The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-04-05
OUR ROMAN CATHOLIC BRETHREN.

from intellectual sources, of unusual ten
dency tothoughtful inquiries, respecting the
Catholic Church. This reaction we do not
attempt to account for OH plausible, phiio-
sophie grOunds-the method SO nuch III
vogue We are content to believe that IL ls
the work of God, and that through human
iustrumentalities, all things are combining
for His glory.
Sir Archibald Allison, Hnllanl, and LORD
Macaulay have some pregnant passages OH
the reaction which took place within one
hundred wears after the so-called Reforma-
ton. After lull orstagnation of some years,
signs are appearing i'll the moral HORIZON,
which presage startling Developments III our
own day. When such men as Colenso,
Spencer, and the author of g Eccc Homo" u
are found in the bosom ofa Church claiming
to be Christian, it may we'll excite our spe-
cial wonder.
The Atlantic Monthly for April contains
an article entitled "Our Roman Catholic
Brethren remarkable not merely for it's
source, but for the candor and appreclatlve
spirit in which it is conceived. The excep-
tional passages will, of course, strike the
reader; however, t.ley are naturally ac-
counted for by the imperfect lights and pre-
judiced surroundings of the author. In
the graceful style, the vivid descriptive
powers, and the conscientious effort to mete
out impartial justice, we recognize the we'll
known literateur, author of Life of Aaron
Burr, and otherpopular works. Occasional
passages were marked for criticism, but on
reflection, We concluded to leave our read
ers to apply the obvious correction:
One thing can bc said of our Roman Cath
Ole brethren, and especially OF our Roman
Catholic sisters, without exciting cOntrOvcr-
sy-they begin early in the morning. st.
Stephens, the largest Catholic Church i'll
New York, which will hold five thousand
persons and seat four thousand, was filled
to Overlooking every morning last Novem-
Der at five O'clock. That. however, was an
extraordinary occasion. The first mass, as
housekeepers are we'll aware, usually takes
place ut six o'clock, summer and winter;
and it was this that attended ON Sunday
morning, December :. 1867, one OF the
roldest mornings OF that remarkably cold
month.
1t is not so easy matter to wake at Il
certain hour before the dawn of day. One
half. perhaps, OF all the inhabitants of the
earth, and two-thirds OF the grown people
of the United States, get up Ill the winter
months before daylight: and yet It pclsen
unaccustomed to the feat will he utterly at
Il loss how to set about it. AT five O'Clock
of n December morning it is as dark as it
ever is. The most reckless milkman- has
not then begun his mntutinal whOop, and
the noise of the halcrsa carts is not heard in
the streets. Our Roman Catholic brethren,
in some way or ways unknown. habltuaily
overcome this difficulty of early rising; for
fifty Thousand of them, i'll New \ "rk alone,
are frequently at chureliand OH their knees
before there are any audible or visible indi-
cations Of the coming day.
At ten minutes to six, when stood IL
front of the spacious St. Stephens Church
in Twenty Eighth street, there seemed tt
be no one going in and the yestibule being
unlighted, was confirmed i'll the opinion
that early mass did not take place on sucl
cold mornings. To be quite sure OF the fact
however, did Just go up the steps and pusl
mt the door. 1t yielded to pressure, and it
opening disclosed Il vast interior, dlml.
lighted at the altar end, where knelt OF sat
scattered about one or two in pew, ahou
n hundred women and ten men, all wei
mutiled up in hoods, shawls. and overcoats
and breathing visibly. There was just ligfl
enough to see the new blue ceiling and it
silver stars: but the sexton was busy light
ing the gas, and got OH with 1liS work aber
-..-u MS fast as the church filed. That churc
extends through tllesblOcll, and has tw
fronts. As six o'clock approached, femia
figures in increasing numbers crept slientl
in by several doors, all making the usui
courtesy, and all kneeling as soon as the
reached IL pew. At last the lower part
the church was pretty we'll filed, and thel
were some people i'll the galleries; in>al
about one thousand women and abeut OF
hundred men. Nearly all the women wei
servant-gi girls, and all of thena>wer dresst
properly and abundantly /for such n morl
ing There was not a/sqilalid or niserab
looking person present. Most of the mt
appeared to be grooms and coachmen.,
Among these occupants of the kitchen, Il
nursery, and the stable, there We're Il fe
persons from theoparlor. There were tv
or three men near me who might or mig
not have been ecclesiastics or theologic
students; upon the pale and luminous ia