The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-06
METHoDiSTS IN MANY PULPlTS.
NEARLY ALL OF THE CHURCHES
IN THE CITY FILLED BY THEM.

HiShOp Key at " eSleH hOuuT IN e n Ia l.
The ordination of DeRcons and
Elders an Impressive Ceremony.
To-day the Last Day of the Confer
ence SeSsion-The Announcements
Will BE Made TO-niGht-Sermons in
some of the Churches.
Methodism was the denomination from
which nearly all the preachers who were
heard yesterday in Savannah churches
were drawn. All The pulpits Of the city,
with the exception Of those Of the Episco-
Pal and Catholic churches, We're filed at
the morning and evening services by cler-
ical delegates TO the South Georgia annual
conference. Large congregations were had
al ali the churches.
At Wesley Monumental church, the
morning service was attended by a con-
gregauon that filled all the available space
oi the floor of the auditorium, while there
were but very few seats remaining vacant
ia the galleries. 1t is said that the
church, on account of its pews being ar
ranged closely together, affords a greater
seating capacity than any o-her in the
city.
the day was to be preached by Bishop Jo-
seph 5. Key. the presiding officer of the
conference and that the ordination service
would be performed by him for a class of
deacons were the events that drew such
a congrega lion. The church was hand
someiy and tastefully decorated, cut
flowers shedding beauty and per-
fume about the pulpit and grace
full palms of unusual hight standing with
in the chancel rail, in the pulpit and in the
choir gallery. Above ALL suspended by
an invisible wire across the recess of the
gallery. were the green letters OF the word
Welcome as it has stood since last
Wednesday, when the conference delegates
were received.
The bishops sermon was greatly enjoy
ed. He preached Of Christ. He first read
the passage of scripture that describes the
meeting of St. Philip wiki the Jew who
was returning to Ethiopia. where he was
high in authority. after having been to
Jerusalem 20 attend the pentecostal cele-
bratons. Upon this passage he built his
sermon. which appealed strongly, both to
the sentiment and reason of his hearers.
The sermon was a study of the glorious
processes Of the divine spirit.
Bishop Key spoke of the high places to
which the Jews of all times have arisen,
saying that this particular man. who was
met on The desert road by St. Philip and
led 10 Christ through his ministry was
one Of The powerful in Ethiopia. He pic
tured the religion of the jew and his jour
ney TO Jerusalem to be present a the holy
festival. The story of the times was Civ
en-; how the Christ had been crucltied the
year before and how this very man
might have Witnessed the deed; how the
Whole country was ag0g with excitement
that was but partially suppressed. know
ing that something of vast interest was
on the point of transpiring. ST. Philip, he
said, was UP in Samaria holding a great
revival, a revival wonderful in its results,
when the call of God came to him TO leave
and go TO the south. He was directed by
the Lord TO take The desert road, and
there he entered into communion with his
God. Then, as now, the bishop said, il is
the wish often of the Chris ian TO be alone
with his Maker far from the noise and
turmoil of the world, in the seclusiou
where the mightiness of the spirit makes
itself felt in all Of its grandeur.
The Jew was reading from the prophecy
found in Isaiah when he was met by
Philip, who asked him: "Understandest
thou, what thou readest?" The Jew was
not angry when the words of the apostle
were addressed to him. He took the
preacher into his chariot, and there the
meaning was explained and the glorious
1ulhllment of the prophecies, as shown il
the coming Of Christ, was made clear 10
the mind of the Jew.
The bishop said that the prophecies
through all the ages, from the earliest time
up to His coming. told minutely, explicit
", exactly, definitely, with special detail
as TO time and place and circumstance,
of the coming of the Messiah, and the adj
in the verihcat!on of the predictions of
the prophets. All the mighty men the
world has seen, the statesmen, the soldier
the churchman, the artist, the poet, may
be taken and in none is found that reali-
cation of the prophecies that, at a glance,
betrays itself in the life of She Christ
summary of what the prophets had fore
told Of the wonderful man who was to
come was given. and they We're shown 10
apply in every detail 10 the advent of the
Christ.
The Sanhedrims trial of the Son of God
was described by the bishop, and also his
appearance before Pontius Plate and
Herod. The scorn of the Savior for him
was shown in his refusal to answer the
quizzing questions addressed 10 him by
Herod, and the bishop said that this Is the
only record of where the Christ had re-
fused to answer when asked a question.
Bishop Key said he wanted TO take his
''~i44 a. uPAiOiu4AS lhe iulllluleit o. tne
prophecies Of the coming of the Messiah
as realized in Christ, for he himself said
search the scriptures, meaning not the
New Testament, for that had not been
written, but the old. He said that there
is no higher proof to he found Of the di-
vinity of the Lord than that existing in
this fulhlment
The people Of earth, the bishop said.
should DE divided into two great classes,
believers aud unbelievers. No possible ex-
cuse, he said, can be made for those who
believe on Jesus Christ and yet do nos re-
caive him. In ancient times. he said. the
Roman. in the fun pride and arrogance of
his nature, said: "All roads lead to Rome
Now, he said. it should be, "aH preaching
leads to Christ" That should be the OBJ
ject and aim of all preaching.
ORDAINED DEACONs AND ELDERS.