The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-27
WELCOMED BY GRACE CHURCH.
REV. o. +. COOK GIVEN THE RIGHT
HAND OF FELLOWSHIP.

His First Sermon as Pastor in savan-
nnh--His Congregation Assured of
His Best Efforts in Behalf of the
Church and the Cause of Christ.
The Days Services in Celebration
of Christmas.
Rev. o. r Cook was welcomed at Grace
church yesterday morning by large con-
gregation. The young minister and his
wife arrived in the city the latter part Of
last week. and have taken up their resi-
dence at the parsonage.
Christmas was observed in the service
that was held. The pastor selected his
text from Luke, 1O:11: And the angel said
unto them fear not; for, behold, l bring
you good tidings of great joy, which shall
be to all people. For unto you is born
this day in the city Of David "a savior,
which is Christ the Lord"
Mr. Cook prefaced his sermon by talk
to his congregation. He said he was glad
to be with them, and that he had no rea-
son TO regard his appointment as a disap-
pointment. He knew that he would be
transferred from his charge at Guyton,
which he had filled for four years. but he
had no thought of being sent to Grace, as
the opinion was that Rev. Mr.. Ryder,
who retired to fill the charge at Guyton,
would be retained. He said he has famil-
iarized himself with certain plans that
have been laid by his predecessor with the
object of raising the church debt, and that
they appear to him as very good.
The congregation was assured of his
determination to do all in his power for
the working out OF those plans and of his
intention to perfect others, with the as
sistance Of his members that will aid in
the contamination of the wishes of the
church with regard to the debt that is
borne.
Mr.. Cook expressed his desire to meet
all the members of the church as soon as
possible in order that he might enter at
once upon his pastoral duties with the ac-
quaintance of all of those among whom
he is to work. His request was successful
in drawing nearly the entire congregation
about the pulpit at the close of the service.
and the new pastor became acquainted
with a great many of the members of his
church.
Mr. Cook treated his subject in mas
terful manner, taking ii up in the divis-
ions laid down in the text. Attention was
called to the manner of the Punishment of
fear from the shepherds by the incarnation
of God and he referred briefly to the fear
resulting from sin and suffering and the
fear of death. The fact that death is inevi-
table and the way in which life may be
made eternal was then expressed, the
coming of God in the flesh being a perfect
manifestation of His love for all, and His
desire for their salvation. Ii is a gospel of
great joy, that of the coming of the Lord,
and good tidings of great joy are found in
the universal character of the message of
the angels to the shepherds. The child of
whose birth the shepherds were told was
the Christ, the Messiah, the Amounted one,
who introduced an era of happiness and
love
Mr. Cook spoke of the word Lord be-
ing the same as the God of the Old Testa-
ment, who condescended to make and keep
a covenant with the world, and he thus
argued the divinity of Christ and that rhe
child born in Bethlehem was God himself
THAT Christ was a savior. deliverer of
men," said Mr.. Cook, che demonstrated
by his life and his DEATH"
The music rendered by the choir was
very fine and was greatly appreciated by
the congregation. The solos by Mrs. N
J. Alderman were especially enjoyed. She
sang Might of Nights" and "Bethlehem's
Guiding STAR