The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-16
DR.. HARRIS SERMONS
at the Independent Presbyterian
Church Yesterday.

AZ Jn0 independent presbyterian
Church Yesterday.
Rev. Dr. Harris, of New York, preached
to an attentive congregation at the indie
pendent Presbyterian church yesterday
morning. Ills text was from Galatians
vi, rs: "Be not deceived; God is not
mocked for whatsoever a man soweth. that
shall he also reap For he that soweth to
his flesh, shall of tho flesh reap corruption. "
The sermon was deeply interesting, and
abounded in many beautiful illustrations Of
the cooperation of the great natural forces
with the efforts of mankind. First, as to
the principles of these natural forces, and
mans relations thereto. The doctor
showed how futile are the efforts of man
kind in any direction unless they are aided
by natural forces, and, rs an instance Of
this, he spoke of how the planter may sow
seed, and stir the earth so that
the sun and rain and air may
reach and fertilize it, and how he
may till the soil, but unless the great
forces Of nature perform the work of ger
minatlon, all his efforts are in vain. The
natural forces must pervade mans person
atty. The great fields of wheat in the
West, which are measured by miles rather
than by acres, afford an illustration Of this,
and the magnitude of mans efforts Doubt
less, the speaker sad, just as many of
these great forces are required to grow a
field of prairie grass as wheat, but they do
not impress us as does the former, being
devoid of the personality which pervades
t.
DR.. Harris spoke at length upon a cO-opera-
tive aud harmonious combination of forces
and of the advantages derived from it. Man
sends his messages by electricity; he takes
advantage of the streams and tides in his
t,,N E
less coupled with personal efforts. He re-
ferred again to this cooperation in the high
er social life. He only who comes into the
intelligent and refined circle fully capa-
BILE of approaching its value, can derive
benefit or advantage from his associations
In all ages the intellectually of a people
is Judged by men by their treatment of
women and by their manner of living
When we excavate cities of antiquity and
unearth their houses, their palaces, and find
them as they existed when they were over
taken by catastrophe, we may judge of
them in some manner according to the per
sonality of their surroundings, but after all
the only sure way is by finding what the
people were.
Last nights services were opened by the
singing of the anthem 1.-The Earth is the
Lords by the chorus choir of twenty
voices. The voices blended in perfect uni
SUI, anu Jue NuOlI dullllldOlF interpreted
the music. After the anthem Dr. Harris
gave out hymn 1872:
ooh, help us Lord, each hour of need,
Thy heavenly succor give.
Help lis in thought, in word and deed,
Each hour on earth we live"
DIR. Harris chose for his theme "The Per.
sonality of Religion based upon the text
taken from John i, %: Jesus saith unto
him if | will that he tarry till come what
is that to thees Follow thou me.n The SCI.
mon was short and tersely argued. 1t SET
forth the fact that it is the personal power
| that set the great religious systems in mo-
| ton. All religions took name from persons
and in religion, even as in politics, the sys
| TENS are dependent upon persons.
The preachers striking Grafton at the
close of the sermon was impressive. In
| this world, he said, we VIII have no higher
| knowledge of God than in knowing and
| trusting in his well beloved son. TO him
| therefore, the sons of Gods love- with ach-
ing and weary hearts may come as they
| hear his voice saying: Come unto me all
ye that are weary and are heavy laden
| To him all doubling spirits may turn as
they hear him say 81 am the light of the
world. He that followeth me shall
| not walk in darkness, bu,
shall have the light of life. >
| To him all burden-accused consciences
may turn as he is heard to say: "ttim that
| cometh unto me | will in no way cast out -
| To all who come for a true and complete ust
of life in doing and being comes the permits
| sion to share his toll, with the assurance
| that we shall become somewhat like him.
and it is enough for the disciple if he be as
| his master.