The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-14
RELIGION APPLIED TO LIFE.
Rev. DIR. Fairs Sermon on Christian
ity and Its Application

tty ana Its Application.
Rev. Dr. James Y. Fair preached on
Applied Religion at the Independent
Presbyterian Church yesterday morning
His text was from Matthew, 7:2l, Not
every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven;
but he that doeth the will of My Father,
which is in Heaven"
I'VE are here taught" said Dr. Fair,
"that profession of religion. confession
of Christ and even prayer do not consu-
tute the full requirements OF Christianity
1t must be applied TO the life and lead
10 practical obedience of God in all
things. Religion Is not merely intellect
uai or emotional or liturgicaE but while
including these. reaches its elimination
and crown in practical APPLICATION Of its
spirit to daily life. Science has its creed,
Its formulas of belief, it's axioms and
postuates; but its creed is not simply
written in text books, the principles taught
there are carried into the natural world
applied TO discovery and invention, and
We see the marvellous results. Why did
science lie for ages in its craale, DOR
mant and practically useless? Because
1t was not applied until Bacon gave it
a practical bent and application to all
things At the very beginning God hung
these powers around the cradle of the
race, within the reach of mans hand, but
they were for centuries imperative be-
cause not applied. So, in the Gospel of
Christ there is vast dynamic power, but
1t must be practically applied and enter
as controlling factor into life.
IF religion were faithfully and hon
estly applied" said DR.. Fair, I'VE would
see instantly most happy results It
would illuminate the darkness of this
world with a radiance more beautiful than
the electric light; it would bind the ma
tons together with bonds stronger than
submarine cables, il would make the de-
sert to blossom as fhe rose. In the busi-
ness world there would be no more OPP
preston of oVerworked and underpaid
employees. What the business world really
needs is not an increase in the volume
of currency, but an increase in the vol
ume of kindness and mercy and helpful
ness and the spirit of Christ 20 do unto
others as you would have them do unto
you. If religion were faithfully applied
every day in the home what happy
place 1t would be, even the vestibule of
heaven itself. There would be no shadow
no discord there: it would seem as il
angels had gathered flowers from the
Tree of Life and scattered them over the
home, covering up and hiding all the
How" asked DR.. Fair, "can these
blessed results be brought about? BY
each one applying religion in his life and
trying to live up to its holy precepts
every day and in every thing. If each
one will bring the little light he has gain
ed and do the little deeds of kindness in
his power and speak his word of cheer
and hope, then we can be workers with
God in building up and completing the
perfected Temple of Humanity. What
the world needs is not creeds but deeds,
not profession but practice, not beauti-
full forms of worship but beautiful forms
of living not fine music in our churches
but spiritual harmony and religious
rhythm in our conduct, not dogmas but
the spirit of Christ to lead us out into
life and down into places of sorrow,
to lift up the fallen and help our brother:
correct creed may enable us to stand
on the outer verge and circumference of
the Kingdom of Heaven: faithful, loving,
self-denying obedience to God can alone
lead us to it's center, to stand at the fon-
tel source of its power to see its light
dawning upon us even here and feel its
Joys throbbing in our hearts"