The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-15
REV. Mr.. F1TzsIMoNs' GooD-BY.
Els Farewell Sermon to the Congre-
cation of st. Matthew's Church.

k1io dToWoA sermon TO buo COu8Te-
cation of st. Matthew's Church.
A large congregation assembled In ST.
Matthew's church yesterday morning to
hear the farewell sermon of the rector, Rev.
o. p. Ftzsimons. prior to his departure for
Birmingham, Ala, where he will go as
rector of st. Mary's church.
Mr.. FtZsimons took as his text the utter
auce OF Elisha whel weighted down with
the vexations and trials of his life: Where
is the Lord God of Elijahp'
Elijah's life, it will be remembered, was
marked by a series of triumphant and glori-
Gus achievements. The text was chosen for
the purpose of illustrating the trials and
perpIexities Of the pastors life of to day and
demonstrating some of the extraordinary
difficulties he has to encounter and contend
with. The life of the pastor Of days gone
by was veritabls bed Of ease when COM
pared with the pastors life To-day. A sue
cessful minister nowadays must combine in
his character prudence. discretion and
proper powers OF discrimination. as well as
earnest zeal and fervor.
As Elisha, in the anguish of his heart,
contrasting the dull and dreary monotony
Of his life, and its hundred petty persecu-
tions, with the eventful career and noble
work of the prophet. cried out aloud, SO
to-day do many ministers Of the gospel, in
moments Of encouragement, feel like utter
ing the same cry. Where is there true
Christian, Mr.. Fitzslmons said, who
would rot prefer the glorious martyrdom
OF Ridley or Latimer to the dull
and znonotonous existence of the Nine
tenth century, with all its incident shallow
strife, jealousies and petty contentious and
annoyancesq Surely it is better to die lead
ing a forlorn hope than to live doing moth
ing and being nothing.
The pastor has to decide whether this one
is fit to receive the communion; he has to
look after an erring member who is in
danger Of falling from grace; he is expected
to heal up strife, to dissolve petty jealousies,
and to speak words of encouragement as
we'll as of admonition to all. He ministers
to and looks after the sick. Solemn and
crushing responsibilities rest upon the
shoulders Of any one who undertakes this
task
AS the days 20 on and the years pass by,
more and more is demanded of the pastor.
TIE congregations want the truth. but in
sist on having the truth pleasantly told. So
much OF the perfunctory and fashionable
has entered into church life, rendering the
work so difficult and onerous that, no mat
ter who he may be, the pastor will often feel
like echoing Elisha's mournful cry.
The American people, already the most
irreverent on the globe, are daily growing
even the Hottentot and savages of the
African wilds, have more reverence in their
composition than has the average American
young man.
The speaker said he came to Savannah
one year and eight moaths ago and found
st. Matthew's church without pews or a
congregation. Ii is now thoroughly or
gauized, and during that period over SO, 900
has been raised and spent on improv-
ments. 1t can say, what probably no other
church In Savannah can, that it does not
owe a dollar aud hes money on hand in
every one of its departments.
During his ministrations 40 people have
besn brought into the church and 81
baptisms have occurred.
IL in this condition st. Matthew's remains
q mission church" 1t will be simply be-
cause the men are not men and the women
are untrue. The very name mission" is
nonsense. Speaking with ali due Difference
to church missions he would say that if
EMISSION to the poor" were written on the
outside of church it would become instead
of living monument to God a living sep
ulcher When entering a church a person
wants to feel at home and not as though he
is a pensioner on some ones charity.
If the congregation of st. Matthew's has
not enough independence and liberality the
rector said, to support a minister they do
not deserve to have one. The decorations OF
the church attest the noble work done by
the women, but he does not think that tle
men of the congregation have done their
| full duty.
In conclusion Mr. Fitzsimons said: "In
leaving you all man who has ministered
to your sick, though poorly. buried your
dead and preached to you, TO the best Of his
| ability, feels that he deserves some slight
monument in the moYeless halls of your
| memory. l desire no greater monu-
ment than to know ST. Matthew's has
ceased to be a mission, and become self
sustaining church. The day in which this
occurs will be the proudest of nv life "