The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-21
CHURCH OFFICERS ORDAINED.
Deacons Given the Hand of Fellow
ship by Rev. DIR. Fair.

The service yesterday morning at the In
dependent Presbyterian Church was Of
unusual interest, and the large eongrega-
ton was impressed with the solemnity of
the ceremony of ordination Of the ruling
elders and deacons by the pastor, Rev.
DR.. James Y. Fair and the members Of the
church session.
The sermon was on ordination. The
text was from Corinthians 2:S-5: "Our
sufficency is of God" DR.. Fair began
by speaking of the solemn nature of the
duties of one who occupies an official po-
sltion in the church and Of the great re-
sponsibility which rests on the officers.
From the text he drew a lesson of en-
couragement for those who occupy these
positions, saying that God gives them suf-
ficiency and preparation however I'M
worthy and helpless they may be. This
sufficency flows into our hearts," he said,
Through faith and prayer and consecrated
lives"
DR.. Fair spoke of the electric light, and
asked whence its beautiful rays emanate.
As the invisible current sets the small
stick of carbon aglow, lighting brilliantly
the darkest recesses, so he likened the eff
soul by contact with God and the charac-
ter is transformed the Christian becom-
ing useful and comforting light and hap
piness upon others.
AT the close of his sermon, Dr. Fair
spoke of the long history of the church,
what 1t has done, and the lives of some of
its consecrated members whose memories
and influence still remain. He said that
even now the spirits of some of them may
h.
solemn hour of the ordination of their sue
cessors in the administration of the offices
of the church.
The pastor prayed that the church might
take up the grand legacy left by those de-
parted and be as active and useful in the
future as they have been in the past
The ruling elders of the church are
Messrs. Randolph Arson, Joseph Clay and
j. w. Preston. The pastor announced, in
accordance with the law of the church.
that these gentlemen, together with the
deacons. had been elected at the meet
ing of the congregation the Sunday be-
fore and that their ordination and installa-
ton was in order. Mr.. Preston was the
only installation necessary, as the other
elders have served terms. After the GER
emory, the ordination of the deacons was
taken up
The pastor announced that the clerk of
tine ScSSiOLli MI. IL ~ UOuldS, WOuAu
read the names of the deacons who had
been elected. This was done the clerk
reading the names of the following gen.
tlemen: Messrs c. G. Bell, w. T. Hop
kins, James Wilson, J. H. Gilbert, L. Nj.
Turner and r. G. Kreezer. The deacons
stood before the pastor, behind whom,
stood the members of the session. DR..
Fair addressed the deacons in accordance
with the rituallstic form that prevails
in the church, advising them of the du-
ties they are expected TO perform. They
then knelt and the members of the ses-
sion laid their hands upon them. The
ordination prayer was offered by the pas
tor, after which he and each member of
the session took the newly elected officers
by the hands saying: Il give you the
right hand of fellowship to take part in
this office with u.s."
DR.. Fair then made the formal an
nouncement that the gentlemen, calling
them by name, had been regularly elect
ed, ordained and installed as deacons of
the church and that as such they are en-
titled to all honor announcement and
obedience in the Lord.
The service was closed by the entire
congregation rising and singing the hymn
of fellowship. BLESSED Be The Tie That
Binds" After the service many members
of the congregation came forward to
shake hands with the newly ordained of
ficers, all Of whom enter upon their duties
with the love and We'll wishes of the con-
gregation.