The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-29
At INDEPENDENT CHURCH
Rev. DIR. j. Y. Fair Preached n
Christmas Sermon.

sermon.
At the Independent Presbyterian
Church yesterday morning the serv-
ices were all colored by the Christmas
gladness. A splendid programme of
music was rendered by the choir. the
pulpit was beautifully decorated by
the Flower Committee, and the ser
mon of the pastor, Rev. DR.. Fair, was
upon the Testimony of the Ages to
the Kingship of Christ" the text be-
ing Luke, xiii, 80: And a superscrip-
ton also was written over Him
IN letters of Greek and Hebrew and
Latin, This is the King of the Jews"
He said this superscription was
doubtless written in mockery, but it
contained a profound truth.
1T was customary" said DR.. Fair
when malefactor was crucified that
an inscription, written in the language
of the locality, should specify the
crime for which he died. But we are
told he said, that the superscrip-
ton above the Saviours Cross was
written in Latin and Greek and He
brew-zMt local and vernacular, but
the language of far off Athens and
Rome, the great predominant Ian
guages known and spoken throughout
the world. These languages were wide
ly different, but at the cross, their
varying infections blend into one, they
speak the same truth, testify that He
above his head they circled, was
King. Latin was the language of
law; Greek was the language of sci
ence literature and art; Hebrew was
the language of religion. We find here
then an extraordinary combination:
law. literature, religion, all meet at
the cross of Christ, each weaves a
crown for His dropping head, ac-
knowledges Him as King. Moreover,
language is the type of national ex-
istence, the exponent of civilization;
so here we see the three great civiliza-
tons of the past. meet in the same
spot, converge to the same vocal
point the nail that transfixed
that superscription, gathered up the
strands of history and bound them into
one. 1t is never customary to crown
the dying; death marks the end of
sovereignty and transfers the crown
from the loftiest crown to another, but
here we see these three great civiliza-
tions-themselves about to expire
weaving the crowns of their passing
splendor around the brow of one who
was soon to arise from the ground.
What does it indicate?
That their work was finished-to
merge into the work of Christ and
constitute the foundation upon which
future ages should build.
How was this wonderful result ac-
complished? The trend of the Hebrew
civilization, is genius, as historians
say, was moral and spiritual. He
turned all his energies to the heart
to the adornment and enrichment of
the soul, to find the Kadosh, the per-
feet man. What was the result? 1t
is found in that superscription on the
Sav1our's cross. The Greek cared but
little for the heart; he turned all his
energies to the mind-to cultivate its
powers all men should be God-like-
to name the stars and roam the illimit-
able eXpanse. His object was to found
schools of philosophy, to unite great
poems, to build great temples. to carve
great statues, to paint great pictures.
The Greek was a worshipper of the
beautiful; he was seeking the perfect
man. What was the result?
That superscription above the cross
answers-the Perfect One was there.
The mission of the Roman was entire
ly different; he cared but little for Gull
tvat1on of mind or heart. He devoted
his energies to government, to build
great roads and aqueducts. His dream
was to found a universal kingdom and
ma King to rule it. What was the re-
suit! The superscription on the cross
tells-the Ruler of this universal king
DOM whose sway was to extend
througout the world, across the ages.
beyond the stars and through the cy-
Giles of eternity, was suspended upon
that cross.
In conclusion" said DR.. Fair
let us grasp the great thought
that God reigns in history. We
see here men acting freely
put beyond the working of their little
hands we detect an invisible hand
reaching down from the clouds, direct
ing all. Beyond the human writing of
thls superscription we catch the flash of
another pen writing it's purpose on the
scrolls of time for the reading of the
ages. We see these three great nations
natlng each other, working on different
hneS, unconscious of each others work
yet meeting at the cross, their VARYING
work blending into the foundation of a
mgher and nobler era about to dawn
upon the earth. Just as Gods hand
reached down then, gathered the
strands of nations history, caused each
10 meet in Christ and work for His cor
onatlon, so He is working in history to-
gay ana Will cause all religions and
phllosophy, all science, literature and
arr 10 meet In Christ who will be orr
an COO blessed forevermore, and a re-
deemed and rejoicing humanity will
sauner' not around the crucified on
SdlVary, out around the glorified Per-
soll vi ene crowned and sceptered Mon
arch of the universe -"
There was no service at MONT DC r..
Fair is still weak from his recent ~
disposition. He hopes. however to he
very soon able to resume his fuII ,,,c.rI1
in the church WI n