The New York herald., 1869-05-03
RELIGIOUS SERVICES In THIS CITY.
ST. PAT9lCK'S CATHEDRAL.

Sermon by the Rev. DIR. McSweeny.
The tempestuous character OF the weather yestcr.
day had not the effect Of deterr.ng large congrega
ton assembling at the cathedral. Rain or sunshine
that sacred ediice is invariably crowded to the
doors. High mass commenced as usual at hafpast
ten O'clock the Rev. Mr.. McGearu ofciating as cele
brant At the termination of the first gospel the
Rev. DR.. Mcsweeny preached a sermon, taking his
text from the epstle Of st. James, chapter 1,
% 27:-"But be ye doers Of the word and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves,n Tie
reverend gentleman observed thu all ge6d works
must be accompanied by an intention to pro-
mote the glory Of God. st. James pointed
out the condition under which works Of mercy
and charity should Be performed They should
be done in the 1cnor and glory Of the Lord. That
.Ess the prlneple and axiom which distinguished
Cnrlstlan cD..rty from all worldly acts and which
enapeap.e true Christian to obtain an eternal re-
.WaIl> The dispensation Of charity was oitenJmes
50 much the work itself as the intention OF the
gyer aaG yas therefore necessary & to at bear IN
Lord. After alluding to and fully explaining the
proPeg motives that should influence the giving Of
GOOD works were performed merely to obtain
earthly fs9ard,, which, though commendable to a
ideas EXPRESSED by US st. James the text he had si
read. The main object should be to Sc
cure eternal salvation, and that, by bestowing
Some persons were actually So Wrapped up in vanity
that they very often performed the most sacred re-
totally different subjects. When those people come
TO the tribunal Of penance so great is their vanity
that they Harrang az ae good works
minds all thoughts OF repentance, and making their
vanity the barrier to their salvation. If they wished to
be Christians they must cease to admire themselves.
Good works should not be performed with the sole
view OF worldly reward, but for the reward OF eter-
nal life. They must be dedicated to Cod who gave
thought that his bestowing charity and doing good
works would obtain for him the esteem OF his fellow
men was perfectly mistaken 1t was foolshness to
seek for earthly reward when the promises OF ever
lasting life were encouragingly held out. Every
thing should be done with the earnest desire to
promote the glory of God The praise OF mankind
transitory and soon forgotten and 1t was there
fore folly TO perform good works merely for the sake
Of attaining earthly praise. Great men. statesmen
warriors and heroes, who had labored for worldly
fame, had passed away, and with them, not unire-
quently, the recollection or their achievements
The saints never sought earthly renown for being
seli-denying they did not seek praise; ana it very
often happened that those not seeking the approba-
tion OF their fellow men were most 1avoraby men
toned and eXtolled. The holy fathers OF the Church
were in themselves humble and declined all
earthly honors but they were nevertheless exalted
upon the affairs, and their names would live TO
the end OF time They hated praise and praise fol.
lowed them. Men OF the world followed praise but
they oftentimes failed to receive II, simply because
they eagerly sought H. Works OF charity and mercy
therefore, should be performed, not for the empty
honors OF this world but to promote the great glory
OF the Lord; not for the esteem of anybody In this
world, but simply IN order 10 secure lor ourselves
eternal treasures by dispensing temporal ones
Thus our relgon would be pure and unspotted
before God, otherwise the real benefit would not be
deserved. Men should not deceive their own hearts
by the silky promptings of vanity, but should be
urged by the pure motives Which true charity ever
suggests The rewards OF tins world would soon be
forgotten as the man himself who had performed
great deeds TO obtain them. In all things the eX-
ample OF Christ should be followed, and the
ftting reward OF charitable actions would
come In time. To secure everlasting peace
should be the great incentive and thus perseverng
In iaith crown OF glory would await those whose
deeds OF mercy mad been prompted by the proper
motives. The revefend gentleuan's discourse was
devoutly ilsiened TO and at the conclusion the
Rev Mr. McG'yau resumed the celebration Of the
holy ceremoI ies. The brilliant lights on the altar
shone wiz beautiful eject, for the storm which
RACED ou s.de with violence had now rendered the
cathedr al comparatively dark
:, MAJ fanocls' Mass IN was performed with excel
lehi effect. The CTCdo especially was well rendered,
"a was also the StHciUS and Aq7ihS Del. Mr.. GUS
save SchmliZ presided at the new organ, and In
beautiful voluntary at the termination Of the cere-
monies afforded an opportunity OF hearing the qua.-
ty OF It's tone, which perhaps Is not 50 powerful as
mclOdlOus.