The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-10-09
ST. STEPHENS EcM.y CATHOLIC CUy4cE.

Sermon by the Rev. Father AIooney-e3Inny
Are Called, Bat Few Arc Chnsen''-The
SiaginG and the Audience.
Yesterday mornings sunshine was so favorable to
caurchgoers that II was not surprising to find at
st. Stephens congregation that nllcd every pew.
Ii would be impossible to exaggerate the brilliancy
OF the scene at this church at the high mass to
describe the eject upon the worshipper caused by
the many combining Influences availej OF to pro-
assemble that displays more
FASHION, STYLE OR WEALTH
than is here 10 be seen. White tue ceremonies OF
the worship are conducted on scale OF magniii.
cence. tbc dresses OF the ladies IN harmony with
tie spenoor that prevails, and beauty, adorned
ana unaGorned, knees Iii humble suppncaton for
aid against the vanites OF the world, though TO tie
coatempiative locker ON mundane lancics
and frivoltics seemingly are not forgotten.
But Whatever weaknesses may be exhibited
the grand ana so,emn music OF the mass
binds the attention OF the listener to the
sacred mysteries which are being commemoraied
and raises UP the soul divine aspirations and
purer ldcas. At the high mass yesterday Wcber's
mass 10 was played the overture to "Obcroan
beng The Introduction, and rendered most SPIRIT
eddy By MIR. Danforth, the organist OF the church.
The ''hyne" which as Is well KNOWN is considered
Wcber's c,efGGorc, was rendered In style that
Lelt nothing TO be desired,
MSS EowSoE's SINGING
beng especially excellent Tie same lady sang the
"Cum Saucto SpIritun III the "Glorian with an ex.
preston aad purity Of tone that thrilled the aadt-
encc, and IN The SOLO IN the Crcdo, the "Et Iacar-
hiatus, size was equally fire. The onert0ry piece was
Luzlis '.Aye Maria" which was sung by Miss Ben
ziger with admirable taste ani feeling. In the
''BeLcdictus," which was sung at the Sauctus the
soprano ana con,ra.to acquitted themselves with
IA M no In Tho aft M,sl
Howson sang the ''saye lcginam with great effect,
her exquisite voice pouring form the beautiful hymn
In a food u melody. Sgnor Bianchi sang Perragi's
"Iantum Ergo with great eject Mr.. paniorth
deserves great praise for the efficiency OF this choir
High mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father
Fnnegan, S. j., and, after the first Gospel. the Rev.
DR.. McGlynn appealed to The congregation to give
Of which collections we're taken at all the masses In
every church in the city Yesterday
The Rev. Father Mooney then assembled the pulpit
and preached IRON the Gospel Of the day, Matthew
XIII, LA AL the parallels OF our divine Lord
admit OF manifold Interpretation. His words on
every occasion, whether In the extent Of their APP
pcation or the depth OF their meaning are such as
70 exercise the pious intelligence and elicit the re.
they are The utterances OF God they partake IN some
measure Of the Divine nature, remaining un-
fatAomed and unfathomable.
We shall not enter into an extended interpreta.
ton oil the Gospel, but examine the concluding
words alone:-"Many are called, but few are
Chosen.n We shall conIne ourselves 10 two points,
TO show why 1t is that
SALVATION IS so RARE
and TO determine the reasons entng us to be num-
bered among me happy few. Man, gifted with
faction, ever seeks alter happiness. Had he
NAMED faithful IN the beginning his desires would
never fan TO he realized SIN, however, obscured
MS intellect ana perverted his heart rendering what
was before but III accordance with The original de-
sign OF lis creation impossible to his faIien nature
God, nevertheless in It's goodness and mercy pro-
vided the means by which man might again secure
the happiness ne once rejected fhe incarnation
~ ~ Nln ~ --tn
economf o. divine proyidence.swhich can be read
III the entire history Of the human race, are CON-
ponent parts OF tie scheme OF Gods mercy In favor
OF The nobcst work Of His hands. 1t may be asked,
how comes II, then, that the Creators designs, with
respect TO man, are 50 often frustratedl That Of
THE MANY CALLED But FEW ARE cHosESr'
Scripture itseli aids u IN answering the difficulty.
Kingdom OF heaven.u But tnat IMAM alone is free
from defement vino has through lie preserved his
oap1sma Innocence, or, afief having lost IT, has re-
gained II through penance. Few there are, however,
who belong TO either class. The dangers Of sinful
world ana the temptations OF corrupt nature are
TOO much for The great BODY OF CHRISTIANS There is
an especial ah;agoDism between the world and the
spirit o. true repentance, as well as OF Innocence;
evident, lndeed, H. every age, but perhaps, never
more SO tnan in our day and generation. Our times
have peculiarly revolutionary character which
seeks not only TO oyertnrn the socialsand Political
order 0. mankind, but also to intrude itself into the
relations which exist between the Creator and the
creature nc result IL that religion with the man Ia
RESOLVING ITSELF IsTo SENTIMENT;
politics are divorced, or about 10 be divorced, from
existence OF Cod THIS may be deemed the error
OF the head but he age has the errors Of
the heart
IL Is wen at times 10 pause and see where we
stand on our ROAD 10 eternity During LIE 1t Is pru.
deut ~ tines TO call 10 mind the saying OF ST. Paul.
that
Many TAXI PART in THE RACE BUT ONLY ONE
GAINS THE PRIZE.
What have we done hitherto 10 gain the prizeS
TINS Is a momentous question which the nature OF
The WORK we are engaged IN IS too serious 10 permit
10 remain unanswered. The soIemn declaration OF
truth i,se forDids TINS. IL is startling. it Is true;
bit not discouragng. IL is not because God mas
said so that few VIII be sayed but because COD has
foreSeen that but q small number would follow out
ia letter and In spirt His divine commands; there
toie has lie said that the number OF the elect shall
not be great. To be among them we have hut 10
avail ourselves OF the means which He has PROVIDED
lor US Ia The spiritual ADMINISTRATIONS OF His holy
Church.
often have we felt the knocking or divine grace
Gaining upon us 10 SO avan ourselves yet often
perhaps, nave we rudely shut IL out OfleD nave we
sAoTHtBBD The REPRoACHTUL CRY
VI OUT "a tuibed consciences; often have turned
nmg nom the liRht OF the hdeousness OF our daily
MA TEST perchance the one or the other mlxht