The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-06

Pentecost ut the Cathedral-Return OF
Bishop Lynch from Rome-A Sermon
on the Council.
Right Rev. Bishop Lynch celebrated Ponti-
dcal High Mass at the Cathedral Chapel, Queen
street, yesterday morning. very large con-
rregation assembled to see and hear this elo-
ouent and revered prelate, just returned
from the Gcumeuical Council at Rome. 1t
being also Whitsuntide or the Feast of Pente-
cose. the services were Of the most interesting
character. The music, as usual, was ofa high
order, Mozart's Twelfth Mass being sung with
excellent effect Inside the sanctuary were
seated the orphan boys, under the care OF the
Sisters of Mercy, and in front of the altar the
orphan girls, all neatly attired, and presenting
healthy cheerful appearance. The assistants
to the Bishop in the celebration OF Pontl1cai
High Mass were the Rev. Messrs. Birmingham,
Ouigley and Folchi.
THE SERMON
was preached BY the Bishop from the second
chapter of the Acts Of the Apostles, first to the
fourth verse inclusive. He said that it was
source of true joy to him to hnd himself asaln
at home in his own diocese. 1t was pleasant
to him also that the occasion on which he met
them was this grand festival OF the Pentecost,
when the church commentaries how the Holy
Ghost was sent in fulilment of the promises
of Christ and descended upon the apostles
gathered together in Jerusalem, giving tnem
bower to speak in other tongues the wondrolls
Works of God. This day, then, they celebrated
the matured and active life OF the chulcn:
when she went forth preaching unto the world
the great and mighty things of God, what the
Lord had done. that sin might be taken away,
our souls purified, and that, being reconciled
with Almighty Cod, clothed with Christ,
enabled to walk in the paths OF virtue and re-
cover, through the Redeemer's death on Cal
vary, that glory which was lost through Adj
ANS sin.
Six months ago he had hidden them farewell
for O season. The Father OF the Faithful had
called him, with all the bishops Of the world,
so far as, without serious injury to religion,
they might do it, to gather around him In the
HOLY City there to celebrate another Gene
raj Council of the Church OF Christ BY
entreay he had obtained leave OF absence to
come back to discharge some OF those trying
duties which God had willed should be placed
on his shoulders. And returning home on
this grand day of Pentecost, he could not but
speak to them OF the manifestations OF the.
Holy Ghost, and with special reference to the
work whchris now being accomplished. DE
briefly traced the great mission OF the apos-
ties and their successors among mankind.
For eighteen centuries and half, he said. the
church had preserved and spread throughout
the world the teachings of the Saviour. She
had battled increasingly with sin and iniqulty,
and In every age the successors OF the apostles
had sealed with their blood their devotion to
the faith. The church had ever kept aloft the
banner of Gods truth, and Council after Coun-
hall TO hon ho 10 nj
Now, he continued, the church is holding
another Council What, you may ask, Is the
great danger? Is not the church as numerous
as ever? 1t Is. Has any standard OF heresye
been raised In her midst? Why is this Coun-
Gil called together? Why are seven hundred
or more Of our own prelates assembled TO-
gether under the mighty dome OF st. Peters.
to pronounce the Truth, and to say what
things are required in this emergency? What
Is the emergency?
Ny brethren, thank God each day that so
far In this land we know but little OF that
emergency. But it may be on us ere long. In
other lands the evil Is already rife AID spread
1t Is an evil, perhaps, beyond that seen In many
an age past. In times past men denied only
some doctrine or revelation taught BY Christ
our Lord, and entrusted to His Church. But
after all they admitted there was revelation,
that Christ our Lord had been here. They ad-
strove to avail themselves OF the benefits OF
Christ's redemption. But in these latter times
there has arisen spirit denying revelation, de-
nying any but u natural religion OF reason, OF
good sense, of morality and of benevolence.
The thought, clearly expressed, is that there
is no God; that there Is no soul In man. that
mans body is like that OF the animals, only
capable of enjoying more and being indulged
more by reason of superior knowledge; that
there is no SOUL no future lie, no real distlnc-
tion of right and wrong, nothing but what Is
good to us or Injurious to us. Man, true man,
It is urged, must live without religion. The
child must not be baptised; the lad must not
be instructed about God. He must be taught
there is no God, and, rs he grows up, naught
save prudence is to restrain his passions.
When he takes wife, 1t Is to be without the
blessing of God. If children are born to such
a being, he pledges himself to be unto them
the same cruel monster of father that anoth-
er was to him. And when he comes TO dle ne
must die like the brute; he must have no lnn-
ister of religion there-no one to speak the
words of God.
This is the spirit that is abroad 1t is spirit
of denial of Christianity, OF all things true anu
just 1t is an effort 10 cast out religion. They
are seeking to do 1t through government;
through schools, the press and every mode OF
influence and power that men can exercise
This irreligious effort is going on. ! thank
God that, with us, we know so little OF 1t. But
our pastors have seen the danger; they see the
arts resorted to, the principles put forth In the
name and under the sham OF science anu
against the means of salvation, and hence 1t Is
they are met in Council. The pastors OF
our church throughout the world nre
sitting in Council, so that, under the
influence of the Holy Ghost, they may
again 90 forth to battle, and to speak
the words of clear, undeniable truth. to
repel the advance of error, unlnask deceit,
and put the simple and faithful on their
guard against the delusons Of the world, and
lead them to the secure possession OF ever
lasting truth. might speak Of the glorious
and majestic procession, the more than majes-
tic assemblage, but will advert to these things
on another occasion. will simply say, now,
that you have heard through the press thou
sand things about the Council. 1t is little
more than three weeks since left the Coun-
Gil, but up to that time not one thing In hum
dred of what the papers tell was true. Since
that time they have not been able to say much,
but what they have said is like to what they
said before. We believe that Christ established
His Church, and ordained that man should be
taught by man. AS In the Council at Jerusa-
lem there was discussion, so there Is discus
sion now. But the result was reached. There
has been discussion in that Council at which l
haze ,lGd the happiness to -have been
present for FIVE months. There was dis
cussion by men qualified to discuss
the issues presented, by men coming