The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-05

Rev. DIR. Fairs Communion Sermon
TO the independent Congregation.

Rev. DIR. Fairs Communion Sermon
to the independent Congregation.
The services at the Independent Pres
bygerian Church yesterday were of more
than ordinary interest. ,,
Az the morning service the Lords Sup
per was observed and the number of com
municants was unusually large. The seats
at The long tables were al. occupied and
the adjo!ring pews were filed back TO the
doors. The pastor, Rev. DR.. Fair, an
nouhced the names of eight new members
who were received at the preparatory
service the night before.
DR.. Fairs sermon was based on the
unity of the church, the text being
Ephesians 315. THE whole family in
heaven and on earth" The idea of the
church. as portrayed in the Scriptures, a
kingdom spiritual in nature, boundless in
extent, eternal in duration, sweeping over
zones and hemispheres, binding the ma
lions together in a common brotherhood,
is one Of the most magnificent conceptions
ever submitted to the human mind, said
Dr. Fair. In order that IL may be clearly
understood. the nature of the church is
presented by variety OF beautiful and
suggestive figures. In the text it is
spoken OF as a family. When we consider
the ideal home as constituted by God and
existing in conformity to His law, The
first and most important fact that arises
is the unity. affection and sympathy which
characterize il. So the members of the
church should be MIXED together by holy
bonds of love, bearing each others bur
dens, filled with kindness and courtesy
and sympathy. The source of this Chris
tan love is the cross of Christ. 1t catches
His divine spirit and is watered by the
blood He shed for the redemption of man.
What is the extent of this fraternal
spirit? asked DR.. Fair. 1t is not to be
limited by the walls of our own church,
nor even to our denomination" he re-
piled, but go out to all who love our
Lord in sincerity. They may differ from
us in their interpretations of the Scrip
lures, in their views OF church govern
ment and polity, but if they cling 10 the
headShip of Christ we welcome them to
| the table which CONNIE morates His death
| as an atonement for sin. We feef that
the children of a family should love each
| other, because they derive their existence
| from the same source and dwell in the
| same home.
80 Christians who are redeemed by
| the same blood, who through the same
| trials are journeying on 10 he same horne,
! should dwell together as a family. Blu,
| the idea of a family implies also the idea
| of a residence So God is preparing be-
| yond the skies a home which is the final
| gathering place of His children. The
| church on earth and the church in heaven
| are one. Members of your family may be
| living in other states or even in Europe
| but they do not cease to be members OF
! your family. So the g,orifed dead are
| one with US and we are one with them.
! They have simply been transferred from
the church militant TO the church trium-
! phant. Happy family of God whose links
| cannot be sundeTed by death but gather
around the throne of God to spend eterni-
| ty in blessed communion with Him and
| with each other"