the
world, and His coming was tulI of bright
ness and JOY and hope. The night pre-
ceding His coming was momentous
one. Earth and heaven were closely
mingled in celebration of the glorious
event, and all things gave utterance to the
glad strains OF GLORY to Gcd in the high
est. peace on earth aud good will To men,
His coming brought to us deliverance
from sin, shackles were broken off, the
prison gates were thrown open and the
earth breathed free again.
''God gave US bright day yesterday in
which to celebrate this glorious ami
versary, and we cannot be too bountitul
IN rendering prayers of thanksgiving to
Him. Our children ought to be taught
the full meaning and import OF the dav
aud to sing the glad songs that proclaim
the glorious anniversary OF His birth. We
should never forget that He was already
here long before He came in the guise OF
a human being. In the morning of crea-
tion He was here andit was HIS hand that
executed that grand plan. In
the Old Testament dispensation we are
told that He appeared many a time. He
appeared to Abraham and TO Lot and TO
others of the saints in those olden times.
And the Holy Book tells us also that we
shall see Him again, that He shall come
for the glorious redemption of all who
know Him and believe in Him. Very
often He comes to us now and is anxious
and willing TO come to YOU and be with
you at all times if you are willing and
ready to receive Him. In the Old Testa-
ment we are told that he never came ex-
cept through special preparatory pro-
cesses. 1t took four thousand years to
get the old world sufficiently under the
curse OF sin TO make His coming neces-
sary. He came just at the time promised
and when the world were needed Him. 1t
is the same way now. He never comes
but to those who are prepared and
anxious tor His coming aud then he al
ways comes.
You ask what is this preparation that
Is necessary for His coming. There was
much preparation going on last week to
properly celebrate the anniversary OF His
earthly presence. Mothers and wives and
husbands and brothers were all busy pre-
pairing TO make glad the home circle in
honor OF this day. How much more time
and thought and money ought we to give
TO properly prepare for that higher com.
Ing, that spiritual coming. In anticipa-
ton OF the arrival of dear friend. how
anxious are We to have everything in
readiness, how delicate are all the ar
Judgements and how many evidences OF
love are TO be seen on every side.
Cannot we then make the same
preparation for His coming and
give 10 Him, our heavenly friend,
the same delicate expression OF love and
OF JOyi he can read these momentoes of
love as no earthly friend eau, and His
presence would be greater source of
bring you.
'Ine mind and the heart must be pre-
pared by love and thoughtfu ness and
prayer before He will condescend TO
come There must be a willing mind and
willing heart, and not too mucn devotion
10 the triylallt es OF life. To prepare our
hearts for this heavenly visitor we must
repent sincerely of our sins. To repent
means to think another way. We must
think less on the things OF earth aud more
Oh the things OF heaven. We must turn
the lght OF Gods truth into the secre
chambers OF our souls and root out
the evils and imperfections that are
growing there. There must be prepara-
ton in the home life, the public life and
the church life. In the home life, so thai
our children may be laugh and INSTRUCT ed
by our preeept ana example. In our
public life, that the world NAV know that
our religion Is strengthening and an en-
nObling religion. There must be a pre-
paration in the church, for the beauty OF
the Lord dwells here, the very atmos-
phere is that OF heaven. here saints COM
mune and here immortal souls are born"
In conclusion, Mr.. Wynn referred to his
former pastorate here. and expressed his
pleasure in being again placed in charge
OF the church. he begged the earnesi
prayers and help OF all the members In
making the next conference year the
most successfully the accomplishment of
good ever known in the history OF the
church.
THEX 4 W. Il, trr-r.c.