New-York tribune., 1900-01-15
DIR. PURvEs HEARD HERE.
FIRST SERMON IN THIS CITY SINCE HIS
CALL TO SUCCEED THE LATE
DR.. HALL.

L preached
sermon In the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
since his call to the pastorate yesterday morning
His presence In the pulpit attracted an exception
ally large congregation. Spacious as Is the church.
it was with difficulty that the ushers could find
seats for all who attended the service II was no
ticeable also that among yesterdays congregation
were many who have stayed away from the church
during the troublous times OF the last two years
thus supporting the belief that the selection OF Dr.
Purves will restore perfect unity and harmony to
the church. Scarcely any greater contrast could
exist than is presented in the personality OF DR..
Purves. compared with that Of his predecessor.
DIT John Hall was man of unusual height and Of
massive build. DR.. Purves could not be called any
thing but a small man. Although well proper
toned he is considerably below the average in
stature. Between the deliveries and pulpit att-
tudes of the two men there is an equally marked
difference. DR.. Hall spoke slowly and deliberately
in a deep. powerful voice that had little inhexion
in it. DR.. Purves, the other hand. is rapid in
his utterances. his voice IS clear and penetrating
with an intensity Of delivery which sometimes con-
veys the impression that It is high pitched. He
is exceedingly active in the pulpit and. while his
gestures are not Of the sweeping variety. they
emphatic and frequently employed
Dr Purves breaches extemporaneously. and with
an eloquence that holds for him the closest atten-
ton Of his hearers. The impression he conveyed
TO those who heard him yesterday was that he is
a man Of great nervous energy and intensity Of
purpose. DR.. Purves is still comparatively young
man. He is not yet fifty years old, and, though
partially paid, looks even younger than his age
he has strongly marked features and with the
exception of mustache, is clean shaven
AT the close Of the service yesterday morning
DR.. Purves was warmly greeted, and for over half
an hour was kept busily employed in shaking the
hands of those who welcomed him the church.
Subsequently he said a Tribune reporter that he
deeply grateful for the cordiaIity which had
been extended to him by every whom he had
met. He added that he would preach again in the
church in February, but would be unable because
duties before Apr!l.
While making the usual announcements from the
pulpit DR.. Purves said that next Sunday the
nuai collections would be made for the support of
the chapels and missions of the parish. He awaited
himself Of this opportunity to impress upon the
congregation the necessity or aiding the missions
Of the church. and also TO extend his greeting to
the people to whom he has been called to minister.
He said:
The existence of these chapels gaddens my heart
US. And 1 shall hope in the future to see this
church fully sustain the work which in the past
missions powers for christ and rishteousness in
this city Many may be reached by these chapels
that cannot be reached in this house, and it Is a
simple obligation Of church like ours TO reach
Now, my dear friends; inasmuch as | appear be-
Iore you lot the nrst tlIne since you nave iVlte9
my most afectionate greeting The cordial
post gives me a deep sense of the responsibility
courages me ne4 to Believe that We shall be able to go
forward in the name of Jesus Christ together in
1t will be some months before will be able
regularly TO preach mere; put IN the I mean Nil Tinf %
me their prayer, that may be spiritually qualified
the Master which is the spirit of love, the spirit
Of unity and the spirit Of prayer may abide IN al
n ne fonq0n @ fr OF 9 % fre9s II we ABIDE in Christ
and abide in prayer we may be sure that His bless
ings will come upon US May the mercies OF God
God be given TO him who has been called to serve
you in order that together we may be able to do
His will with power.
The sermon preached by DR.. Purves, the text Of
which was taken from the words of St Pauls
Epistle to he Hebrews xiii. s, Jesus Christ the
same yesterday and to-day and for ever" was in
part follows:
w b6g9 ss v6 that t9 aRs 6 5 the the Pdf M
manency Of that which vas vas given to {he 0emeyeF
| the believers were passing in going from the old
ment has stated his belief that Christianity is per
feet and necessary generally TO nankno because because
| tions He had pointed that the customs in
necessary; that they had done their work; that
their usefulness was at an end mat tne old oruer
And along with this teaching the FACTS acts of Of their
well as the Church to which they belonged were
tottering to their fall They 4aq lost teer
| existence. Such teaching, combined with such a
sb 10 tbe Hebrew believers They were stand
! ing at one of the sharp transitions of history;
| They were separated from the gorgeous ritual OF
| their old religion TO the worship of the invisible
crucifed Messiah 1t would have been lmposslnle p re
/ a writer tJ write he did without pointing 70
the pernanence of the new beliefs, and he did not
! fail TO do so. He reminded them that the pass
ing Messiah was the Son of the Eternal God. He
pointed out that life Of faith was the highest
| Porr, of rrua religious life This was the perma-
nent position which he told them would never pass ass
away or. as ne tersely puts It, Jesus Christ the
! same Yesterday, and to-day. and for ever"
! And il is appropriate that our thoughts should
turn 10 the permanency Of our Christianity, II Tor
| no other reason than we have entered upon the
last year of the nineteenth century, century thal
! has been marked by more change in the history OF
| mankind than any other, unless II be the 1rst
century. The whole political social Industrial and
national life Of the world has been Transformed IN
/ the century now closing. It has been a revoIu-
J tionary era We live in a world from what
| our fathers lived in. One has only to think OF
| +he struggle for power among the nations OF the
earth and the influence il must exert on the t4ast
| and West in order TO realize that we have oeen
! nassing and are still passing through one or the
! great critical phases in the history OF mankind