New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-18
IS GOLD MASTER OVER GOOD.

IS GOLD MASTER OVER GOOD.
The Rev. Father Griffin, who breaches
to the most aristocratic Catholic congre-
cation in New York, at st. Stephen
church, launched his thunders last Sun
day at the "fesh pots and all who in
dulge therein. In the elegant temple of
which he is the shepherd before the vel
vet cushioned pews, in presence Of the
silks and diamonds and fully developed
chignons, and bends of his fashionable
listeners, out Of his highly ornamental
little oratory, with blazing candles to
illuminate the solemn aisles, he intimated
i'll glittering generalities that perhaps the
conscience Of this world could not be
eased of its wickedness by padded chairs,
orpolished off for eternal rest and peace by
garish trappings and attractions. AS
this exordium was handled rather nicely
the plumed bonnets and diamond hilted
fans did not manifest any particular COM
Function, but sat at rest upon the
lovely heads, or waved a graceful
acceptance of the truth, and quietly
passed it back toward the pubiicans
whom it was no doubt intended for.
Why should they feel its shaft in the
midst of all their comforts Only the
wicked were interdicted from silks and
| jewels, because if the church itself could
| put on vestments of cashmere and camel's
| hair, why might not its devout member
ship do the same thing? If the high
altar around and about the image could
reflect the light in rainbow colors, why
might not the worshipers OF the image
that gave out all the rays of many-hued
| light?
But the venerable father did not stop
here. He had in his culver another shaft
which he felt called upon to deliver against
| the world; and raising aloft his ecclesias-
teal bow, he launched his arrow of de-
nunciation at the golden calf which sat in
the market place, and was worshiped by
| the people. And in order to do him full
justice, We picked up this arrow and now
put it before our readers, barb, feathers
| and all:
| Let 4 nation be a nation of thieves. its
| leaders robbers and the man who rises by
| crime is trumpeted thrOug bout the land
| a great man. Let a man nowadays achieve
greatness, no matter by what means, and
| couple it with riches, and we put him forth
| us our God. Leaving everything else out
of sight-hOaor, virtue, alive honor him
| because he is above us in power and wealth.
What the plumed bonnets and jeweled
fans said to this We are not advised Per-
haps they held it in check as kind of
compliment, and perhaps they did not.
AS for the publicans who heard it from
afar off, they certainly did not receive it,
but continually beat their breasts and i'm
plored to be forgiven. For our part, the
reverend fathers aim seems to have been
badly taken. The shaft overshot the
mark. 1t misjudged and did more
harm than good. The world does not
workshop thieves and criminals. The
| people do not bow down to, MUIR
der and robbery, however thickly
they may be plated with gold and
gilt with diamonds. They are only toll
Grated. IThey pass, and conscience re-
fuses to sweep the street before them.
Their seat may be in the synagogue but
their feet pass over no door-sill where
| honor, intelligence, virtue and generosity
reside. If they flaunt in scarlet, it is
only with the scarlet woman. If they
mount in chariots and dash by the lowly,
| roadside honesty refuses to soil It's soul
by offering incense Virtue scorns to envy
their painted cheeks and flowing robes.
And when they fall, as fall they must,
religion only offers the consolation of re-
pentance.
But on the other hand, let simple rug
god virtue pass along the great highway
Of life, and then look, O Father Griffin.
| and see how the big heart of humanity
| throbs its sympathy with what is good.
| Even the dogs that lick the sores on Lana
rus are allowed to pass without a kick
And when Jim Fisk rolls by in his hveried
| equipage, stolen from honest confidence.
who can stand by the roadside and say in
his heart that he is worthy to unlatch
the buckles on Peabody's shoes: Who of a
thousand yields his seat to Aspasia when
the gentle Florence Nightingale stands in
the car? What eye grows dim and glazed
on the islands of the sea and the broad
cities of the vast world when Borgia falls?
And if Alfred dies, does England hold his
memory in her heart at SO low a price as
she does Charles the Second?
The pulpit is not the place to repeat
these impeachments against the human
conscience. In Butterfly Row it may be
the custom to worship plumage; but in
Manhood Castle we stand by higher
creed and carry more glorious spirit of.
veneration.