The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-26
RAVAGES OF THE MOTH.
The Little Insect Made the Subject
of n Sermon by DIR. Fair.

The Little Insect Made the Subject
of a Sermon by DIR. Fair.
AT the Independent Presbyterian Church
yesterday morning the pastor Rev. DIR.
Fair, preached from James SO, "Your gar
ments are moth-eaten."
In the text the destruction caused by
the moth was used to illustrate the raw
ages of sin in the character. The first
suggestion is the method in which the de-
struction of character begins.
In the twilight of summer day." said
Dr Fair, you rest in the shade of your
home, floating on the soft air, and per-
maps mingling with the perfume of flow
ers' you see minute object which, in
structure and grace of airy facile move
meht is one of the most beautiful in the
winged creation. Its wings reflect the
hues of the rainbow; its body of pearly
whneness and delicate shades of pink COM
ONES, like the tabled shell of antiquity
from which Venus emerged. You sur
Vey 1t with curiosity and wonder;
II seems to be perfectly harmless, and in
user 1t is. 1t has no biting sting 1t does
not disturb your drowsy ear with harsh,
1iScordant song; it wings it's beautiful
IlIght silently around you, flutters noise
4essly from room to room. softer than
uoWh, almost as attenuated as the inn
PalpaDle air in which 1t reposes; the SUM-
Set ray that fiickers on the wall scarcely
seems more lovely or harmless. In the
tlIiidlty of its shrinking nature, it seems
10 niger as If hesitating on the thresh-
oid' but at last floats through the open
window almost reluctantly.
Nhat Is this airy vistant whose en-
rance you do not repel, but even wei
come asked the preacher 1T is the
ino.ner OF moths" he said. Harmless,
Deautiful in itself, but the origin of in
Vulnerable, insidlous foes that will assail
your treasure and reduce it to dust. So
slh enters through the open windows of
'he soul. There are thoughts, habits. oc-
Supdtiohs and amusements which seem
Harmless Ia. They come 10 us clothed in
tne robes of fashion, invested with the
Deauty OF the world and sanctioned by
.ustoin Like the moth-miller, they flut-
W III Inc twilight, lowering between day
anu night and partaking of the qualities
eaeh, springing up in the border
1ana which separates between light
b,iu darkness, lingering in the broad
navy underlined horizon, where truth
shaues Off into error and we cannot draw
.ne line of distinction or build the boun-
Gary wall betwixt the confines of the two.
pm often begins in practices which may
harmless, but which breed moral
ho'hs mat perforate and destroy the
on..a ,ri and cut il into shreds.''
ne text suggests again." said DR..
4, ar the method in which the destruc-
non OF character is prosecuted. How are
ouI garments moth-eaten? The work is
not accomplished instantly, but it goes
vi gradually. In the dark, unvlsited
.sOoni' where our treasure is laid away, the
S,ucuve moth works silently and Sc
Dieuy' There is no sound 70 indicate to
you mat hostile bands have invaded your
-Ie' round their way to the secret spot
"1lch you had locked. and are carrying
a. az 'helr work of destruction night and
S ay renorselessly And on some festive
10y Wnen YOU bring your treasure out into
.ie light, behold it is moth-eaten, ruined,
'thless. Would you present yourself
az the court OF a king in a moth-eaten
SS"rnentf Would ID not bring shame and
nsilsoh upon you? So, while we
may fancy we are strong and
pure within, the moral moth may
ossat work. There is no indication the cit
SSoel Is beleagured by a subtitle foe; we
d al no sound of their busy hands tear
oWu the battlements and raze the foIn-
tbS r. We feel no pang. but thread by
sHteau and strand by strand, the delicate
deIic Is rent asunder, and in the hour of
- "a Wnen the light of eternity falls up
~ ~ me soul, behold il is moth-eaten. rid
ieu with covetousness and envy and mall
IN ana prldel Can we stand before God
ILL., suSn raiment. lift up our heads among
lmmacuiate? "''N
oao me text again is solemn warning
s9 9Slst me danger of little SINS" Dr. Fair
s,,a,V' Inc moth, is a little thing so
No a'aI you can scarcely see 1t. 1t carries
bo,r psar, 1t lifts no battleax; il bends no
an ~ nts no arrow upon the string yet
banS..e rum and devastation of predatory
10 not equal 70 the destruction