The New York herald., 1870-12-19
ST. CHARLES BORaOMEO.


Lesson ON scnndal-Sermon by Rev. Ful-
McGOvern.
The usual numerous ana most respectable
congregation assembled yesterday within the
sacred walls or the elegant Church OF st. Charles
Borromeo, Sidney place. corner OF Livingston street.
Brooklyn, at the principal service The choir
acquitted itself with that regard for artistic taste
and skill which has won for 1t high reputation In
the "Clty OF Churches" where there are SO many
excellent cnoirs. The Rev. Father o. ierne
celebrated the molly sacrifice OF the mass.
After the gospel tho pulpit was brought
to the front or the chancel and the
Rev. Father McGovern ascendcd the platform
and read the gospel or the fourth Sunday OF Ad-
vent-LuEe ill.,, to GA voice OF one crying In the
wilderness, prepare We the way OF the Lord make
straight His paths; every valley shall be filed, ana
every mountain and hill shall be brought low. and
the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough
ways plain; and all flesh shall see the salvation OF
God.n The reverend gentleman did not coniine
himself to the text. but gave brief and pointed
lesson against
THE SIN OF SCANDAL.
We are not only responsible for our own transgres-
sions of the divine law but also he Id respon
sible in the eyes Of God for the which we may
occasion in our neighbors. Such, then being the
case, what man dare say to himself that his soul s
clear, that he has nothing to answer for IN the sins
which he has caused his neghbor to commitY No
matter what position IN life we may occupy we can
not be Obvous 10 the TACT that example OF con-
duct must and does influence our fellow man either
Tor good or for evil. Who, tnen. can say tkat ne
has not been the occasion OF the sin OF others at
some tune, when II U guard, Christian guard OF
prayer had been set about his actions he ould not
have so scandallzed his neighbour A sin which is
kept within our own breasts-a sin Of thought
cannot be productive OF scandal to another. But
when we give utterance thereto then we commit a
double sin OF scandal-being responsible for the sin
neIylDOr
offence may engenoer In his mind. Every
EXAMPLE LEADS TO IMITATION.
We cannot, therefore, be too careful In guard
Ing against the sin OF the tongue. Ex-
ample In morality or immortality is con.
The person smltten with contagious disease
may sit down in your company without having the
you Yet tue Intention viii not avail; lie must shun
you or you him II the contagon Is TO be avoided. So
Il with regard to swearing eacSoitlng deracnon
with these germs OF disease, winch are fatal to the
life OF the soul. We must avoid entailing upon our
selves the additional sin OF scandal by repeating that
which Is susceptible OF giving scandal to our neigh
Dor. Our pious Indignation against SIN is
WEAKENED BY FAMILIARITY
with the cause or origin these transgressions
against the law OF our DIVINE Lord ana Master. We
become hardened by constant repetiuon Of the Of
as 1t Were In the familiarity which 1t has acquired
relax our yer a
only that we may be free from the blemsh which
sin casts upon our own souls but also that we may
not be chaigeable with the sins OF our nelghDors,
whom we are Liable to scandalize.
PARENTS
is this subject more particularly pertinent that they,
as Christians, may earn the happy reward OF q well
spent mission on Earth in the enjoyment OF happi-
ness, which IS eternal IN heaven. Tne children
whom God has conhded to their care are as wax,
ever ready to take Impressions. From the cradle
onward Jhey watch the expressions and the actions
OF their parents whom they naturally emulate and
essay to follow in example. AS they esteem and re-
spect their natural guardians, SO they Initiate them.
Early impressions are most lasting. How great,
then, Is
THE MORAL RESPONSIBILITY
resting upon the father and mother for the culture
training and example set their offsprng IT, in
after l1e their children prove recreant to The prln-
cpes Of morality great must be the consciousness Of
culpabilty in the minds OF the rather mother who
have by scandal occasi0ned the SINS of their children.
Urging his hearers TO keep constant guard over their
words and actions in the presence Of their neigh.
bor that they may avoid this dread SIN l0f scandal
Father McGvcrn closed his remarks.
TWAS announced that the frst mass would be
celebrated at this church at hve O'Clock on Christ
mas morning, next Sunday; that one or the Jesuit
Fathers would preach at the last mass on that day,
and a collection would be taken up for the benefit
OF the orphans.