The New York herald., 1872-09-02
ST. PATRICK's CATHEDRAL.

ne, sinner"
ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL
Sermon by the Very Rev. DIR. starrs-The
Gospel Of tho Day ExPounded-The
Great Lesson IL Teaches-Death nm Un-
exccptionabie appointment for All-Thc
Necessity OF Being Always Prepared to
Meet It's Advent.
Yesterday was one Of those cheerful pleasant
Sundays, when even the indolent and irreverent
Destlr themselves and hearken to the whispering
voice of duty summon up their religious feeling to
greater or less degree and go, whether volun-
tary or reluctantly to kneel In prayer at their re-
,pective shrines Of worship There was no oppres-
sive heat, yet O warming sunshine shed Its bril-
iancy alike over every temple. Cooling breezes
kept the active and prevented either lassi-
tude or two nervous devotion, while each success
sive devotional scene seemed to wear some
new feature Of attractiveness and merit.
Every seat In the cathedral was wen
filed, and 1t had evidently received back beneath
Its sombre roof the rusticatng portion OF Its con-
gregation. Rev. Father Kearney oficiated as cele-
brant. There were besides In the sanctuary Rev.
Father McNsmee and the usual number Of acolytes.
The mass. as played by the organist, Mr.. Schmitz,
was in minor, by Mercadante. The "Ofiertorio,"
by Ferzetto, was beautifully executed, and the
"Gloria Patri ct Ftli0,"a solo by Nine. Un2er. was
also meritori0usly rendered. The other parts OF
the mass, but especially the 'Sanctus'' and "Agnus
Del" were given with much effect and more than
ordinary pathos After the singing OF the Epistle
and Gospel by the celebrant and the chanting Of
the "yeni Creator" by the choir.
THE VERY REV. DIR. STAIRS
took his place in the pulpit made the requisite an
nouncements Of the Sunday, and then read the
gospel Of the day from st. Luke, VIII, II, 7:-"And
1t came to pass after this, that he went into city
called Main, and there went with him his disciples
and great multitude. And when he came nigh to
the gate Of the city, behold dead man was car
ried out, the only son Of his mother, and she was
widow, and much people Of the city was with
her. And when the Lord saw her he had compass
sion on her, and he said, Weep not; and he that
was dead sat up and began to speak, and he de-
livered him to his mother"
The great miracle which formed the striking SUBJ
jcct OF the gospel Of the Sunday presented to our
minds
MOST AFFECTING SPECTACLE,
one which forces us to dwell tor moment upon
as upon His great compasslon and love- Here.
before an astonished multitude, our Saviour truly
manifested His divine power and revealed In
wonderful miracle the whole mystery OF Ills love In
giving scope to the feelings Of His sacred heart and
performing work which transcends the power OF
all human agencies. He was moved to compassion
by the sight which he had seen. A widow bereaved
weeping bitterly over tile corpse OF her son-0ver
him In whom all her hopes were centred, who had
perhaps tOlled for her with those strong hands that
new were cold and stn, and to whose strength she
had looked up for support to guide her tottering
steps.
MELANCHOLY AND soRRowTUL
she gazed on him over whom she had watched
many sleepess nights ana days and she feels he is
no more. But In ON Instant, as our Saviour enters
the gates of Main, He sees the procession and Is
struck with compassion ut the sight OF the weeping
woman And Jesus bade her to 'weep not" and
the men who carried the bier stood still, and Jesus
bade the young man arise, and lie sat up and was
healed. '---is -
moment before and he was clasped In the cold
arms OF death. Now he is restored to all the fresh
late mother, who wept with all the bitterness OF her
heart, is now frantic with JOY repete with all her
former hopes and iull of the sweetest consolation
No marvel that "a fear came on the multitude" no
said. "A great prophet is risen up among us and
where Is thy stingS and grave, where is thy VIC
toryP He that was dead Is brought to life, and the
divine power Of the saviour which was exercised
Is fully manifested to oil. Let US now ask our
selves s-.- se-+-,.s,F -"
WHAT LESSON Is TO DE pEDucED
rom this significant and striking miracle wrought
by our compassionate Lord. The great lesson
which this Gospel teaches is the certainty of death
and the uncertainty OF Its advent and also the great
necessity OF always being prepared to meet 1t. 1t
Is appointed for oil men to die, and then Judgment,
Stdtutum est se,nel mort ct tao 5utfctun." Death
Is an unavoidable evil When 1t comes It's force is
our existenceY Is it our birth, when the vital
spark Is interviewer with the clay from which we
are formed? No. Is 1t our baptism. when Satan
has to relinquish all claims to our stainless souls
No. This, however Important is still not the great
est event. Is 1t our choice OF q state OF life on
which our future happiness so much depends No,
not even this. What then, Is the greatest event to
us all p? 1t is
THE AWFUL MOMENT OF DEATH
which Is so fearful and 80 much feared. II is the
separation OF the soul from the body which makes
the pangs OF death so dreadful. When man was
soul; but by SIN came death into the world. Death
Is therefore the wages of sim 1t is hard for friend
children to part, and yet more painful the separa
tlon OF husband from wife, but tue hardest pang Of
they have been the closest companions Of q life
time, and their coexlstence until now was one and
TiIE BODY IS NOT THE PRISON OF THE SOUL,
as some philosophers argue II Is one OF the
nobest works Of God, and 1t would be dishonoring
through his as w as his sTE1 i
he adires the works Of his Creator and the beauty
and harmony Of nature, and contemplates even
aratIon Of soul and body, then is that which
makes death the greatest event to u.s.
Once Once, the e., bourne o, s,a Is past We can never
event are therefore unquestlonsbly Important.
You can correct almost everything in life but after
thing must be corrected, or the eternal Importance
or the event s set at nought II man is sick 1t Is
. notice TO quit this life. Who would not, then,
TAXI ADVANTAGE or THE WARNING
and prepare for the great crisIs' Yet how many
are reluctant even In moments OF sickness to make
for their ispent lives. Tell that young
man on his sick bed, whom the evil companionship
OF lifetime and all the Establishments that could
him to prepare for death and he will
answer, "he Is not going to die" but, alas he Is
security. Go to the graveyard and you will per-
ceive that 1t Is for the most part covered with the
tombs OF young persons. Not more than tenth Of
we persevere In sin. We, too, see the professions
OF the dead and weeping mothers by the side Of the
bier, yet We make no preparation for the time when
death shall visit u.s. But let US remember now, at
least, that 1t certainly win come, and at an uncer-
tain hour. II we are found prepared, and have
fought the good fight, God will reward US with
crown Of glory In heaven.
FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
sermon By DR.. Armitage ON the Chris-