The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-18
PASTORS FIRST SERMON.
Rev. McCOrkIe Now in Charge of the
First Presbyterian.

Rev. VIM. p. MoCorkle yesterday morn
ing preached his first sermon at the First
Presbyterian Church in his official char
acter as pastor. Though he has accepted
the charge and viii conduct the church
work from now on, he has not been for
mally indicted into his Office and will not
for some time. The time will be decided
at the next meeting of the Savannah
Presbytery which will be held in April.
During the service yesterday morning
Mr.. AIcCorkle did not discuss his accept
ance of the pulpit. He said that he had
intended to make some remarks to the
congregation on that, but believing that
a minister's message was nothing If not
timely, he could not but think, owing to
the recent dispensation of Gods provi-
dences whereby there were many sorrow
ing hearts in the congregation, that 1t
would be best to bring message OF COM
fort.
His text was taken from Luke, Xxx, 1888
Now, that the dead are raised, even
Moses showed at the bush when he calleth
the Lord the God of Abraham, and the
God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. For
he is not God of the dead, but OF the
living; Tor AL live unto MIN.
when death has entered the family cir
cie," he said, lit is inevitable that we
should feel a sense of loss; and that we
should habitually speak of the dead as
being lost to US; yet, did we speak accu-
rately according to the word of God $
Book, we would never speak of the dead
as lost. We have been deprived of their
presence. but they are not lost. And,
though they have departed, our lives have
been enriched by their presence, their
sweetness and their influence while they
were with US. We do not mourn as those
who have no hope, for there is given to
US a Joyful hope the anchor of the soul,
sure and steadfast."
Discussing the recognition in Heaven,
the speaker said: "There is in the human
heart an instinct of love that Graves as
ISOLATION with the loved ones beyond the
grave. In the next world love will seek
and love will find its own"
The speaker went on to say that he be-
lieved that the spirits of the good that
die are at once transported to heaven,
and that in this, the spirit world, they
retain all their personality, qualities of
mind, affection and whatever else that
was characteristic in the mortal life. AS
a proof of this, he cited the scene at the
TRANSPORTATION of Christ. when the apos-
ties saw and distinguished Moses and
Elijah as they walked and talked with
Jesus.
ITO believe and teach. as some in this
very city do, that at death the soul is
absorbed into some great essence is to
believe in utter humiliation. The resur-
rected life is Identical with that of this
world. j is the same life prolonged nm
der different circumstances. l can nIver
understand why any one should doubt
that there is heavenly recognition. Such
a person must choose to be miserable. 1t
is just as easy to believe things that will
make US happy and there is no reason
why we should not know our loved ones
in heaven. What is there against it?
Would it hurt God? Would it hurt us?
Is there any reason why we can't get
acquainted in heaven as well as in this
world? Man will be a social being there,
as he is here, and we shall seek and find
our own"
DR.. McCorkle also preached at the even
ing service.