The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-02
-gr GREATNESS OF A CITY.
,,rp,s RETURN TO THE INDIE
p''' PENDENT CHURCH.

LwHm
Xot Local in Terms, But So in APP
plicntion.
=. his sermon at the Independent Pres
,-,,ri,p church last night Rev. J. Y. Fair,
n discussed the subject of in what
~. real greatness OF a city consists While
arec..v applicable locally, the sermon do
1o,j Ush the local situation in terms
IL mn reference was made to the con-
,-,rersy on the subject of gambling or to
~ enforcement of any special Jaw or set
Of laws.
Yesterday was DR.. Fairs first Sunday
r.rb the Independent Presbyterian Church
.noa his return from his vacation, and
,,rge CONGREGATIONS were present at both
5e morning and night services. The
morrfng sermon was appropriate to the re-
openins of the church after the summer
holidays. The topic was Incense of
Praise the idea being that joyfulness
should characterize the return to the house
of Cod Special prayer was offered by
the pastor for Gods blessing upon teach
ers Jnd pupils upon the occasion of the
reoDening Of the schools.
AT night Or. Fair discussed 1.-THE Great
ness of City" the text being from Isaiah,
2l. put on thy beautiful garments, o
Jerusalem the Holy City" DR. Fair be-
Gun his discourse by saying that the age
in which We live is characterized by the
rradomuance Of chies. Along the stretch
Of our sea coast ana across the continent
great cities are springing up like mag c.
uvaHng Venice of Old, as she reigned by
the shores of the Adriatic, the bride of
the sea- Others of these cities equal
Rome ia population, when she reigned mis-
tress of The world.
at is truly phenomenal this growth of
American cities" said DR.. Fair. mot only
so in population, but they are growing in
influence They dominate the country in
teliecually. socially. financially and, what
Is more significant, they are beginning TO
dominate il politically They already TO
a large extent control legislation. and If
the present tendency continues the day
does not seem TO be far distant when they
will mold national legislation and decide
what form our government shall assume
In the strange revolution of history we
seem to be coming back to the day when
cities ruled the world so far as human
Judgment can foresee. The future of
America seems to be wrapped up I'm her
cities Make the cities pure and clean aud
the entire country will feel the wholesome
influence. Let the cities become corrupt
and the country is doomed. 1t becomes us,
therefore to study this tendency, to watch
tae welfare of our cities, and to trace out
The elements of weakness and strength"
What is great city?" he inquired.
Some measure a city's greatness by its
territorial extent. If it has large pop
ulaton, good banking facilities, good con-
neet'ons with the outside world, wide and
growing trade, many pronounce it great
city. Others look at a city from the ar
tsdc standpoint. 1t may be small. but IL
II is beautifully situated. with picturesque
scenery of mountains and lakes they call
/. great.
Others, again, look at a city from the
Intellectual standpoint, the invisible trend
Of thought, the home of genius, is more
70 them than a vast population or ex-
pors or imports. Others still look at a
pace from the historic standpoint The
Alue village of Stratford. where Shake
speare lived, or the fields of Arpinum,
Where Cicero played in childhood, stir
lood-tdes of interest and reverence such
as the densest aggregation of human be-
lnss or the tallest buildings man can rear,
do not touch.
mus mems estimates of a city's great
ness differ, but in the text we have Gods
eshmate which never changes. Jerusalem
Nds an ancient city a historic city.
"'dltHy city, a beautiful city. a strongly
iol 'IIIed city. Not in these, however, was
Hs true strength and greatness to be
found. but in the beautiful garments of
nylueSs We learn, then that the true
g. Gio.$ OF a city is IN its religious privileges,
iu tHe HRht of the gospel, its churches.
~ hospitals its Institutions of charity. in
ns MONIES for the poor, the erring and the
uluorl innate. In its purity, kindness. mu--
,.l and individual cleanness. If men
r rDo.' make their cities truly great, they
mus U5 make them truly holy.
to.i. m the light of the text the his
WY oil Jerusalem furnishes another sug-
5ssINe lesson. Mere knowledge of God
~ not make a city holy and strong.
o ei,S law must be obeyed, and pract.ced in
io..i department of life. Although Jerusa-
' '.JoNed great RELIGIOUS ADVANTAGES
"ltn Christ came it rejected Him
o 0l refused TO obey his voice. The result
"o2 'ne city was destroyed the Roman
tS5 Iefched in triumph on the Ark of
fan "Fendn'. and when the great templa
o., ttSounding crash echoed The truth
-. 81 Is lhe destruction Of a Citv." yVealtb
armies and navies cannot rernat,,ota :,
srra .'uHoed in wrong. Jerusalem ia led 10
brl,,S herself in the beautiful garments of
bo5, -, one deched not her heart. but her
III WIN the outward semblance, and the
WIN, iooe was rent asunder and covered
VIII. nl, aust ana blood.
or3 ms Is the lesson also OF ancient Ronne
ci 'iI linens, too. If men would make their
wiz 1Iuiy great they must build NOT onlv
s,o,, marble and stone. but The living
I'M u character, integrity, Justice AMI
gro,'+ II Is wei to construct under
I'm, 81, sewers to carry off material Gltb.
p1ral ~ Just as necessary o cleanse away
In "' SINE and pollut on"
q ~ yohcIusion DR.. Fair asked; as ours
toriC o'y eI'y? 1t is a beautiful city. his
Vlrl, NY, us name is known around the
mid mat ought TO be a source of inst
sot''. 10 every citizen. But is there nor
en-, ,Ilng higher and better? Is Christ
thin ', ,5 IN our city? Are there not many
s4,r' ,.al oisp'case him? Open sins ami
rff , wees that riot in darkness. thar
blooa crested heads and suck the ufe
sori5 vi me body polite, and DRAG
slri,.. uoWn TO perdition. Let us
W.. TO make our civ bolv
rnn,,, Dung men can be safe from cor.
can us nuuences. To do this each one
bor, minute an important share. BE
ro3. h. 9,uIseh. a living stone squared ana
...,,' ana fitted into the wall of The
r strength. If you could build a no
VfH