The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-02
REV. }. L. sCULLY's RETURN.
st. PauTs Rector Resumes His Pa
rOchiaI Duties.


Rev ]. L. Sculy occupied the pulpit at
st. Pau4s Episcopal Church yesterday for
the first time in several weeks. having only
recently returned from Toronto, Canada.
At the morning service Rev. Mr.. Soul
ly's text was taken from Revelations third
chapter and eighth verse. His subject
was the open door. The people to whom
the words of the text were addressed. he
sold, differed from the people of TODAY
only inetime and environment. To them.
hVlng m a place subject 20 earthquakes
ana similar disturbances, and often being
forced TO flee quickly fer their lives the,
Igure of an open door conveyed the idea
OF safety, and to the people of today IN
spiritual sense it conveys The some idea.
one of these open doors that God has
SCI before us" said Mr.. Scully 'Is the
door OF opportunity If we are not useful
IN TINS world we are failures; kind helrts
and nigh thoughts are good and excellent
IA thelr way, but the flower perishes in the
Oud unless they bear fruit. Under this
mead of opportunity there is much that
can be done to make your lives useful:
many are the children that are in the street
who might be gathered into the Sunday
school and taught of Gods greatness aud
loving Kindness. This work is an omen
door Tor you; teach them how TO live and
how to pray and leave the rest to God
There is the open door of welcome Many
person anxious TO leave the path of sin
and lead a clean life has been driven from
the door of Gods house because there was
no welcome. Emulate the example of the
English country gentry who, when they
expect a guest, throw wide the doors and
light the tapers 10 shine a welcome afar
and show him that he is expected An
other open door is that of forgiveness and
there is no wretch howe r immersed IN
sin that cannot find escape through this
door, for if God does not forgive sin but
ter be a dog and gnaw a bone than be a
man and look upon the starry heavens"
The evening sermon was on King David.
The text was taken from Second Samuel
twelfth chapter and seventh verse, "Thou
Art the Man"
1.-THE life of David" Rev Mr.. Scuay
said, was lull of contradictions, and many
hasty readers thinking only Of his mis-
deeds are filled with confidence and be-
lieve themselves better men. David was a
great sinner because he was a great man,
and it would be wel1 for some Of the mar
row. minded Insignificant creatures who
boast that they never committed a great
sin 10 remember that they probably never
had the opportunity. But David had a
great heart and yearned for God, and he
is portrayed in the Bib.e in all his moral
grandeur and moral weakness. It is hard
to recognize in the king who waged war
against the Ammonites and slaughtered
men, women, and children with all the
rulhlessness Of an cas- eIn despot with the
man who when pursued by his enemy,
Saul had refrained from killing him, al
though the opportunity was presented and
had contented himself with merely cutting
off the skirt of his garment but at this
time David was himself in trouble. and
was close to God while in the former case
his religion was in a slate of collapse; he
was suRfeited with worldly goods. David
did it, but David was sick.
And so It is withlus," said Mr.. Scu.ly.
"At times we question ourselves how we
could have done certain things. No man
is himself so clear of crime that he can
point at another and say, Thou art the
man.. and no crime was ever committed
of which any man is not capable we may
be good because it pays us to be good,
and respectable because we live among
respectable people; we are all sinners In
degree, though not in kind. There are
times, though, when conviction comes and
let us thank God when it does come, for
your religion is unhealthy when you do
not feel your sin. And so quick as convic-
ton and confession comes just so quick
does forgiveness come. Whatever may
be the blackness OF your sin, the great
God can take you out of the
mire and place your feet on the rock. And
when your conscience rises up and con-
dennis you you are only getting a fore
taste of what you may expect when you
stand before the great Judge"
Rev. Mr.. Scully has just returned from
Toronto, where he went last July in the
hope of Kidding himself of case Of ma
larial fever. His health is entirely restor-
ed, and he will resume his parochial du-
ties at once. Owing to his recent return,
he has not yet mapped out the winters
work, but will make his announcements
regarding it from the pulpit next Sunday.
He has decided, however, to organize con-
firmation classes at once, and during Ad-
vent will preach four special sermons
treating of the symbolism of the stars, of
the building, of the vestments, and of the
communion Office. He will also arrange to
be at the church on Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays, between and 10 o'clock.