The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-07

DIR. Fairs Tribute.
Rev. DIR. Fair, who made most elo-
ouent address. said in part: las l
survey this beautiful scene and recall
the object of the assembly l frankly
confess that I am impressed with the
deep significance of the scene. what
drew so many from their homes ana
10 this hall this evening? Personality.
To honor a person this audience gain
cred; to manifest their appreciation OF
a rector OF twenty-five years service.
1t is an honor that any man can cner-
ish and can transmit to his childreh
as a treasured possession"
The speaker explained the old mean
ing of the word jubilee. then said 80
we call this "a Jubilee, a time or sad
ness and rejoicing. and we are assem-
bled to honor. not warrior tresh
from the field of battle, but person.
ality. OF your rector as clergyman
I am unable to speak; because OF pc
culiar circunlstanc es, though L nave
been in Savannah five years 1 have
never heard him speak; but have
known him in other lines of work and
1 know his catholicism and broad
ness of views. and l assure you that
in the breast of your rector beats a
great heart. a heart unconhned in its
sympathies and which, like the ocean,
beats on every shore and touches ev-
cry land.
"He loves not only his God. but his
fellow men. He is FULL of gratitude,
kindness and love and his spirituality
is the secret of his lovely life. The
trend of his ministry has been TO up
lift the human race; he has done what
he can to make the world brighter and
better, and well may we honor such a
man. You can tabulate statistics but
the intimacies of the pastoral heart.
these are inarticuIate. One OF the
strong points of your rectors ministry
has been his tenderness of heart and
a sympathy that goes out to all.
Il extend my heartiest congratula-
fious and sincere wish that he may be
spared long to his flock, and that the
years as they come and go may grow
the brighter; and that after fruitful
lif., he may fall to sleep in this beau
tiful city to wake in that beautiful
home beyond the stars Before closing
DR.. Fair paid a delicate tribute to Mrs.
strong. comparing her assistance to
Mr.. Strong to that of Priscilla to
Aquila-
From n Layman's Standpoint.
Judge Samuel b. Adams. who spoke
on behalf of the laity, said; Repre-
senting the laymen, / join heartily In
the Fluctuations of this interesting
occasion.
"A pastorate of twenty-five years in
a large and influential church means
much In time. 1t fills out a quarter
of a century; il is nearly a generation.
What it signifies in service, in labor, In
roll and self-denial only an unselhsh,
devoted pastor can understand were
the services confined to the baptism or
children and adults, the marriage of the
= he fFae Of he
to preaching, and the administration of
the ordinances of the church. they
would be exacting enough. But these
do not tell of the severe demands upon
the mental and nerve force OF the faith
full pastor who is alive to the duties
and RESPONSIBILITIES of his high office.
In a certain important sense, Protest
ant, though he be, he is spiritual con-
fessor. His ear must always be open
to tales of trial and sin, of woe and
suffering, of human weakness, and, at
times of human depravity. He is the
depositary of many a sacred confidence.
He is not only the priest, but he is the
friend, the counsellor. All honor to the
true pastor who loves his calling above
his ease, his duty above popularity, the
souls of his people more than their
smiles, or their appreciation; who is
willing to spend and be spent in the
royal currency of a faithful, devoted,
unselfish spirit, with self-abnegation
which even neglects, if need be, the
warnings of prudence and of health,
Minister a Good Citizen.
but 1 recognize tonight, in Mr..
Strong, the good citizen, and in this
special capacity l, the unworthy repre-
sentative of the laymen, would do him
honor. l need not inform any Savan-
nah audience that he has taken a
lively interest in all things which
make for the real advancement of
this fair city. He has not regarded his
cloth as hiding the responsibilities of
good citizenship. He has always oc-
cupied a large space in our civic life.
We are glad to think of him as a Sa-
MAMMALIAN and fellow-citzen. Every
enterprise that has looked to moral
advancement or literary culture, has
found in him an active friend. He has
not been Indifferent to our Industrial
development. In short, his profession
has not tended to exclusiveness, to the
narrowing of his sympathies. to the
contraction of the activities of an
earnest, positive. decided man.
Il am glad that this is so often true
of ministers of the gospel. They are
not dwarfed by mere professionalism.
They do not claim distinction or con-
sideration because they can nicely bap-
able voice read the services, marry the
young people and bury the dead Such
ministers are, to use the expression of
another, only 'parsonettes.' The best
type of the true minister is to be found
in man like Phillips Brooks, who
was first man, true, faithful, fear
less, brave, manly, sympathetic, ten
der. loving; then a clergyman, and
finally (but not greatest or chiefest)
bishop. 1t is a significant fact that
he is seldom called Bishop Brooks, but
Phillips Brooks. He was bigger than
his Office. He was a great and good
man. No wonder people thronged to
near him, that the common people
heard him gladly No wonder that his
fellow-citizens of Boston took pride
in pointing him out as their chief citi-
zen. They did not think of. him as an
Episeopalian or even as a bishop. but
as Phillip Brooks, a kingIy man, who
was too big to be the property of any
denomination, but was claimed by all
denominations, who felt the same
pride and interest in him as if he had
subscribed to their special creed.
Saviour of Society.
"If he is the best citizen who con-
tributes the most to the moral re-
sources of his community, to those
things which furnish a much-needed
antiseptic for the virulent vices OF
materialism and luxury. If righteous
ness exalteth a nation then the true
minister who recognizes and performs
the duties and demands of good citi-
zenship ranks among the best of our
citizens, among those who are of the
most value, TO whom recognition is
specially due. We are bad enough as