The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-03
DUFFY STREETS NEW PASTOR.
mr. Van Deventer's Subject for his
Initial Sermon.

Initial Sermon.
Rev. RSssri Van Deventer preached
yesterday at the Duty street Baptist
Church the opening sermon OF his pas
torate. His subject was THE Friend
ship OF Christ" aud he drew his text for
from Matthew Ch. il.ig The son Of
man came eating and drinking. and they
cay. Behold a mas gluttonous and a wine
bibber. n friend OF publicans and sinners
But Wisdom Is justified OF her children"
The friendship OF Christ. said Mr. Van
Deventer. was one OF his most noticeable
characteristics. In Il he towers 20 far
above the other men OF his time that he
incurred their enmity. This friendship
differs from that OF John Jesus sought
the people while John allowed the peo-
pie TO seek him in tho wilderness. OF
the beauties of this friendship his warm
attachment to his friends In Bethany, and
the eioscness OF the relation that he bore
TO many OF the disciples bear witness
Jesus friendship, the minister sa.,.
was an unsciiish aud therefore an ideal
one. He took upon himself the form Of
sinful man. and through 20 doing. realized
shame suffering poverty. and other lis.
yet he realized the ideal friendship OF
the perfect man, and that was just what
the world needed. The world was wait
lns Tor such a man. one who loved q
for its own good and ~ for his own
The general idea OF friendship to-day
q opposed to that exemplined in the life
OF the Saviour. Now we want moro tnan
VIC ore willing 90 give In return. Not so
With Jesus: he asked Tor friendship aud
loyalty, but gave Ia return his whole
heart, and to-day this h the kind OF
friendship that he offers to the whole
world
"One OF the most marked ways in which
this friendship for the world was shown
Is In the interest chat he manifested IN
the problems Of the day. and particular
~ In the social problem and the condition
OF women. BY his consideration OF this
problem and his treatment OF women. he
made her. who before was mans slave
his equal
Again. In the business life OF the day.
Jesus showed His friendship and love for
humanity. lie chose to be born a poor
man and 90 earn His bread by che sweat
OF His brow. To-day Il ought not he
thought a misfortune TO share the fate
OF Jesus. but. unfortunately. the spirit
OF labor to-day Is pessimistic. instead Of
the heroic spirit manifested In the Cot
tar's Saturday night we have the spirit
shown in "rhe Man with tho Hoe 4
am glad" said the speaker. that Christ
has given us such a conception OF work
for In 80 doing. He has proved Himself
noe only unselhsh. but philanthropic IN
putting into life the contentment OF living
and being
Christs work "a a teacher, continued
Mr.. Van Dcventer. was always done with
the object OF calling out In men that sim
pie manhood that he 50 well eXempined
and which is the conception OF manhood
a. III he Rsa ali Of h.
churches. In his search for this quality. he
conhne himself to neither the rich Tor the
poor. but took II where he found Il. The
idea that ihe disciples were chosen on ac-
count OF their poverty and that thereby
Christ forever afterward put a premium
on poverty Is an erroneous one, his friends
and disciples were chosen for their man
hood and Tie took them where He found
them, no matter In what walk OF life.
And as Christ did so should we. Let
Us choose out from our churches for thoir
leaders. those men and women who have
the strength and character 90 be our
leaders"
In concluding the speaker warned ais
hearers that the church was not merely
a social body. nor yet a philosophical
club. and thot the members should devote
their lives q all times. whether In work
or amusement. to that form OF work or
pleasure that would tend TO the develop.
ment of the higher aud nobler qualities.
that would make them approach nearer
the ideal life, character. and friendship
OF Jesue.
During the afternoon. after Sunday
School. Rev. Van Deventer received a
number Of the members OF the congregl.
ton.
Tomorrow night he will have a reccp-
ton NJ the church. az which he Will rneet
not only all Of his congregation. but th .
members Of other churches. and the gen
eral public as we'll