The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-03
Rev. DIR. Fairs Appeal for Them and
for the Public Schools.


Rev. DR. Fair, pastor of the Independent
Presbyterian Church, preached his first
sermon after returning from his summer
vacation yesterday morning. The service
was held in the Sunday school building, as
the church is undergoing repairs.
In the preliminary services DIR. Fair re-
turned thanks to God for.the Homecoming
of our soldier boys and tenderly prayed
for those desolate homes whose inmates
listen for the sound of footsteps that will
never return. He remem bered also the
opening of the public schools to-day nd
invoked a blessing upon the teachers and
pupils.
His subject was christian Usefulness"
the text being taken from Philippians,
PIG. That I may rejoice in the day of
Christ, that I have not labored in vain,
neither run in vain"
The first point he pressed was that every
Christian should aspire TO be useful.
when we look into the material world"
he said, 1--WE see that God has not made
anything in vain. We can discover moth
ing that is useless. Even those things
whose purpose we cannot al first perceive,
show, upon closer inspection and wider
knowledge, that they subserve some prac-
tical design. The dust we trample under
foot, the VaporS that seem to melt into
nothingness the little insect that lives
only for an hour and whose existence can
be detected by the microscope alone all
these fulfil some purpose. Thus in a blind,
unconscious way, everything in nature
finds it's use All creation is on the for
ward march; the wheeling worlds above
fall into line; the lowest types of existence
on earth keep step.
To the harmony of inaudible music and
the floating of invisible banners, the uni
verse sweeps on to fulfil its destiny. Shall
man, then, the last and noblest work of
God, be without some great purpose? In
this grand world, where everything is
busy to find and do it's work, shall the
Christian alone be useless? Endowed with
reason and Immortality, redeemed by the
atoning blood of Deity the miracle of re-
generation wrought in his moral nature,
shall he live in vain? Shall he, with this
splendid endowment and his magnificent
opportunities, fulfil a lower destiny than
clouds and insects that perish?
In what does Christian usefulness con-
,-ist?" Dr. Fair asked. mot in some
grand isolated actions, but in living true
and earnest and humble lives, in doing the
work that comes to our hands day by day;
by speaking gentle words and kindly chart
ties by reaching out a helping hand TO
lift up the fallen and oppressed. To this
the Christian, If he would be useful must
he continuously devoted; not indeed that
he is to forsake or neglect his daily voca-
tion: he is to carry his re-
Iigion into business, to make bust
ness means of usefulness and a
channel through which he may do good to
others. This is the purpose of every true
life that was ever lived. 1t was the pur-
nose even of him who was the highest and
most uerfect. The noblest epitaph that
the infinite fingers could inscribe on that
new-hewn tomb in Joseph's garden was:
He went about doing good.
How NAV we fulfil this essential and
beautiful mission? Only by the help of
Gods ornnipotent spirit. Without the in
dwelling of the spirit the most brilliant
intellect cannot be truly and permanently
useful. 1t may dazzle and attract but 1t
cannot convert and save. With the spirit
the dullest mind can think good thoughts
ord originate noble deeds. the weakest
and moet awkward hands become skilled
ia holm and 10 work the works of God Let
ms in faith and prayer seek earnestly the
eficient aid of the Holy Spirit. So shall
we live our little lives bravely and well,
and like Paul rejoice in the day of Christ
maj we have not abored in vain.
The collection taken up was for the poor
fund Of the church. In the absence of
Mrs Harrison, the regular organist
Of the church. Mr. Ellington presided
at the organ. The August storm injured
the church more seriously than was at
first believed, and it may be some little
time before the congregation can occupy
the building. IL is hoped the large marble
panel on which the name Of the church
Is to be inscribed, and which Is being pre-
pared by the generosity of the flower COM
fnittee, will soon be put in place above
the main entrance.