The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-14
ST. pATnICK's R0Miy CATHOLIC CaTHE.
ORAL.

The Prevalence aud En0rmty Of the sin of
De,ravtion-"Who Steals My Purse Steals
Trnss''-Ihe Difficulty of Res,itution--Who
Could Say, 81 Have Been Liar md n
sc0undrel e''-seryu0n by the Rev. Father
kearney.
AT 81. Patrlcks cathedral yesterday morning the
congregation was rather thin, owing, OF course, 10
the heat, which caused the majority Of the worship
ers In the neighborhood to attend the earlier and
shorter masses. A great many therefore, missed
hearing
SERMON SADLY NEEDED
by much larger number OF protesting Christians
than would I'LL all the pews in the Mulberry street
house OF Catholic worship. The preacher there
yesterday was the Rev. Father Kearney, and the SIN
OF detracton formed the subject OF his discourse.
He read the gospel Of the day from Mark. VII, 81 to
81. Our divine Lord. said he touched the tongue
OF a man who was dumb and he spoke right.
There was lesson In these few words which all
Christians should take to profit by. We are not
TO suppose tnat the afflicted person alluded TO In me
Scriptures was really and perfectly dumb. He had
SIMPLY some
rfPEpIMHNT IN HIS SPEECH
which rendered his conversation unpleasant; but
when our Lord relieved him, he ''spoke right In
lnore senses than ole-hls speech was perfect and
his first words were words or thanks and praise TO
his Divine Beneiactor. The lesson to be derived
loosed. should always speak night, should always
speak with charity towards our neighbor, because
we are bound only to love God, but 10 love every
one else for HIS sake. The mean sin OF detraction Is
q very common falling among us. There Is no place
and no company we can enter INTO where we do not
End persons who are constantly speaking disparag-
in2y OF their acquaintance. DetractiOn Is sin
against Charity, because we are bound to love, and,
II not to serve at least not to inure our neighbors
II We really love God we must prove that love
by showing ourselves wei disposed towards
oil His creatures especially toward our fellow men.
DetracIon Is also
because we take nom our neighbor that which Is
OF value to him and or which we nave not the right
to deprive MN. No one WIN doubt that II / rob a
man OF his worldly goods commit grlevous sln
but II flch his good name from MIN commit
greater crime than If picked the money out of nis
pocket. Society Is so constituted that no man Is
allowed TO interfere with anohers hts and what
more outrageous interference can there be with
mans rights than an attempt to destroy his reputa-
tion9 There would be something like reason In the
slanderer's conduct II his ISLANDERS did him any
good; but. instead OF that, he oen does more injury
to himself than TO the persons he would caumnlae,
Those to whom he speaks are sure to look upon nun
sianderers ehemy the nearer, mentally ii not aloud
says, "Behold, This man has a gruoge against his
neignbor and, instead o. having 1t out IN manly
way he meanly tries TO destroy his enemys reputa-
tion behind his back" il, on the other hand, the
sandered person he the sianderers TREND the latter
will most naturally be regarded as
A TREACHERoUS WRETCH.
whose very presence pOisons the air which honest
men must breathe, and all trust and confidence,
without which this life Is really worthless alter all
will be promptly wltndrawn from nm. Mutual
esteem and confidence, which are required for the
peace ana the very existence OF society, are under
mined and desiroyed by The detlactOr. These VINO
make 1t practice to talk Ill Of their neghbors are
generally
IDLE AND WORTHLESS FELLOWS,
who have much tune on their hands and DO not
know now TO make a proper use OF it. The only
satisfaction such persons derive from their vile habit
Is the temporary grathcation Of being thought
pleasant persons III company fQr even the stupdest
need never be at loss for subject or CONVEX.
saton as long as he can lall back on calumny; and
for tile sake Of being considered interesting takers,
many such persons will tear asunder the character
OF their nearest friends. Envy also promotes de.
traction, for il makes people inJure the reputa-
ton Of those who are better liked tnan them.
selves. There three sources OF detractiOD-envy,
supported by vanity, idleness aud pride. In every
case where q crime Is committed by deprivng
another person OF that when belongs 10 MIN there
can be no true repentance, and certainly no forgive
ness, unless restitution Is made. We may restore
| mans property easily enough, but how are We to
| give him back his good Hame What man can so
bitterly repent OF slanderons wrong as 10 BRING
| himself TO say TO the word,
! ~ HAVE BEEN LIAR AND A sCoUNDREr,
/ and what uttered against my neghpor's reputa:
| ton was false, anu knew III" But II what said
| Impossible; for, though have ruined him In the
| eyes OF his fellow men, l cannot come forward,
even though willing 10 humliiate myself, and deny
tnat he was guilty, and cannot restore MIN TO his
sins OF detraCron cry heaven constantly for ven-
geance on the detractor. They are not only the
most difficult 10 make restitution for but the most
difficult to he even sorry for Let u.s. therefore, en-
deavor to be IKE the dumb man, so that when We
find our tongue loosened we shall begin by prasing
and glorifying God. and continue only by trying TO
'speaS righti Of our neighbors whom Christ loved,
whom CHRIST died ior