The New York herald., 1872-12-09
PULPIT POLEM|CS.
4 Wet and Gloomy Day Of Rest
and How 1t Was Spent.
THE CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL.
Celebration of the Festival of
the Immaculate Conception
of the Mother Of God.
JOURNALISM AND JOURNALISTS.
Touching Tribute to the Memory Of the
Lamented Journalist.
MURDER AND HANGING.
Sermon by the Rev. O. B. rockingham
on the Penalties Of Crime and
on Mercy and Justice.
Rev. Mr.. McAlliSter on the Bible
in the Common Schools.
THE CITY OF THE CHURCHES.
Brother Beecher on the New Departure in
Church Councils-The Installation Of the
Rev. Mr.. Hepworth-Comparison with
an Ancient Assembling at Jerusalem.
THE CITY OF THE CHURCHES.
Brother Beecher on the New Departure in
Church Councils-The Installation of the
Rev. Mr. Hepworth-Comparison with
an Ancient Assembling at Jerusalem.
ANGELIC THEOLOGY.
A Canadian Clergyman on a Celes.
tial Study Of Redemption.
ST. PATRICK's CATHEDRAL.


The Festival OF the Immaculate Concep-
t1On Of the Mother of Christ-The His
tory OF the D0gma-Hcr Power OF In
terccssion-The Ideal Of True Woman
hoOd-Serlnon by the Rev. Father
McNMmee.
The thr0ng OF worshippers at the Cathedral yes
terday morning was unusually large In spite OF the
rain which poured from the clouds with unrcmit-
ting violence. The ceremonies were oil a specially
imposing and solemn character, in commcmora-
ton Of the immaculate Conception ol the Virgin
Mary, the. festival In honor Of which peculiar be-
lief OF the Catholic Church Is always celebrated
with extraordinary pomr and spendor since first
became formally recognized as one OF the fixed
articles or faith.
At TUE HIGH MASS
In the morning the Very Reverend Archbishop vas
present. but did not assist In the celebration. The
music WAS even better in selection aud execution
than has been here found to have been in the past,
and the sublime harmonies OF Torente hfted the
soul upward almost TO the feet OF the imaginary
throne 10 which rolled the gray smoke OF the burn
Ing In use. only to be let softly down from The
height OF its exatation by the gentle minstratlons
Of Nine. The voices were very good in clearness
and mellowness, and the strong tones OF the organ
Impaired to them the impression OF weak trusting
spirits clinging to something greater and nober
than they whose bene1cent and mighty support re-
manned with them through all the struggles and
travail OF alternately doubling ana believing wor-
ship. SO in the ritual Of music Ia sweeter accents
aud with more impressive effect, II may be said
that the 0nglngs, prayers, sorrows aud Joys Of
thousands are poured into the immortal ear by one
grand, solemn volume that holds the heart en-
tranced and obedient through all its expressive
strains
duetto. was sung 10y Mr. Rider as tenor ana Mr..
TrrIa 40 buQs Iusf hafp thaa nnp ha s.Leui
Creata," by Mine, with Its splended sweep OF
strength and mercy and sweetness, was sung by
by Mercadante, was well rendered by Madame
Chome. The chorus OF thirty voices assisted.
touching and exating The service OF the vespcrs
was also, coniormably to the occasion, peculiarly
Solemn and Impressive.
Father McNamee, who, after announcing his
text-"Haill Iun Of grace the Lord IS with thee
FATHER MCNAMEE's SERMON.
1t is my privilege, beloved brethren, to speak TO
you to-day on festival which or almost
oil others OF the year is now the dearest to the
heart OF every Cathollcy2., the festival OF ''the
Imrnac ulate Conception OF the Mother OF Cod II
Is q dogma OF Catholic faith that all men are con-
cerned in what is called original sin or that at the
very first moment OF their conception they bear
hpon their SOUS that stain OF guilt which Is the in
heritance OF man since the ia oil our first parents
When
THE COUNCIL OF TRENT.
by solemn decree, was making this doctrine
obligatory on the children OF the Church. many Of
u
directly opposite decree the Mother Of God would
be declared an exception 10 the general rule that
she was conceived free from STAIN But although
the majority were in iavor, they deemed 1t sufficient
at the time TO say that II was not tue intention OF
the Council when treating OF original sin to include
the holy and immaculate Virgin Mary. the Mother
OF God, In the category. Years had passed away,
almost each succeeding pontin adding something,
which caused the belief to grow stronger that cd
had not permitted her whom He intended TO be
His Mother ever to be- even for moment, displeas-
Ing to His sight, and, consequently, had not permit
n 10 N q 9t n iUin all
CLEMENT TIE ELEVENTH,
In the year l7os, ordered tie Feast OF the Immacu-
kept like any other festival OF precept. In the
year l7a2 Benedict XIV. gave to the feast new
The Immaculate Conception to be added to the
name OF Mary IN the preface to the mass, and also
efT without sSe n 40 ny as
iX., the iilustrious POntin who now occupies the
Chair o. st. Pesr after receiving eommun,catons
festival in the year 1854, In the presence Of nty.
three cardinals and over one hundred and nity.
bishops, explained, er cottetira that article OF
faith which Is now binding upon every Catholic, as
ensmp1s our nS MCioer from tho stain OF
THE CHURCH OF GOD SETTLED ALL DISPUTE.
II went further, and explained the meaning OF
crush the serpents nead.n II she bore the stain OF
original sin she would cease to be the enemy OF
his friend and servant. She would not afterwards
be found an object OF reverence for an archangel,
nor would she deserve to be called .full OF
grace" she would not have been blessed among
women, nor could she ever have uttered to herself
those memorable words, .BehOld, henceforth sll
generations shall call me blessed" But all these
thtngs Goa, ~ His inscruable designs, revealed,
In order that n His Holy Mother might be given
shat honor which so justly belongs TO her. The
doctrine OF the Immaculate Conception Is some
times
STUMBLING BLOCK TO THE UNBEIIEvEg
OF modern times Ia the same manner Is every
other revealed truth which. In his silly, absurd pre-
sumption, lie cannot understand. But to the Catho
uc to the man OF faith, II Is clear and intelligbe
and the definition OF the Church only LAYS upon us
an article OF belief which the instincts OF our dcvo
ton had long made real part. The precious
blood that WAS pay the price OF salvation was 10
be gotten from the heart OF Mary, and 10y strange
miracle OF anticipation the virtue Of that precious
blood yet uniformed hindered the heart OF Mary
from coming under the ban OF sin. In secret Il
effected the Immaculate Conceptions work
vWhch may be compared TO that or Calvary Itself in