The Portland daily press., 1870-04-16
Fast Day.

The weather on Thursday partook more of
the character Of summer than spring, the ther-
mometer standing at 100 in the sun, and
more suspicious day for q holiday could not
have been desired.
Fast Day was properly observed by services
at the First Baptist, Second Parish Free St.,
and Bethel Churches, while the same day be-
ing one of the Holy Days of the Catholic and
Episcopal nominations-Maundy Thursday
the Cathedral Church of St. Luke's, st.
Stephens, and the Cathedral of the Immacu-
late Conception, were all devoted to the solemn
and impressive services that precede the day
of the crucifxion of Our Saviour.
At the First Baptist Rev. DR.. Smaller
preached from Jeremiah VIII. 9-"Lo! they
have rejected the word of the Lord; and what
wisdom is in them?" The drift of the doctors
argument pointed to the danger of rejecting
the Bible. He spoke Of the reverence of the
Puritan Fathers for the Word of God; how
their careful attention to it's tenets had brought
the country to its present greatness and pros
perity. He next spoke of the use of the Bible
in the public schools, saying that he thought
the young should have their minds imbued
with vrtuous principles by reading the Bible,
and that if we wished to avoid national ruin
now that emigration was landing thousands of
foreigners on our shores who did not share our
reverence for the Bible and the Sabbath, we
must not permit them to dictate in regard to
the abolition of the Bible from the schools.
They came to share in the benefits of institu-
tons established, not to substitute new ones in
their place. We understand the sermon is TO
be repeated.
At the Free st. the sermon by Rev. Mr.
Small was very highly spoken of by those who
attended, who said it reminded them OF the
sermons of old DR.. Payson.
At the Cathedral of the Immaculate Concep.
ton there was an immense congregation in at
tendance. The Repository was magnificent te
behold. The three large semi-circles Of gas
lights gave the appearance of hundreds OF
twlnkiins stars, while tapers innumerable
fooled the scene with a SOFT pure light. The
superb vestments of the numberless priests, Of
whom great many were present from
abroad, the dresses of the acol ytes, the silver
vases filled with their great bouquets of rar,
flowers, the perfume of which mingled will
insense rendered the air heavy with ordor, tn
windows heavily draped with crimson, and til
kneelng throng, induced a feeling of awe an
impressed one fully With the solemnity of th
occasion.
The celebrant on this occasion was the r
Rev. Bishop Bacon, assisted by the Very Re-
John O'Donnell, Vicar General. The deacon
of honor were the Revs. John OBrien of MAI
chester, n. H., and VIM. Byrne of Boston,
Rev. John Murphy, pastor of ST. Dominic
and Rev John buddy officiated as sub-de
cons. Among the other deacons in the san
tuary and who were present at the Pontific
Mass, taking part in the ceremonies of blessil
the Holy Oils, Rev. Joseph Reid of Hartfor
Conn, Father Smyth of Albany, Rev. Fathe
Drummond, Canavan, Egan, Walsh, U Brie
G. & L. Mussers, McPaul, Barry, LHVe
Lucey, Brady of this diocese, and Rev. l.. Mu
ply of Halifax, n S.
At the other churches the services were
DOUBT equally interesting to the participants
During the day the streets were filed wi
promenaders, while not a few visited Il
country and returned at night with such
kens OF spring as they were fortunate epou.
to obtain. Net a few INDUCED in borseha,
exercise The Theatre drew fair aud;ence
the afternoon and large one in the evenin