The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-02
Pacific Mail Steamship Company and
Religious Civility.


N things be So" BIBLE CHRISTIAN.
n Pacific Mail Steamship Company nnt.
EA Religious Civility.
m To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
b Perhaps you can inform the public why clcrgymen
n of the Episcopal church have more respect shown
them and their belief on board the steamers of the
IS Pacific Mail Steamship Company than those OF
Y other American Christian churches Why, for in-
stance, should religious services be conducted ac
H cording to the prayer book, when not more than
H. onefourth of the passengers prefer its Why pub
NJ lcly wound the sensibes OF the great majority of
h American ana foreign travellers by telling them and
NJ their clergy that the prescribed form OF the princ
H pal service the Lords day is that of Of the
y, smaller Numerically OF our religious bodiess
n Would it not be much better to invite
IA clergymen to conduct services in their own way2
ii We have read that in old times young David did
Y not feel free in the heavy armor OF King Saul,
u because he had not proved it; and the latter was
4, shrewd enough to permit the giant TO be killed
M with more simple weapons. Should there be
III several White necktes or board the Captain might
~ determine which should have the preference !;
~ though IN nnetynine cases out OF an hundred, the
M order and mode OF worship could be at once and
81 practically arranged without his interference. But
E why give needless offence ana make travellers feel
III they are in highchurch chapel in place which
n should be eminenty characterized by fair play?.
u The writer has made several voyages in this
81 company's steamers In all he has heard passed.
Nj gers complain of the partialitv shown in these
"a was ABOUT to proceed with the usual morning
n prayers. till the passengers, learning what was
about to take place, compelled him to extend an in
81 vitation to the only clergyman on board. This,
q however, was not, done except on condition that
n the customs OF particular sect should be followed
ministers of the Episcopal Church zone an English
Hman) were invited, while not word was
y on board and no account taken of his presence.
n Is 1t any wonder that many of the passengers
n should have expressed SURPRISE Neither could
OF England should nave been specially prayed for
on this occasion, In addition to the President Of the
United States, any more than the Emperor OF Ger
many the President OF the French republic or the
y King of Spain. Germans, French and Spaniards,
Sor Spanish Americans, in abundance were on
To the great majority Of the citizens OF this coun
try, and to foreigners generally such exclusive
u favor shown to the Anglican part of Christcndom
Hon board American steamers can but seem often
n siye. And yet this same company believe, has
81 might be done With better grace i'll
due respect were shown, to ali whose
"a strongly approve OF the idea of thus publicly wor.
"a shipping God on the high seas; but surely some
n form will be required, whereby an established
E church will be avoided Does it seem exactly the
thing, Messrs Editors, that in promscuous
= should be made for "our bishops and other clergy
and the congregations committed to their charger
In such place we ought rather to pray for all
Christians, for all men, without any such Exclusive
ness. RISING STAR.
Il Corpus Christi mt the Church Of the Re-
dcmptorists.
IN the latter part of the thirteenth century Pope
Urban w. instituted festival in special honor of
the Holy Eucharist, and at the Council OF Vienna in
1871, Pope Clement V. appointed the second Thurs
d ay after Pentecost for its celebration. This day,
: known among us Corpus Christi, is solemnized
all the world over with the greatest Joy, and in
monies, in which the whole city or village takes an
active part.
At the Redemptorist church, in Third street
> where all the ceremonies OF the Catholic Church
= are performed with great precision and grace Cor
pus Christi is always memorable festival, and, not
withstanding the RAIN which came in torrents dur
ing the service, and the scarcity of flowers occa-
stoned by Decoration Day. was celebrated this
y year with luxuriant devotion.
At ten O'Clock the ron OF the drum announced the
arrival OF a company OF soldiers belonging to the
church, who marched up the broad aisle while the
y band played in the gallery and the church bells
Il chimed delicousy, and Immediately afterwards q
long procession of altar boys from the society,"
n followed by the master of ceremonies and the three
priests who were to celebrate grand high mass,
which was performed as in all churches. except that
at the conservation and benedcton, at the command
OF the captain, the soldiers stationed in the aisle
colors.
The distinguishing feature OF Corpus Christi celc
brations is the procession when the blessed sacra
ment is borne with all possible reverence and splen-
dor through entire villages through city streets,
resting at airy affairs put up Tor tue purpose
the church, as circumstances permit. Those fortu-
nate ones who have been .'abroadn seldom fail to
be deeply impressed at the singular spectacle of
streets in gala adornments a kneeling popuIace
devouty praying for Gods blessings as the process
a sion passes.
on Thursday at the Redemptorists', when the
last Gospel had been read, the priests came to the
foot OF the altar joined by other priests in copes
from the sacristy, and knelt in adoration while,
under the leadership OF the soldiers, headed by the
dear t old stars and Stripes o and beau
dered and and elegantly 'f mounted. the 'p long
procession of men and women's societies, with ban
ners lighted candles, ribbons and badges, Sunday
school Children the girls with white dresses and
wreaths, altar boys in red cassocks.and white sur
plices formed and marched down the broad aisle,
Z followed by string Of very little girls In
white with pink sashes, carrying baskets ofnowers
dear little things were fun OF shy importance and
were nice and sweet IL would have surprised no
n one II they had all nown away through the vauted
\ roof Last of all came the clergymen attached to
the church, and white silk canopy borne by four
q men, under which walked the celebrant, carrying
the remonstrance, supported by the deacon and the
subdeacon, and Immediately preceded by altar boys
q swinging censers The great bells peaed from the
towers the little bells tinked, the organ rolled out
It's grandest strains, and the voices OF the sing
Vi ers mounted ever upward, while now and again the
band broke in with triumphant bursts while the |
procession, which filled two aiscs OF the church,
passed around, and when, at the end the priests
returned TO the altar and gave out the 7e Deaoa.
the wnole congregation took II up and sang ii
through with vim and force only possible 10 Ger
man nature fully aroused. II was like the regular
sweep OF the great waves OF some deep ocean surg
+ ing over the sands OF the sonl when again the
hurry and hustle, the dreary, dripping grandeur OF
Broadway met the eye aud ear IL as II one had
come from another world, or had, at least, been
over the Rhine and IL cannot be denied to another
country some considerable distance from the heart
Of Gotham. s. NJ b.
ssThOu Shalt Not Surely DE-
4 To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Such were the lying words OF the subtle serpent
that vctimized the evertrusting mother OF us all