The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-01
THE LAW or CHURCH GROWTH.
HEv. nm. FAIR SHOWED HOW THE
CHURCH SHOULD BE BUILT Up.

His First sermon since His Return
from Hts summer Naeation-sub-
jcct Was The Law Underlying
Church Growth"-AII True ana
Permanent Growth Comes from the
Lord-Divine Power the source OF
All Growtb-How Human Agencies
Mork-uusic for the MorninE and
Evening Services at the Independ-
cnt Presbyterian Furnished by
chorus choir from the orphan
Home.
Rcv. Or James y Fair addressed che
congregation 81 the Indepndent Preshy-
terrain Church Yesterday for the first time
IN several weeks The service IN the morn
ing WAS the first In which he had appear
"a before his people since his return from
his summer vacation. which was spent IN
the North ana East and in Canada. After
the service ,ho pastor was warmly greet
"a by the members OF the church
The music OF the morning and evening
services was a feature. Il was rendered
boy Mr.. Robert Ellington. who presided AZ
the organ. and chorus choir OF nine
girls from the Savannah Female Orphan
Home The young girls have excellent
voices. ard the fresh vitality OF their
songs were greatly enjoyed
The choir Of the Independent Church has
bccn somewhat broken up. and the aid Of
the girls from the Home was appreciated.
Mrs. wickenbcrg the soprano. has NOV
"a usff L. NfFf.aLrnN1srra~ a..
and her place IA the choir viii b. difiicult
10 nm. One OF the two members Of the
Music Committee Of the church Is away
from the city. so 81 Is not known what will
Doc done toward nllng the position left va
cant by Mrs. wickenberg. Her many
friends and those who have enjoyed her
singing will regret 20 know that she has
left the city
DR. Fair chose an appropriate subject
for his first sermon Of the new year OF
work upon which he viii enter II was
''Thc Law Underlying Church Growth"
and the text was drawn from Acts. 2.i5.
And the Lord added TO the church daily
such a. should b. saved" After an I'M
PRODUCTION, IN which he touched upon
the importance of the question OF
church work the pastor directed
tho attention Of hts congregation TO
the fact that an true and permanent
growth In che church comes from the Lord
and not from man. this heinz the princi-
pal instruction Of the text.
only divine power" said Or Fair can
construct our imperfect natures anew.
But while this divine power Is the source
Of all growth. yet We learn from the con-
text u works through human agencies.
The first OF these agencies a. the preach
ing Of tho Gospel We are told that the
apostles daily preached through Jesus the
remission of sin and the resurrection OF
the dead. To build up a church. then. the
Gospel must b. preached. not literature.
science or art
The second means specified for the up
building Of a church was united prayer.
we are told" said Or. Fair. that the
early church continued daily in prayer.
So 10 build NJ q church. a duty devolves
upon the pew as well as upon the pulpit
While the minister holds up Chris, the
people must pray that he be mode eftec-
tive unto salvation"
The last means specified through which
divine power acts was holy living on the
part OF Christians. Those early disci-
Piles. we are told" said Or. Fair. con
tinucd sieadfassly In the apostles doctrine
and fellowship. although persecution ana
death stared them iu the fnce Perfect
unity reignod among them. and they laid
down an their possessions az the feet OF
Christ"
The pastor showed hat q was daily that
Christ added TO the church, and not by
means OF an occasional revival His work
was CONSTANT. Those. too. were saved
who were DESTROYS. as the Lord added TO
the church such as should be saved. The
mistakes Of rcvivais when imperfect re-
formations OF brief duration are some-
times wrought. were avoided. DR.. Fair
concluded by commencing these means 20
his congregation for the upbuilding OF the
church.