The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-14
DIR. FAIRS VACATION TINE.
Independent Churchs Pastor VIII
Leave To-day.

Independent Church's Pastor VIII
Leave To-day.
Yesterday was Rev. Or. Fairs last Sun
day with the Independent Presbyterian
Church before going away on his vaca-
ton At the morning service the sacra-
ment of baptism was administered to an
infant according 10 the ancient and sol
emn ritual of the Church of Scotland
Dr. Fair announced that during his alb
sence the pulpit would be supplied for
three Sundays by Rev. c. c. Carson of
Valdosta, Ga, and for the three remain
ing Sundays by Rev. E. D. McDougan
Of ThomasviIe, Ga.
Dr. Fairs text was from Rev 4:3: There
was a rainbow about the throne" The
rainbow, he said is type of perfect
beauty. 1t confers pleasure upon every
observer; the little child pauses in It's
play the philosopher lays down his book
to admire it. No aesthetic culture is nee
essary to appreciate its beauty; it is APP
parent to the peasant as well as the ar
fist
so We" said DIR. Fair ARE taught
heaven is the home of beauty. 1t will
meet and satisfy all our cravings. Its
JOY VIII be adapted TO every nature TO
the soul of the little infant and 10 the
deep longings of such a spirit as the apos-
tie Paul. Nothing viii be lacking there
to minister TO the pleasure of the redeem
ed. But there is also in the text a refer
ence to the covenant of grace. The rain
bow is the divinely appointed emblem of
Gods covenant with man. This was not
only on account of it's beauty, but for a
deeper reason. In ancient times the bow
was the principal weapon of war. 1t was
therefore the emblem of hostility. A
broken or inverted bow was the emblem
of peace. So this rainbow round the
throne is a token of peace between God
and man. 1t is an inverted bow, not
turned toward the earth, but away from
1T; no arrow is on the string 1t teaches
that the throne of justice has been chang
ed to the throne of grace and man can
come to GOD as his Father and Friend.
The last lesson drawn from the text was
that the tears of earth are necessary to
complete the beauty and happiness of
heaven. The rainbow is formed by the
rays of the sun shining through the rain
drops If there were no storm there would
be no rainbow, and earth would be shorn
of its great beauty: it would never weave
around its purified brow the crescent
crown and diadem Of the skies.
80 our Affections" said DR. Fair, when
sanctfed to us, fit us for heaven. We
often wonder why so many clouds gather
over us, and why We shed so many bitter
tears. The rainbow round the throne an
sWers. The tears we shed over sin are
not wasted: God counts them, puts them
into His bottle some day they will flash
as jewels in our crown. The sadder the
parting under the dark cloud here, the
sweeter the meeting under the rainbow
there. Wherefore be patient and hopful;
ere long the cloud will break and under
the arch of the infinite bow spanning the
eternal throne, you viii see the King in
His beauty and your loved ones al His
side"
At the conclusion of the service many
came forward to shake hands with the
pastor and wish him a pleasant vacation
Saturday night DR.. Fair conducted the
exercises at the Port Society and preached
to the sailors from the text "Then they
gladly received Him into the ship" The
lessons drawn were that Christ follows
every ship that goes to sea, that when
He Is received on board He fills the ship
with gladness and brings it at last into The
desired haven. The seamen Joined very
heartily in the singing, which was very
spirited aud beautiful, and after the re-
hgious exercises were over the ladies serv-
ed refreshments. An interesting feature
OF the service was the presence of some
Spanish sailors, who though they did not
understand English were very reverent
and attentive.
Rev. DR.. Fair accompanied bv
Miss Josephine Fair, will leave to-day
for Lincolnton, n. c. where he VIII spend
a part OF his vacation with relatives
From there he VIII 80 North and VIII take
an extensive trip before returning.
During his absence DR.. Fair will be
heard in a number Of prominent churches
He has engagements TO preach in Char
lotte, N. c., Washington city and Sara
toga. His reputation in Savannah as an
able attractive speaker IS sure to be sus-
tanned at each of the places he Is 10 be
heard. lie expects to return 10 the city
about Oc:. J.
In their desire TO add to the pleasures
OF Or. Fairs vacation "trip the Knights
Templar remembered him handsomely
Saturday with check for 500
which he will apply to the expenses OF the
trip Mr. II. T.. Wilson, Eminent Com
rnander of Palestine Commandery of The
Knights Templar, called at Or. Fairs res
idence on Oglethorpe avenue, and in the
name Of the commandcry presented him
the money. His graceful act of kindness
stirred Dr. Fairs heart TO its deenest
depths and filed him with inexpressibIe
gratitude. lie ga d this kindness made him
feel proud 10 belong 10 the noble and
maRnanimous order Of the Knights Tenn
piar. DR.. Fair was for a long time prelate
OF the order, ana the great interest he has
taken IN It's work prompted the members
10 express a material acknowled cement
~ H.
-.--o-~-
For over Fifty Years