Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-22

law, tins duty is imposed in the most
certain manner, as cited in Ecclesiastes
and Deuteronomy. Notwithstanding. We
find that until the coming of Christ. this
commandment, although imposed by nat.
ural law, and inculcatcd by divine dis.
penSatlon. was almost an unknown COM
mandment, 50 that Christ gave a new
commandment. "Bchold,' saws he, Il
give you new commandment, that vor
love one another, even as | love You. -
Tins was necessary, because the Jews no
longer followed the commandment, which
was dead letter among them at the
coming of Christ. Among the ancient
nations cf Greece and Rome, we kno~
OF what extent their charity was; they
considered all but those of their own
nation, as outside barbarianS, for whom
they had not the least friendly feeling.
Their own children, to whom nature had
denied bodily strength, might be lawfully
Stran9lcd by the parents in the cradle,
while the poor and wretched were looked
upon as outcastS, and left to die of want
Such was the condition of the world be-.
fore the coming Of Christ: but the Saviour
OF mankind comes at last. God, who had
allowed this world to exist in crime for
four thousand years, seeing the mis-
cry to which the human race was reduced,
dcSrends from his throne of majesty.
takes on him flesh in the womb of a poor
virgin, and Christ is torn in poverty, and
IN a stable at Bethlehem. lie camc to
reform the world as well as to redeem it.
lie came to teach us new law. superior
to the law of Moses, and every other pro-
mulgated by the sageS of antiquity. He
strikes at the root of the evil, for God is
born poor. He assumes a condition, that
nations had been taught to consider as
curse; he assumed it because he was to
teach his followers that the spirit was to
he the passport to heaven. He lived in
poverty, and died an outcast from the
world: he commenced his mission in pow
erty, and died i'll poverty. The first
words from his lips on the Mount were.
8 Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven" This was the law
that revolutionized the world, this is at
the foundation of Christianity. This was
the teaching, as well as the practice of
him. whom we all venerate as our Sa-
vlour, and consider as our God. Coming,
then, as the positive teaching of Christ,
We find this duty of Christianity imposed
upon us in almost every page of Scrip
ture; he calls it new commandment,
" That you love one another, even as |
love you" lie calls it the characteristic
commandment of the new law, x Bv this
shall all men know that you are my dis
ciples, if you love one another" Chari-
ty, union, and affection for the poor,
are the great characteristics of the
true Christian and follower of Christ.
In the early days of Christianity, it was
this that changed the face of the Pagan
world. The conversion of the world was
affected materially, if not almost cxclu-
slvcly, by the virtues of the early Chris
tianS, manifested in so heroic a manner
The Pagans saw them performing virtues
that they thought beyond the practice of
the world, they saw them suffering perse-
cutions ready to die even for their perse-
cutors, that they might do them some
good. Hence, Tcrtullian says, it was
common saying among the Pagans, t" see
these Christians, how they love one
another" That purity of morals. which
astonished the Pagan world, was the
means by which men were brought to eln-
brace the new religion. The same cause
could produce the same efftctsin our day:
and if Catholics would only realize their
faith, God would add thousands daily to
the number Of those to be saved, like in
the early days of Christianity. But char
!ty has grown cold like many other Chris
tiam virtues, and let it be said to the
shame of Catholics, that those who have
not faith, sometimes set us an example
that it would be good for us to initiate.
They can spend their thousands, building
monuments to a mistaken religion, they
can leave in their testament thousands, to
some charitable purpose, while Catholics
die, possessed of millions, but seldom
leave a bc1uest to the cause of religion.
This is not as of old; YOU are the dcgcn-
crate sons of fathers who built up monu-
ments in England and Ireland that are
still proofs of their charity. Having ther
spoken to you Of the obligation that is I'M
i'NS- upon y wa W ISiltNt lllc pOOT, let
us consider the subject of the days dis
course.
There is a charitable society instituted
i'll this city, for the benefit of the rising
generation, and more especially for those
who are most miserable in society, either
from the neglect of their parents or from
want. This institution has now been in
existence for one year, and from reports
that have seen, am delighted, and you
must feel proud, at the effects ofone year.
effort. More than one hundred destitute
children of this city have been relieved
in their temporal wants, and provided
with religious education, by the efforts of
the members of the association. This
may be considered small, but you must
recollect that Catholicity always begins
small, and continues its work in proper
ton to the contributions. 1t may be
compared to the mustard seed mentioned
in the Gospel, its influence will spread,
and has been felt beyond this city. Ii its
excrtionS have not been greater, the fault
is yours. Young men, and fathers at the
head of families, have c,me forth with
generosity, and sacrificed time andmoney,
and sometimes worldly standing, for the
sake of doing good to the poor of Christ,
manifesting the independence that be-
comes Catholic. would wish that its
sphere might be enlarged, and therefore
L address you on this occasion. ask you,