The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-22
FOREIGN MISSION DAY.
Rev. DIR. Fairs Sermon at'the indie
pendent Church.

pendent Church
The collection al the Independent Pres
byterian Church yesterday morning was
for foreign missions. and the sermon of
the pastor, Rev. DR.. Fair was based on
that subject His text was Romans ia:
Il am debtor to the Greeks and the Bar
barians both 90 the wise and unwise.'
Rhetoricians of ancient and modern
times have agreed, DR.. Fair said. that the
test of a really great mind is originality.
Not brinance not extent of Information,
nor a wide accumulation Of what others
thought, but the origination of thought
Its creation and discovery, additions to
the sum of knowledge blazing out new
facts, opening new vistas. Measured by
this test. the apostle Paul possessed a
truly great mind. Few others contributed
so many original conceptions or put in
circulation SO many new and fruitful
thoughts. His was a mind TO analyze
truth, to dissect principles, 10 trace laws
back to their fontal source and apply them
in new directions He did for the spirit
ual consciousness of mankind what Aris-
totle did for the mental world, gathering
up detached principles and formulating
them into the foundation of an exact sci
ence. In the text we have one of these
great original conceptions which has been
as seed corn OF the ages. When he con-
sidered his relation as a redeemed man
he felt himself a debtor TO the world. This
was certainly new to the philosophy of
the age.
In their seldshness men thought the
world was debtor to them. This impress
sion widely fingers yet; we often hear it's
echoes. But Paul reverses the natural
mans theory; he felt he was under obi
cation 90 lay down his gifts at the SER
vice of others and to share his kuowledge
ana happiness even with the ignorant and
degraded. He was not merely member
OF one nation, but of the entire human
race, the whole world had claims upon
him. He drew the inspiration of his life
from the future, willing to toll and suffer
that others might be happy This
original conception of his changed
the history of the world; it led to the in
PRODUCTION of Christianity into Europe and
us ultimate spread to this new world We
enjoy Its fruits to-day
When Sir Isaac Newton. said DIR. Fair
discovered the law of gravitation. by which
worlds are held in place ana
the equilibrium of the universe
IS preserved in safety and beauty.
1t was regarded as a great discovery, and
indeed 1t was. But without this discov-
cry the stars would continue to roll on
their mighty orbits, the sun to rise and
'--AA+NF iANh NCdlu Walk III ltS Ught. naVl-
gate the seas, accumulate fortunes and en-
JOY all the temporal blessings of life. But
without PauPs idea of moral Indebtedness.
the world would never have been evange-
hzed men would never feel the links of
Kindness and brotherhood which extend
around the world and by their golden
bonds hold men true to each other and TO
God. The basis of this obligation to help
the weak is the law of humanity. am
standing nv the fall !.
fallen IN the water and is sinking. AS
ne sweeps by in reach of nv hand. ran 7
STAND Dack and say, l never signed any
contract to help him? The CITY Council
mas never passed an ordinance TO compel
me? l pass by a burning building. the
aged, the sick, little children cry to me
to save them. Shall l decline on the
ground the legislature has never passed a
law requiring me to help the perishing?
The great unwritten law of humanity
springing up in the heart requires the
strong to help the weak-those who have
the gospel TO send it to those who have it
not.
In closing his sermon Dr. Fair contrasted
the grandeur of this work with the mea-
ger support it received from the churches.
There are many Christian families VINO
spend on an evenings entertainment more
than they give in a whole year to the
spread of the gospel. He urged all Chris
dans to take an interest in this work, and
said that in setting it before them. he felt
1t afforded all the grandest privilege of
their lives, to be co-workers with God in
helping and saving the world.
After the sermon the congregation sang
the missionary hymn, From .Greenland's
Icy Mountains" The music of this hynn
was composed by Lowell Mason while or
ganist of the Independent Church.
Rev. w. Fl. Hudson, missionary of the
Southern Presbyterian Church in China.
is supported by the Ladies Missionary So
ciety of the Independent Church.
Rev L. r. Lynn of Darien will preach in
the Independent Church next Sunday. DIR.
Fair will be at Agnes Scott Institute TO
preach the commencement sermon.