The New York herald., 1872-11-29
ST, PATEIOK's CATHEDRAL.

Sermon by Bishop McQuade, OF ROches-
tcr-Gra titude for the Nations Pros
pcrity-The EVIL or Secret SOci-
cties-Godless Educ ation-The Catholic
Union.
The principal celebration OF Thanksgiving Day
by the Catholic Church was held in the Cathedral
in Mulberry street. solemn high mass was COM
menced at ten O'Clock A. NJ. at which Archbishop
McCloskey was present. Three other bishops
Bishop McQuade, OF Rochester; Bishop Lynch, Of
Charleston, and Bishop Quinian-also attended
the service. number Of priests from the city
occupied seats In the sanctuary, among them be-
ing the Rev. Father Quinn, the Rev. Father Reilly,
the Rev. Father McGhean and the Rev. Father Don
nelly The mass was celebrated by the Very Rev.
Father STAIRS, v. g., the Rev. Father McNamee be-
ing deacon, the Rev. Father Kune subdeacon, the
Rev. Father Kearney master of ceremonies and the
Rev. Father Farley assis tant master OF ceremonies
The affairs were, as usual beautifully though simply
decorated. The presence OF SO many bishops in
their purple robes and OF so many priests in vest
ments or surplice, impaired to the sanctuary an
imposing appearance. The church was filed in
every part, the congregation being so large as to
press around the altar and rails. Admission was
had only by tickets OF membership Of the Catholic
Union.
Bishop McQuade OF Rochester, was the preacher.
The text selected for the sermon was from John
viii, 81, 49, The Bishop began by alluding to the
IN Ox which M ne psople were called
full or prosperity and bearing such evident marks
OF the abundance with which God had blessed il, 1t
was holy duty to acknowledge the goodness of
Providence towards and to thank Him for His
manifold favors Catholics had many things to be
grateful for, and he would mention especially
That we owed gratitude to God ior the
cessation. TO great extent OF that bigoiry
past we had to fight against. But M thougl, here
at home, in this free and glorious land, we We're
not suffering from religious prosecutions, yet il we
looked abroad to the older countries we should see
that our holy faith was still an object Of attack
the part Of wicked men. IN Rome the Holy Father
was in sorrow. Almost prisoner In his own
dominions he was obliged to see himself robbed
and despOied OF the possessions OF the Church and
Of that temporal dignity which belonged to the
adrf: its own people-natives Of the country with
right to dwell in their native land beyond dispute
And the only reason for this expatriation was
Germany were teachers Of the young and were
Jesuits. All this owing TO the secret societies
which prevailed in Europe. These societies
We're thoroughly organized, and, though in poiut
OF numbers they We're not formidable, yet, OWING
TO the thoroughness OF their organization
and to the determination to succeed that united
them, they had erected most lamentabc ana
nefarous purposes, IN Belgium, before the people
awoke to knowledge OF the true state OF ailaiis
that country was in the hands OF these men, but
| when the people began TO understand the drift OF
the societies they soon used the ballot to delcat
| their plans. Goddess education was the weapon
intended TO strike at religion. Nowhere had this
goddess system OF education had fairer trial than
in Ireland aud yet though IL was at first accepted
/ by the clergy, bishops and priests were com
| PEELED to condemn IL. We were now seeing in this
country that something OF this spirit OF rreligious
teaching was creeping in. Leaders OF the people
had already made known .heir thoughts and in
tenti0ns in this regard. AS yet we were not at.
tackled to any great extent. but it would seem as
j the battle were coming. The constitution of The
United States did not deprive us OF the
right to teach God to our children, and
yet the State stepped in aud practically
did SO; for, though the Bible might be
read in schools yet he knew that, as presented, il
was not the same ours, and we wanted to teach
children the meaning OF the Scriptures. This goddess
system of education was simply the taking away o
the liberty OF the parent. IT was the right OF the
Catholic parent that his child should be Instructed
in religion and be taught ntelligeny the doctrines
OF the Church. The schools in which even the name
OF God would be ignored was not the place to train
a child in religious exercises to insti into his
young mind correct notions OF virtue The preacher
then went on to say that the members of the
Catholic Union owed II as duty that they snouid
speak out the truth everywhere and defend il
openly They were sure, in upholdlng the truth, to
triumph in the end, for truth was always victorious.
The music OF the mass was under the leadership
OF Mr.. Schmitz, the 0fganiSt OF the church. the
singing being by the members Oi the Choral Union.