The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-10
DIR. FAIRS FIRST SERMON.
He Preached to "A Crowded Church at
Two Services.


/ The congregation which greeted Rev.
James Y. Fair, the new pastor of the In
dependent Presbyterian church, yesterday
/ completely flied the spacious edifce. The
| services were full of interest.
| 1t was the first sermon that DR.. Fair
| had preached at this church as its pastor,
| and for this reason there was particular
| interest in the morning services. When
| the strains of music from the choir had
/ died away, the new pastor made the an
nouncements for approaching services,
and then took up the lesson Of the day.
lie read appropriate selections from the
| Scriptures, after which he approached the
| text of his sermon for the day, Psalm
xcii., y, "The righteous shall flourish like
the palm tree; he shall grow like cedar
of Lebanon"
From this appropriate theme DR.. Fair
drew out some well chosen and forceful
aualOgies, picturing the cedar of Lebanon
as a striking illustrator Of the church, and
Of the doctrine Of Christianity. The first
analogy drawn was to show that religion
first appears in the breast of the individ-
ual as the small seed of the cedar, which
may fan in fertile soil and take root.
Then il begins TO grow and the doctrine
of Christianity is firmly planted. In this
comparison there was splendid opportun-
ity for showing how timid and tender is
the first sprig of religion, and how it
should not be neglected but fonded and
nurtured that 1t may take frmer root
and grow as did the cedar on the noun
tain side
one Of the strongest pictures of COM
parison and the one most firmly and elo-
quently set forth, was that the cedar of
Lebanon was mistaken by the blasts Of
the storm, and never withered by the eX-
tremes Of varying seasons, but, on the
contrary, was left all the more triumph
ant and strong after the storm had pass
ed, and he showed how essential that the
life of a Christian should be unswerved
by the powerful stroke of adversities
which come like the wintry blasts to the
tree of Lebanon. He spoke of the fact
that the cedar is an evergreen, and en-
phasized the Importance OF a Christian s
being always alive and growing in grace.
The cedar of Lebanon was indigenous to
that soil and climate alone. True, it could
be planted elsewhere, and might grow, but
not to flourish, as 1t would do at Lebanon.
So with the Christian and the church, it
being peculiarly proper that he should
belong TO the church, as here he would
fulfil to the greatest degree the life that
Is allotted him, and meet the responsible
ties and duties of Christianity and reig-
a good man and remain out of the church.
at the same time he could not be true to
every duty of religion and not be mem
ber The church was the place for all be-
levers in Christianity, and all who live
up to the doctrines thereof.
The sermon was forceful and was deliv-
cred in a style that embodied all that Is
persuasive, eloquent instructive and
what is, perhaps, more rare-entertainine
When Dr. Fair had finished the sermon
and was about to dismiss the congregation
he advanced and in tones of earnestness
made a brief talk of a personal charac-
ter to the members of the church by way
of greeting. He said that he realized the
responsibilities resting upon him in as
Stunning the pastorate. He felt that all he
could do was to preach the word of God
and have faith that such work might bear
fruit He had no changes TO inaugurate
as their new pastor, but he would rejoice
with them in all their joys and when the
hand Of Providence dealt that which
makes mankind mourn he would mourn
with them, and hoped to aid them in bear
ing all their sorrows. In the work that is
before him he begged hearty cooperation
and patience.
This little talk to the members of the
church was listened to with great interest
and it was clear that it was received with
a spirit of profound concurrence and SYM
patty
In the afternoon DIR. Fair visited the
Sunday school. He was escorted to each
class and introduced to the members and
teachers. After visiting all the classes
he gave a short talk or lecture to the
school as a whole, after the nature of the
talk he had made to the members Of the
church in the forenoon. He admonished
the scholars to pursue with increased zeai
their weekly lessons, and called upon the
teachers to continue their good work for
the cause of religion with a newness of
life, pledging his aid in every way and ell
times.
Last night DR.. Fair preached from the
text: Il will look up" Psalm v:3.
He first explained David's object in
forming this resolution-tnat he would look
up, not to see the beauties of heaven, but
the God enthroned there He showed
what influence this had on the life of Da-
vid. From that he went on to show how
small are earthly things, how vain and
idle earthly hopes and aims and plans in
comparison with things divine. "Ths
world seems great to us" he said, when
we look about us, but when we rise and
the immensely of creation dawns, the
world dwindles into comparative insignih-
canoe. In this interplay of revolving
worlds. what Is man with his little dreams
| and plans2 Oh. monarch, If the globe
could be thy kingdom, the world thy mos
| leum, the mountains thy monumental
shaft, and the oceans chant thy ceaseIess
| dirge. thy sepulcher would be unknown.
| What is a breath of fame? A
| dew-dorp Of pleasure hand
| full of gold, or a wreath of laurel?
| To counteract this, when we look up we
see that heaven is the home of law and
/ order Eternal love Is the throne there
watching not only over a starry world
| but over as and our lives, lifting man up
| to Immortality"
Or. Fair went on 10 enumerate the times
| and places i'm life when It is particularly
\ essential to look up when we walk the
narrow passes of life" he said eve should
! look up, just as this is the admonition of
! the guides to the tourists while climbing
/ the dizzy nights Of the Alps. They saw
! Look up; don't look down"
The sermon was full'of practical lessons
and admoniuons and was heard by a
| large congregation.
orr FOR EFFINGHAM COURT.