The New York herald., 1871-12-11
ST. STEPHENS ROMAN CArnoE.c CHURCH.

Sermon by the Rev. Father Nc crcady-Nlis-
sioa Of the Prccursor-rbc New Gospel Of
Penanco-Just Economy oil God In itcIation
10 tho Siuner-Justice Tempered with
Mercy.
The pastor OF ST. Stephens church. the Rev. Dr..
AcGynn. with characteristic zeal, will to-day inau-
gurate this years. air for the benefit OF his church.
Those who have attended divine service at St Ste
phen's must have recognized the gorgeous proper.
tlons Of the sacred ediice and been struck by tine
superb appointments and decorations OF the entire
interior. The massive marble altars the paintings
the emblems OF Catholic faith winch everywhere
abound. have been collected at vast expense, and
the OBJECT OF this fair Is TO help liqudate some Of
she Indebtedness which consequently hangs over
the church, ana 10 sustain the many charitable in
stitutions which Dr. McGlynn mas established
THE FAIR
promises to be one OF the grandest things OF the
sort ever before attempted by any church congrega
ton III this city, Eesldcs the usual attractions there
VIII be restaurant ana refreshments; department,
billiard department, a shooting gallery, flower
table, 'Journal OF the Fair,n and promenade con-
cert by an orchestra from the Philharmonic Society
every evening; wnllc the combinations OF beauty
ana display Of fashion around The tables Will, OF
course. form the greatest attraction OF ALL The usual
large congregation attended The late service
at st. stephens yesterday morning. The
music consisted OF various selections from
different masses. The mass was celebrated
by the Rev. Father Keeier, and after the urst
Gospel The Rev. Father McCready ascended the pull
PIT anu preached from the Gospel OF the day-Mat.
thew xi, 2-Il. Johns preaching by the Jordan re-
called TO the mlnus Of the people OF Jerusalem
events which they had wengn lost sight Of
vague belief had gained ground that the time for the
Iulhlmcnt OF the promise made long ago TO their
fathers had come. OLD men called to mind and re.
lated how some thirty years before, strange sights
were seen, strange sounds were heard, and even q
remarkable birth was reported TO have taken place
III the cliy oI bcthleheM They even remembered
the excitement atLeniant on the arrival Of
THs KIsGS FhOM THE FAR EAST
who had come % adore Hun VINO was porn King 81
whoever he Was. lell victim 10 tne Jealousy and
relentless cruelty OF llerod. In that wholesale mas
again weeping aud wang, was heard In Raman;
or, at least amid the cares and distractions oI the
uoInc about the SUBJECT. Now, Unexpectedly, John
appear.; his aye exactly corresponds with tne
@ saar msn"er sspOn s @ n,m ' out ms for sD
\ ore IMAM ordinary man. What, then," say
Eiias,n who Tadtion ana the prophets s
had made 1t credible would come in advance
and so thousands set out Tor The scene Of his preach.
Ing, some drawn by curiosity, some attracted by
novelty OF his doctrine wnile many OF them VINO
were Daplzcd, confessing their slns were no doubt
THAT NEW LIFE UNDER the PRECURSOR
which was to be completed and perfected under the
sublime teaching vi tue Saviour. But the supreme
Council Oi Jerusalem Is in Q ferinent, while tile
scrlbcs and PhLrlsecs are well aware that the
nouucencnt tnat the 'iong-wishcd-ior OF nafions'
had al length arrived Will be the death Kne 10 their
power and influence. They look coward the Jordan,
with us teacher Aid his admiring thousands, IN
no little anxiety. They deem II Of the Import
auce TO know once whO this man really Is who
thus divides their popularity and bids iaif TO leave
rpt n M
reported In another portion of the Gospel. In
ans aer 10 their q esnon ne tclls them tnat he Is
nor hs 5st s"fs hs has s0s Jul 1oa them what
he Is not; uut wnen socmnly charged TO tell them
VINO he l That tney may glvs an answer TO nose
ther assertion forgetful of everything else out his
miSsion-snkng even his own personality, losing
the man In the office entrusted to him III am the
voice OF one crying IN the wilderness. Prepare ye
the way OF the Lord; make straight his paths"
Among Eastern nations, III the oden time, 1t was
the custom when kIDg Visited his dolnlnions that
mcsscnver should precede him. calling on the sub
jecls 10 prepare way over which tue ruler might
pass In pomp and with AL possible convenience
And so IN the present Instance the Baptist Is the
accredited herald OF
Tng KINu or KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
who Is now coming 10 Visit ms people, not indeed
IN worldly triumph and temporal state 10 receive
the empty 0yations and external homage OF hs
SUBJECTS nut 10 confer spiritual blessings and iavors
an VINO snail nave prepared Tor HIS conn!. Ills
Kingdom Is spiritual and mems souls are lis sub
iccts, ana lie would therefore have all obstacles TO
hls coming among liis subjects removed. 11e only
therefore DC taken away. ''Ine hiis must re lev.
