The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-20
TALKED OF FAMILY RELIGION.
DIR. Fairs Sermon at the Indepen'
dent Presbyterian Church.


dent Presbyterian Church.
At the Independent Presbyterian Church
yesterday morning the pastor, Rev. DR..
Fair, preached on Family Religion" His
text was taken from the Book of Chroni-
cles, 13:14: And the ark of God remained
with the family of Obed-edom in his
house three months. And the Lord bless
ed Obed-edom and all that he had"
After giving a description of the ark,
DR.. Fair said 1t was the emblem of wor-
ship and asked what was the nature of
the blessing ID brought? Was it temporal?
Was the smile of God reflected in golden
harvests rustling in the fields and filling
the barns with plenty? Josephus says
that whereas Obed-edom was poor, his
estate suddenly increased to the envy of
his neighbors. But we must be chary in
accepting these ancient traditions. God
does not always link temporal blessings
with pety, nor does He reward fidelity
with gold. This would make religion mer-
cenary, and encourage hypocrisy. Many
would seek its gold simply for the material
help it gives. Gods richest gifts are not
temporal but spiritual, not outward
wealth, but inward, not harvests reaped
from earthly fields, but from the bound
less heavens.
80 We cannot affirm the ark brought
temporal blessing, but we may be sure it
conferred something higher and better. 1t
was the symbol of Gods presence and
blessing, the proof His footsteps had cross
ed the threshold. 1t concentrated upon
that home the gaze of heaven. Gods an
gel host encamped AROUND it.
so family religion always confers a
blessing. 1t may not bring wealth; il may
not give exemption from trouble; it may
not ward off sickness or keep clouds from
gathering, but it gives strength for every
trial, it lightens every burden, it brings
the soft sunshine of contentment The
flame in the family altar gives an unfail-
ing light that no cloud can eclipse, or
even obscure.
Family religion moulds the character of
the young and fits them for life. makes
them strong to meet temptation, to dive
useful and respected lives in the state.
DR.. Fair said no one estimated more
highly than he the benefits of culture and
refinement, but these must rest upon a
solid foundation of character and fixed
moral principles. But TO accomplish its
mission religion must be not only pro-
fessed but practiced in the home. 1t is
very we'll to have a family Bible, but it
will do no good if it lies unopened and
unread, its precepts not practced.'
Or. Fair traced the connection between
family religion and public morals, and said
when there is decline in family religion
its effects are seen in decreasing spiritu-
atty of the church. He urged parents to
teach their children reverence for the Sab
bath day, and when they are young to
form the habit of attendance upon public
worship. He said the last lesson the text
teaches is the secret of permanent home.
I'VE know nothing of Obed-edom's home,
where It was, nor what kind of house Its
foundations have totally disappeared and
the dust of ages has settled on it. but the
ark Of God lingering there a little while
shed a halo around it and impaired a fra
GRANGE that has come floating down the
centuries So We learn what makes a home
enduring and even immortal Is not wealth
not high social position, not education. but
religion. Men may build sumptuous
homes and adorn them with paintings and
statuary, but what changes are wrought
in the roll Of years! One by one the bricks
are broken the circle around the fireside
grows smaller the plot in the cemetery
grows larger; soon the last lingerer will
be gone, the house pass into the hands of
strangers, other footsteps cross its thresh-
old, other voices sound in its halls; our
names, our very memories forgotten The
only thing that can make family circle
indestructible is religion.
" Let us welcome the ark of God: where
it abides, there is no real separation; il IS
the link that binds the living and the
dead. AS we worship at it's golden mercy
seat, we catch the vision of the angel faces
that have faded from our sides; they meet
us there and commune with us. Soon we
shall gather in unbroken circle around
the heavenly mercy seat on the eternal
ark in the holy of holes. 1t is the KEY
that opens the door by which we step out
of the narrow earthly home into the am
plitude and splendor of the heavenly
home"