The national Republican., 1869-02-20

ExtrsvsEsnce and Escesses OF the
Times-sermen OF the Most Rev.
Archbishop. p.----.
In his sermon OF last Sunday, the flrst Of
lent, the Most Rev. Archbishop took occa-
sion, from the solemn occasion Of the lenten
season Of fast aud penance, to warn the
faithful against the growing extrayagance
and sxcesses ofthe times. Amusomenh aud
fashion are indulged In and followed, either
with moderation or excess, and while the
Catholic Church has never been opposed to
whatever Ia moderate and reasonable, she
has always set the seal OF condemnation on
all that Is lnordinate, excessive and danger.
ous to morals. During the holy penitential
seasons Of lent and advent, even what might
be lawful at other times should be cheerfully
sacrificed and avoided, In q spirit Of self
denial and Of penance for past sins; but at
all times and In all seasons, whatsoever Is
excessive and dangerous should be Stunned
by the true Christian rs the Kissing Of n
serpent. r. '
Thus, while modest and delicately con-
Quoted dances, indulgod In at proper times
and with suitable moderation, have not been
censured by the Church Of God, those which
are indelicato and improper, either In their
character or In their moral tendency, have
been reproyed, and the assembled bishops OF
the United States In the late Plenary Coun-
ell Of Baltimore, In their official pastoral let
ter, solemnly warned all the faithful against
oil such fashionable dances, the more dan
gerous because the more fashionable.
Thus also while propriety and good taste,
with neatness In dress and q decent regard
TO accredited usage, are not only not cen
surable, but even commendable, the Most
RavaronA pFaanhaF nnttAd with thu ANv.
ereigu Pontif In inyeighlng against the
glaring and utterly censurable extrayagance
In dress, alns so common In our day. He
depicted Il as ruinous In its expense, as dry
ing up the fountains Of Christian charity by
absorbing for the decoration Of the body
which Is but q heap Of animated dust-all
the surplus means furnished by even the
most ample patrimony, portion OF which
at least should be given 10 the poor. The
great Roman Pontiff, with keen insight
into human nature, has indicated another
agance; II checks Christian marriage by de-
terring men from espousing women whose
prodigal expenses they cannot reasonably
hope to meet without ruin to their fortunes
and those of their families.
Again, whilst modest and proper dramatic
representations are not In themselves wrong,
and may be occasionally attended, outside
the time Of the penitcntlal season, the Most
Reverend Archbishop warned the faithful
against the sensational and dangerous drama
so general, II not so fashionable, at the pres
ent day, and In this country. He denounced
this species OF theatricals as openly improper
and llcentious In Its character and tendency,
and he felt quite assured that what no per-
sons OF refined taste and delicate sense Of
proprlcty could ever permit themselves to
assist at any such gross performances, the
young and the uuwary Of both sexes were
often iallured to them by the flaming adycr-
tisements, and purient playcards which
everywhere meet the eye In the papers and
on the street; and that the morals OF all who
attended could not but be grieyously wounded
by such exhibitions, over which scarcely q
veil Of modesty Is thrown to conceal their In.
herent turpitude. Such exhibitions are In.
trinslcally wrong and unlawful at all times,
In all seasons, and 10 men fully as much
as TO women, and even more 80. He
begged christian parents TO remember tho
solemn responsibility which weighed on them
to preserve the morals Of their children, for
whose souls they would have a most strict
account to give at the dread bar Of God
Finally, the most reverend orator said that
he could scarcely trust himself to refer to
what was still behind, and was far worse
than all this-an abominatlon leading to the
depopulatlon and desolation Of the land; To
excesses worse than the murder Of the inno-
cents by Herod, because committed not 60
much through sudden passion or the motive
Of cruel ambition, but with deliberately
wicked purpose; a practice worse, probably,
than any ever generally adopted even among
heathcns, but which, nevertheless, was be.
coming frightfully common In this enlight.
cped age and country, and which was even
occasionally defended as an evidence OF
growing enlightenment. lie would not refer
more particularly to q turpitude too shock
ing to think Of; one which should not even
be named among Christians; but he deemed
II a sacred and solemn duty to give this
warning In general and sufficiently intelli-
gible language; as, though these horrible
| and unnatural excesscs referred to were al.
most unknown among Catholics, and were
not as yet. thank God, believed to have
reached this latitude, at least to any great
extent, they were fast approaching us, and
threatening the ruin OF our people, body and
soul. He wished to put II on record that the
Catholic Church utterly nbhors such abomi
nations, In every form and shape, and under
whatsoever pretext they are practiced, as IN
| atroclous violation OF the Divine command
ment, "Thou shalt not kill"
Such was the general import Of the grave
warning uttered by our Most Reverend Arch
bishop on last Sunday In the Cathedral
baltimore Catholic Mirror.