The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-27
CALLED TOAPASTORATE.
DIR. vAss RLEoTED PASTOR OF THE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

tends Unanimous Call, Which DR.
Vess Accepts-The Election TO &C
Before the Presbyteries. and as Soon
as Acted Upon the New Pastor WIN
Enter Upon Ills Duties-A Sketch Of
His Life and Pastoral Work
DR.. L. c. Vass Of Nsw-Berne. \. C., was
elected pastor Of the First Presbyterian
church Of Savannah at a meeting Of the
congregation held after the regular servics
yesterday morning.
DR.. VAS came over from New-Berne the
day previous and filled the pulpit yesterday
morning by request of the church. His
subject was Drifting and the text
Hebrews H., /: Therefore We ought n
give the most earnest heed TO the things
which we have heard lest at any time We
should let them slip"
He divided his sermon under three heads,
first Drifting away from belief in the
holy scriptures; second, drifting away
from belief in God and salvation through
Christ" and third Drifting away from
the church. The subject was handled in a
most mastery manner.
ELECTGNG PASTOR.
After the regular services were concluded
DIR. Vass retired, and the meeting was called
to order for the election of q pastor by the
Rev. R. q. Way OF the Anderson Street
church, it being necessary according to the
church rules that a minister or the same
nresbytery shall moderate all conGrega-
tional meetings for the election Of pastors
Mr.. Way was the only available minister,
and after holding services in the Anderson
Street church he came TO the First church
and opened the meeting as moderator.
The committee which was appointed to
supply the pulpit during the summer and
TO recommend candidates available for the
pastorate made its report. which was re-
ceived and adopted. The report recon-
mended that thanks be returned to the
ministers who had gwen the church the
benefit of their services during the summer
and submitted the names of several leading
ministers Of the denomination for the action
of the church.
DIR. vAss CALLED.
A vote was taken and DR.. Vass received
something over 100 votes. Fifteen or
twenty scattering votes were divided
among other candidates. Upon motion DR..
Vass was unanimously elected pastor Of the
church.
A committee of six of the Oldest members
OF the church, three ladies and three gentle
his election. The committee called upon
him immediately after the meeting and re-
ceived his acceptance OF the pastorate.
Ii will be several weeks before he will be
able to take charge, a. the call will have to
be prosecuted by the congregation both be-
fore the North Carolina presbytery and the
presbytery Of Savannah.
THE NEW PASTOR
DR.. Vass is man well fitted to fill the
position of pastor TO the church by which
be has been chosen. He is a man not only
of erudition, but Of great observation,
which he exhibits in his sermons. He is
about middle age. Of warm, genial tempera-
ment and a thorough student Of human
to preach from knowledge and not from
theory. he is VirginIan by birth, and
studied at the Union Theological Seminary
at Hampton Sidney, Va, and was a student
there when the war began. He promptly
enlisted in Stonewall Jackson's brigade
and was with the brigade as chap
lain throughout the whole war. He
was frequently left in the ranks of the
enemy with southern prisoners, and In COM
pany with other confederate chaplains was
carried north with the prisoners and at
tended them in prison.
Since the war lie has served faithfully as
q pastor OF his denomination at different
places.
ELEVEN YEARS AT NEW BERNIE
He comes here from New-Berne. where he
has been eleven years. He was sent as a
delegate to the pan-Presbyterian congress
In Paris several years ago and has since
Travelled extensively in Europe. He is the
author Of several theological works OF
standard merit.
DR.. Vass was recommended to the First
church when it became known that it was
in search Of pastor and ives invited by the
to fill the pulpit during the
month Of August. which he did for three
Sabbaths in that month very acceptably to
the congregation.
His family con-ists of himself, his wife
and three children, two sons and daugh-
ter. His elder son is now at Davidson Col
iege, n. G.
HIS FIRST SERMON AS A PASTOR.
A good congregation of the members
listened attentively to DR.. Vass' sermon
last night. His text was; 'For now we see
through a glass darkly, but then face to
face" Cor. xiii, IL. The sermon was
ful OF pure, simple, yet lofty thoughts,
and his sound logical reasoning and plain
advocacy of scriptural tru hs were de-
light to those who will soon come under his
charge.
There are many strange things,n said
Or. Vass, that are difficult for ns to un-
derstend. Things that have occurred in
history, the strange course of events, the
persecution and the suffering of Gods
people, these are difficult for us to under
stand. The daily occurrences around us
are hard for us to understand. for now We
Zee through glass darkly,' as In an
enigma Is the true expression, riddle
which we do not understand"
THE MYSTERY OF SIN.
The speaker dwelt at length upon .'the
mystery of sim with which we are daily
surrounded Continuing, he said: Sorrow
is mystery. The world is full of sorrow
and suffering People are forced down
with suffering and grief, and we do not
understand why it is. Yet we have the
promise that we shall stand face to face
with him, and be like him, and then we
know that ray of sunlight from Gods
throne will make 1t all clear, and we shall
see the hand OF God in 1T ALL" The sermon
was concluded with word to those who
are without light or hope.