The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-05
DR.. STOaRS ON THE CHARITY OF CHRIST.
Professor Martin Describes the Fruit of Sin
and the Eternal consequences Thereof. +
1 SERMON on THE FOURTH GoMsiAsDMEsT,
The Farewell Discourse OF the Rev. Al
fred Harris Mt the HObOken
Baptist Church.
ST. PATRIOK's CATHEDRAL.

Sermon by Very Rev. Dr.. starrs-A Great
Lesson of Charity.
The congregation assembled at St. Patrck's
Cathedral yesterday was considered larger than
might have been reasonably expected under the
adverse circumstances OF the day. The heavy
atmosphere and dense, gloomy clouds of the morn.
Ing truthfuly indicated the impending rain storm
which subsequently drenched the streets and alleys
Of the city. The faint sunbeams, however, which
now and then gimmered through the ETHEREAL
velvet piles gave fresh assurance to punctual de-
v0tees, and induced them ''to hope against hope"
and make the best of the hallowed Sabbath. In the
intensity of their plous DESIRES therefore great
many neglected to bring their Umbrellas, overcoats
or waterproof cloaks along which the close OF the
services were pronounced to be of extreme neces-
eity, and the absence OF which caused almost uni.
versal grumbling and no small share OF regret.
At the usual hour the Auditorium Nostrum in
Nomlne Domni" was entoned by the celeBrant,
Rev. Father Kearney and responded to by the
choir, after which the beautiful "Kyrie" rang
solemnly through the somb,e vaulted aises The
mass being what Is termed by the Church q 'Missa
Cantata," no deacon or sub-deacon otiiciated, but
ten ac0lytes were in attendance.
After the singing of the episte and gospel, the
VERY REV. DIR. STAIRS
assembled the pulpit. He first announced the in
tenti0n OF the pastors Of the church to hand over
the collections of next Sunday to the did of the
orphans OF the Catholic Protectory lately destroyed
by nre, and then introduced his text as read from
the gospel OF the day, the Eleventh AFTER Pentecos
mencing with the thirty first and ending with the
thrty-seventh verse. The subject OF his discourse
however, WINS entirely based the last text Of the
has made the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak,
When Jesus went out nom the coasts OF Tyre and
up by the shores OF Sidon the friends of q deal
m ud a i'm
who putting spttle to his ear looking up to heaven,
and grooming He uttered toe words 'erhphatla,"
(be thou curedl and his hearing was restored, and
mediately spoke This was a iigurative explana-
withstandng the favorable opportunitles he'd forth
to all protesting to be Christians there were very
DEAF TO THE VOICE OF GOD.
and consequently dumb when required to give
ntterance to the Inspirations OF the Holy Ghost.
idle wind, sin quickly takes possession OF the
human heart and taints the human soul. And how
can SOU speak to God when it viii not hear His
voice But do you not see what
AN EXAMPLE OF CHARITY
Is here portrayed in the story of the text The
friends OF the deaf and dumb man brought him to
Jesus to be cured. He knew not himself to whom
NC should apply. but his friends pointed out the
Saviour and led hlm'to Him. It is thus that you
should often lead to Coz those whom YOU know to
be deaf to His voice and dumb when supposed to
answer to His inspirations. How often have you
Induce the culplit to make reparation? How lre-
ouently have you heard mischievous words uttered
by
THE TONGUE OF SANDER
Have y0u led such persons to a knowledge OF the
Injuries they were heapng upon their neighbours
character and the great amount OF sin and shame
they were bringing on themselves But there Is
another fact in connection with this which 1t will
be well to bear In mind and that Is that you must
first see yourselves cured: that you must put into
practice the words OF Holy Writ,
PHYSICIAN. HEAL THYSELFn
Our Lord himself said, fOSce IL ipsum, 'Know thy
Pelf;" and st. Paul, in exhorting the faithful, de-
Clares the great secret OF doing good to he in first
ATTENDING to onesef'-dtfe,,de tfbt, as the Holy
Scripture has It,. We finally see the humility of
CHRIST, In charging the multitude to tell what He
bad done for the deaf and dumb man to no one.
But the more He charged them the more they pro-
claimed His power and goodness. He did not
covct praise nor fame. He sought no recompense,
but only wished that all should remain secret. Yet.
strange to say, the more secrecy He desired should
be observed the more praise, and fame and glory
were heaped upon Him. lie went about doing
good In secret (pertrdnsict beRefacendO), for He
did all through that great spirit OF charity, which
was always centred In His divine heart and which
dc never refuses to communicate to those who ap-
oily to Him for remedy IN their hours OF need.
Be- therefore, not deaf to His voice, and He will put
words OF wisdom on your lips. Attend to your own
wants and feelings and He will succOr you Lead
others to Him to be cured not for praise recon-
pensc, but for charity's sake and He will finally
toward you in Heaven.