The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-28
THEIR FIRST SERVICE.
Christ Church CONGREGATION CeIe-
brateS Ascension Day.

The first services by the congregation
of Christ church since the destructive fire
of Saturday night were held yesterday
morning at IL O'clock in the Independent
Presbyterian church Sunday school build
ing, and were characterized by great so
lemnity.
1t being Ascension day, with the inter-
est which attaches to the services on that
day, the members of the church were even
more deeply moved than they might have
been otherwise in the realization of their
great loss. Since the burning of Christ
church the congregation and rector decid-
ed not to hold any services until yester-
day, so sorrowful was the disturbance
given them by the shock.
The invitation of the Independent Pres
byterian church for the members of Christ
church to take possession of their Sunday
school rooms until their place of worship
can be replaced was accepted, and when
the hour came for the gathering of the
congregation for the first time since it's
disaster, DR.. Fair pastor of the Independ-
ent Presbyterian, with Mr.. Randolph AK
White on the steps and held brief con-
versation in which they took occasion to
welcome the rector of the church and his
congregation to their place of worship.
The lecture room was crowded with
members of Christ church when the rec
tor began the services. After the regular
service the rector turned towards the con-
gregation with a look of earnestness and
endeavored to say something but his
voice tTembled, and he was so overcome
with the sadness of the scene and the real
ization of the moment that he broke COM
pletely down.
1t was my intention" he murmured, "to
say something to-day concerning our loss
at least to express our gratitude to our
kind friends, who have offered us their
place of worship for the time-but, my
voice fails me, and / must forego the con-
temptation"
Here the rector paused, and it was clear
to his hearers, who sat in almost BREATH
less expectation, that he could not talk
Further. He proceeded with the services,
and while the voices of the congregation
joined, the rector turned from them and
wept The scene was a pathetic one, and
many eyes were moistened with tears.
The rector, during the services, offered the
prayer for the afflicted as follows:
20, merciful God and Heavenly Father
who hast taught us in Thy holy word that
thou dost not willingly affiict or greve
the children of men, look with pity, we
beseech Thee, upon the sorrows of thy
servants, for whom our prayers are de-
sired. In thy wisdom thou hast seen fit
to visit them with trouble, and to bring
distress upon them. Remember them. o
Lord, in mercy; sanctify Thy fatherly cor
rectIon to them; endue their souls with
patience under their affliction, and with
resignation to Thy blessed will; comfort
them with a sense of Thy goodness; lift
up Thy countenance upon them and give
them peace. Through Jesus Christ, Our
Lord, Amen"
Just prior to the communion service the
choir sang:
Look on the heart by sorrow broken,
Look on the tears by sinners shed,
And be Thy feast to us the token
That by Thy grace our souls are fed"
Then the members of the church gath
cred about the altar and the communion
service was completed, after which there
was prayer offered in fervent tones by the
rector and the congregation was dismiss
ed
Those who attended the services were
much impressed and entered fully into the
spirit of solemnity which reigned. 1t was
announced that the services hereafter at
the church on Sundays will be held at IL
O'Clock in the forenoon and $50 in the af-
ternoon.