The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-16

Rev. DIR. Fairs Sermon at the indie
pendent Church.

ANN's DAs IT MI : mum ~
pendent Church.
Al the Independent Presbyterian Church
last night the pastor, Rev. DR.. Fair, ad-
dressed his sermon 10 young men. The text
was Titus, 2G: Young Men Likew Sc Elk
hort TO be sober-minded.'
One of the most impressive and beautiful
traits of Paufs character" said DR.. Fair
was his sympathy with young men. No
outstanding his age, his eminence, his
learning and the multiplicity of cares
which pressed so heavily upon him, the
great apostle retained to The last an I'M
quenched interest in the young. He
scarcely ever laid down his pen without
inscTibing some earnest word or noble
thought for his fayorite class. 1t is per
haps not difficult TO trace the origin OF
this sympathy. In the sunset of his splen-
did career, he doub less recalled The far
off days Of his own Wayward and snfuf
youth, the snarSs ana pitfalls on whose
precipices he had walked so carelessly and
from whose danger he had been saved only
by the grace of God.
1t was natural Dr.. Fair said, that Paul
should look with solicltude upon the young
who with thoughtless steps were treading
the same perilous way. Hence, in the text
he exhorted young men to be sober-mind-
ed, TO take a serious view of life, to learn
Its real meaning to look at il in It's SOL
emnity and to form just conclusions In
regard to its grand possibilities and OPP
portunities and responsibilities.
One reason for this eXhortation, said Dr..
Fair, Is that heedlessness is a principal
characteristic Of youth This thoughtless-
ness often leads to sin, to sorrow, to crime,
10 evil associates and to dangers from
which they cannot escape.
How often a young man is caught in
a network of ciTcumstan bound in the
meshes of habit, moi from unusual deprav-
ity, but simply because he did not think.
You see the inebriate, an abject slave TO
the demon of drink; you recall his youth,
a fine. noble fellow, of good family, with
a good situation, bright prospects in life,
yet all blighted now-how? Ask him in
some sober moment. and doubtless he will
say, 1 didn't think-didn't believe there
was any danger of becoming
drunkard.' Over many a drunkard's
grave the inscription may be carved
Ruined by heedlessness. Young man, when
you are invited 10 drink, stop, remember
the text, think seriously of the possible
consequences of your action. Recall how
many brilliant intelects, how many noble
characters have beef wrecked by the wine
cup. 1t seems littlei you can circle it with
your hand, so shallow you can fathom il
with your little finger, and yet in reality il
is boundless, fathomless, an ocean of sor-
row and wrath, a boiling cauldron. Out
of its depths how many wrecked souls
shrek their dying walls!
You see the gambler" said Dr. Fair.
What brought MIN down TO his degrada-
ton? Likely enough it was heedlessness.
too. Just little stake put up o add in
terest to the game he didn't intend to
gamble; in fact, didn't realize that was
what he was doing but the habit was
formed, the unholy flame was kindled, and
1t has been steadily growing burning out
noble instincts, warping and distorting the
soul. When the cards are put in your
hands, remember the text, take sober
view of the consequences that have often
resulted. If the game has so little inter
est in itself that stake is necessary, then
you had better.let il alone and seek some
thing more interesting"
Another reason why young men should
be sober minded said DIR. Fair, is that
no life can be truly great and lifted up to
grand mission without earnest thought
IF you We're called to erect a great cathe-
dral, what serious thought you would give
the plant You are TO build a soul-house
which will stand longer than the stars. An
error will get the walls out of plumb and
cause its rejection by the Supreme Archi-
tect of the Universe. Sober-mindedness
leads TO success, to usefulness and to hap
piness. You are moving in a world where
gigantic forces are ever leaping and play
ing; they revolve inaudibiy but nightly,
and they are weaving out destiuies, max
ing or marring characters. If you come
l in conflict. with these great forces, suffer-
ing is inevitable. Great temptations ev-
cry day are bringing their influences to
bear. Unless you are sober-mnded you
cannot thread your way through the intri-
cate mazes of the great labyrinth. Al
ways be sober minded. Take such a view
of nfe's possibilities and attractions as will
lead you to the feet of Christ. Survey life
from the standpoint of the Cross, which
| is its only Interpretation and consumma-
ton. Give Him the love of your manly
! heart, the enthusiasm of your young life.
So shall you be fitted 10 live earnestly and
nobly and in the glorious end TO die brave
| ly and hopefully"