ened the crooked ways made straight, God and
SIN be banisned rom Gods kingdom. but all ITS
| comp ices must De punished. We must, therefore,
| passions and pr0pensltles; We must suDjie to
the SWEET YOKE OF OUR LORD AND KING
all our desires ana IncinatiOns. But this cannot
be done without very dlIicuL conflict with
rcDelllous nature. Now, this ~ what Is called oy
cursor means wncn ue says "irepare ye the ways
oil The Lord In the Gospel narrative we scarce
ever lind Him uitoiing word except I'D coDmen:
dalon OF the virtue OF penance. "Do penance.n
he says, ''or the Kingdom oil heaven IS st hand.n
Again, rhe axe Is now laid to The root OF The tree;
every tree therefore, which brlngeth not lortn good
fruit shall he cut down aud cast INTO the nre" Yet
the precursor IN enunclaung TINS doctrine pro-
mulga'cd nothing new. The necessity OF
/ winch we read in Genesls-"And she took
OF the irult ana did eat, aud gave to her husband.
! anu he did eat" At that instant voice might oe
heard procalming rom the highest heavens to the
now passed the reign OF penance Is now begun; ANA
| the maedicion Immediately pronounced by the
Creator on tue work HIS own nands had Just fas n
Ing the necessity OF penaDce as well TO Adam as TO
all his race. There are, unfortunately those who
! not Ia. this virtue. II works OF penance De not
necessary why, tnen, was 1t necessary tnat me son
Of justice hlmseif, IN whom ihere Was no stain OF
BORE OUR INfoUrTIEs,
| should spend his whole lie in sufferings and
privationsY II a subject rebel against the supreme
power OF the stale lie expates MS offence either by
the Ioiielt OF his lie or by condemnation 10 pun
tshment wherein he drags out miserable existence
| IN stare OF mind aud body 10 which death would
be preferable. Men frequently look on aud applaud
the justice OF sucn sentence, or, al least by their
silence, tacitly approve IL. And II the soul reDel
against It's sovereign Master. against the God VINO
created II, 10 whom consequently II owes all tDe
homage ana allegiance OF wnicn It Is capable Is ~
not Just mat II, too, should suffer the penalty
due It's tfansgressionY Or. shall IL be said
that we accord 10 man right or privilege
wnicn we deny 10 Cod DO We dare TO bind up tho
lards OF God aud tell Him He must not dcman 4
frnu m .-tn n q
creature what man may In strict justice demand
| OF a ieilow man-what one creature may require
| from his fellow creature IL may be SAID that God
Is inercful ald lie Will not demand that we SATISFY
according TO the cid law OF retaliation Hls mercy
Is above all Has works.u But ike the skillu pnysi
clan. ~ order that IN His mercy lie may restore US
| ~ spiritual ieallh ana vigor IA Hls grace lie re-.
| qulIes tnat we nrlnk OF
TBE UTTER POTION
which lie In His Justice has mixed for us lie