The New York herald., 1870-02-21
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.

Wealth, Fashion and Met0dtOu- Accompa-
nipent-.Sermon by the Rev. DIR. tIct;iynn.
This magnificent edifce WAS yesterday crowded
TO it, utmost cRpacisy--in other words, over I'VE
thousand persons w0rshpped at last mass, which
was marked with the usual solemnity. 1t was Z
glorious day and the splendid appearance Of the in
terror was displayed to. It's fullest advantage.
Among the many objects Of devout attention Is the
grand painting Of the crucinxlon, executed by
Italian artists at the cost Of many thousand dol.
lars. 1t is forty-ou feel BY twenty eight and IL
suspended behiud the reredos. From above streams
down the light, fully exhibiting the great merit o.
the work and imparting TO It an almost supernatura
beauty. The effect IL rendered additionally impos
ing by the marble altar underneath. spotless ana up
parently simple In It's construction, yet most a.
surediy the product Of genuine ART costly ALSO and
appropriate for such spacious edince. The sur
roundngs IN unison, massive. precious and
characterized by much spiendor. The cost OF the
painting and affairs said To have exceeded $50 D0B
They are glorious tribute 10 the sincerity of the
congregation who have spared nothing to render
81. stephens one Of the most beautiful religious
temples IN the metropolis.
occasions, varied Ia the extreme. Wealth and pow
erty knelt side by side, Dame Fashion beng modestly
represented. indeed, there was but little OF the
bouncing display. quiet respecIabil.y being rather
the prevailing feature. Among the congregation
were large numbers Of merchants, brokers, physi-
clans and tradesmen. Among those occupying pews
In the centre aisle, near the rainKs were DR.. Marcy
Senator Murphy, Bryan Lawrence, DR.. HewitI,
Thomas Glover Dr, Emmett. Seniors Rbon, Rivera
and others. The celeDrant was the Rev. DR.. Me
Sweeney, who, attended by the acoytes commenced
the last mass at haiipast O'Clock. Al the ierml-
nation OF the first Gospel the Rev. DR.. MeGiynn
assembled the pulpit and preached heightened aud
Instructive sermon, taxing his text from the second
epstle OF st. Paul 10 the Corinthians, XII. S-"Eor
|. myself Will glory IN nothing but my nHrmtiesn y
The reverend gentleman went on to say that Chrlsrs
primevai fault that IL had lifted man to higher
sphere even than thai over which he had fallen; 80
tnat 81. Augustine was b0id enough to say, ..Uh,
happy fault that has deserved SO great ana 40 won.
dcrfui redemption" Yet, III strange opposition to
the longings Of the Jewish people for temporal pros
perlfy was the result OF the Sayl0ur's coming and
even OF the enjoyment and well DelDg which would
have been the consequence OF Adam's fidelity.
Christ had not attempted 10 reverse the temporal
penalties OF the sin when He came to atone for IT,
out rather gave Of the very penalties themselves to
me exile labor thorns gI'els ana the thousand ills
'BY the sweat Of thy brow thou shalt earn thy
bread,' or the other, that from the earth should
and by His own example did He bless the iron hand
OF labor and by the sweat Of His brow c0nsecrate the
earlh that had been cursed and OF the very thorns lie
bound upon HIS brow that was His Joyous diadcm.
He did not reverse the sentence OF DEATH but rather
made oi the instrument not only OF death but or the
greatest ignomlny blessed sign OF His religion, the
most priceless jewel In the treasury Of HIS Church
and thes noblest armament even OF Imperial
crowns-the sign OF the cross. Hence, iu Opposition
to the worids tendencies its comfort, pleasure and
the JOYS oil home He said, BLESSED are they that
mourn; blessed are the poor" In spirit aud by His
poor ~ spirit when we were poor In deed. 1t was
the characteristic instinct Of the Catholic heart to
feel that every charitable thought which was enter
tanned, even cup Of cold water given for Christ's
dear sake, mad its eternal reward. The reverend
gentleman concluded by observing that deeds
of remuneration and self-sacrihce on the part
OF Catholics should not seem strange TO any
proiessed Christian, aud that he was snrewd OBJ
server who first made the remark although playful
and somewhat exaggerated, that "comort,' was not
. Catholic word The reverend gentleman called
attention 70 the exhibition Of the juvenile choir OF
st. Bernard's church, TO be given Cooper Instl-
tnte, Oh Friday next for the benefit Of the Destitute
Cuban families Of TINS city.
Under the direction OF the talented organist Mr.
George W. Morgan. the music At ST. Stephens yes
terday was admirably rendered and contributed not
little TO the grandeur Of the services Henry Farmers
beautiful mass was performed, aud 1t may be added
that full justice was done 10 that lnspirDg compost.
ton. Schmitz's Vent creator, y melodi0us quartet,
was likewise included, Slgnor Coiiett leading or
WIN the hne bass solo. AT tue onertory Sgnor Boy
sang tue Cujus Amman. The manner In which tue
AQ,uis Del was given also merits commentator OF
whicn Madame de L4ssan well deserves share. The
harp accompaniment By Mr. Touimin was beautiful,
~ IL was appropriate AS the congregation left tho
church Mr. Morgan played Bachs iugue iii In his
usual mastery style. The services terminated
about hall past twelve O'CLOCK.