The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-22
WESLEY'S NEW PASTOR.
Rev. II. c. Christian Preached at
Both Services Yesterday.

Rev. DIR. H. c. Christian conducted
both services in Wesley Monumental
Church yesterday, the first Sunday OF
his pastorate. At the morning service
he preached a sermon appropriate to
the Christmas season, but at night
spoke of the TRANSPORTATION, taking as
his text the description Of that event
found in Matt xyii:1-6.
First he pictured the scene: Jesus
with his three favOrite disciples, Peter
James and John, on the top of what
he said he had been led to believe was
not Mount Hermon, but Mount Tabor;
then after telling of the appearance of
Moses and Elias, and Peters sugges-
ton that three tabernacles be erect
ed on the mount in commemoration OF
the scene, he asked What is the
meaning of the TRANSPORTATION
1T may have been, he said, TO graf
ify the desire of Moses and Elias for
no doubt these men so deeply inter-
ested in the plan of salvation, know
ing that Jesus was on earth working
out that plan, would want to see MIN
and might have had this desire graft
fed by God. Or the meeting might
nave taken pIdCe DcNddoC Va SSAAAS
want of our Lord himself.
I'VE are sometimes inclined to look
too much on the divine nature of Je-
sus to the neglect of the human side
of his being. He was intensely hui
man and at that hour, with the cross
of Calvary then looming before him,
it may be that some doubt had come
to him and he needed TO meet those
men to nerve him for the hour OF trial
Whatever else it might mean II
had much meaning for those three dis
ciples for there must be no doubt in
their minds about the divinity of
Christ for these men were in later
days to furnish the testimony to that
fact when it should be assailed by
such things as deissm and unitarian
ism. The Transformation must teach
the disciples that there is an invisible
world and that there is an immortal
ity of the soul. To teach this here are
three men, witnesses to two men who
had come from the other world.
"It had another significance: that the
laws of Moses and the prophets had
been superseded by the laws of Christ,
Hear We him; Jesus is lawgiver, priest
and king"
The speaker then drew a contrast
between the scene on this mountain
top where they were in communication
with God himself, and the descent to
the base of the mountain, less than an
hour afterward, where they met the
remaining nine disciples having with
them child possessed of many devils:
direct from a communication with God
into touch with the worlds miseries
and woes. mo man." he continued.
"can reach the highest type of Chris
tianity unless he have similar expert
ences. 1t is not only necessary that he
commune with God. but also that he
be patient and consecrated, and in
touch with the suffering of this
world"
1t was this lesson that the sermon
was meant to teach and illustrate.
Later, before the close of the service
Mr.. Christian said that he felt he
should soon be through with his life's
work, and that he had nothing to do
now but try to save men. He then
descended to the foot of the altar and
extended an invitation to all who wish
ed to join the church to come for
ward. Such an invitation he will ex-
tend, he said. every Sunday night dur
ing his pastorate.