The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-28
PREsBYTERIANs' NEW PASTOR.
Rev. Arthur j. Smiths First Sermons
at the First Church.

Ut the
Rev. Arthur ]. Smith preached his first
sermon yesterday morning, and last night
as pastor of the First Presbyterian
church. Mr. Smiths morning sermon was
from the text: 1.-THE burden of the word
of the Lord to Israel by Malachi;" Mala-
chi, i: 1.
Malachi, the last of the prophets r.
called by the Jews the seal Of the proph-
cts because his prophecy winds up the
sacred canon of Old Testament scripture,
Mr.. Smith said,' is so extremely modest
that he reveals nothing concerning him
self. In fact, the only personal reference
is in the first verse of his prophecy, when
he announces himself as the messenger of
God. His name means my messenger
or messenger of jehovah
Coming to Israel about 397 years Il. c.,
and hnding the nation IN SIN, ne Ielt Ihae
the responsibility resting upon prophet
is to speak for another. A minister OF tue
gospel is a prophet for he speaks Tor COG:
1t is solemn position ne occupies "
becomes almost a SIN for him to stand at
the sacred desk and say anything put
thus saith the Lord" lie must preach
about punishment as well as reward
about the lost world as Well as heaven.
'St. Paul felt the burden when ne sald
Woe Is me If 1 preach not the gospel.
Richard Baxter felt the burden When ne
Sdlus preach dS NiiO L AAC - 3tAOu@Ns
preach again, as a dying man to dying
men,
"A minister needs something more than
definite call to the ministry. He needs
more than the training in the college and
seminary and the ordaining touch OF the
hands of bishops, ministers or elders. lie
needs heartfelt experience. Ills call 10
repentance Will be hollow unless ne mas
first repented himself. Peter was the only
man to preach repentance on the day OF
Penticost, because he had so wonderously
repented himself. Jenny Lind was always
a beautiful singer, but one night a man
in her audience said to friend, II /
could marry that woman and break her
heart, then she would sing like night
engale.' Goldsmith did marry Jenny Lind.
1t is said Goldsmith did break her heart
and then she sang with sweetness that
almost rivaled the angePs song.
Some one has said: We cannot COM
fort those in sorrow until we have gradu-
ated from sorrows school, To a minister,
who feels the burden of Gods word rest
ing upon him it is almost crushing. Some
men, indeed, fall beneath its weight.
read only a short time ago of an Epis-
copal clergyman who had had some trou-
hle with his CONGREGATION and one night
when he entered the church there were
no worshippers. He died that night, and
when the autopsy was performed the doc
tors discovered water in the
died of broken heart. The
true minister feels the burden more than
many people suppose, and fear that
llGIe are many none messengers VI NIOu
in their graves to-day because the bur-
den was too heavy for them to bear.
There is not only a responsibility in the
pulpit; there is a responsibility also in the
pew-upon the people as well as upon the
minister.
"Ohl my people, get under the burden
and help to lift it. You may help to lift
this burden by your sympathy. If your
minister helps you let him know it, Do not
tell him he has preached a beautiful ser
mon or that ii was a magnificent effort
for it might make him egotiStic. If he helps
you in your journey through life tell him
so; it will encourage him.
You may help to lift the burden in the
second place by your prayers. You car
have almost any kind of a minister you
want If he does not preach with JUNCTION
you can pray that JUNCTION down upon him
If he is not right, you cannot criticise
him right, but you can pray him right
Poor praying, poor preaching; good pray
ing, good preaching. Aaron and HUI
prayer and Israel was victor. Uphold
your PASTORS hands, and there will be
many victory in the name of Jesus.
You can help to Tighten the burden In
the last place by your earnest efforts. One
man cannot carry a ton, but one hundred
men can carry it anywhere. Mr. Moody
has said that he would rather set one hun
one hundred men. This is the secret Of
his wondrous success. This principle mus
prevail If we are a success as a church
Not the pastor doing all of the work, bu
the church, together with the pastor
working unitedly must succeed
the subject mo Room for Him.
| The music was a special feature of bott
the morning an evening services, partak
ing of Christmas character.