The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-06
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.

Sermon by the Rev. DIR. McGlynn-Thc
Meaning Of the Epiphany-Sunday
School Festival.
The rain and slush were responsible yesterday
morning for q great falling OF in attendance at
church. The prospect OF broken bone or hack
ing cough is not much OF provocative to religious
worship, and absentees might reasonably excuse
themselves for staying at home by pleading the
unpropitious state Of the weather. Even st.
Stephens church, usually so cheerful and bright,
had sombre, dull air yesterday, and the gloom Of
the weather seemed to settle upon even the sane
tuary itself, with all Its gorgeous surroundings.
The music of the mass was Haydn's in c. In the
absence of Miss Howson Miss Sullivan took the
part OF the soprano. Mercadante's vespers were
sung in the afternoon, Mrs. Mott being the
soprano
THE HIGH MASS
was celebrated by the Rev. Father Lynch. After
the first gospel the Rev. DR.. McGlynn preached
from the gospel Of the Feast Of the Epiphany.
The epiphany means the apparition or manifesto
ton of our Lord, He being first made known to the
wise men Of the East by q star. Tomorrow will,
then. be the day OF cur first being called to the
knowledge anu .llth OF Christ. The coming Of
Christ was made known TO Joy and Gentile-to the
former by an angel sent to the shepherds, to the
bethlehem. The wise men, when they saw the
star in the heavens, Immediately set
out TO seek Jesus III Suuco, "heuci, az
cording to tire prvpnecy oi puiuam, ~ .s1y
been believed the star would lead them. Naturally
they first sought Him in Jerusalem the capital 81
Judea, asking where they could find 1.-THE .,lng OF
the Jews" II was from the wise zen that King
Herod first heard OF the birth %, Jesus. and he was
naturally anxious and tre.a oled about it, as were
all Jerusalem, BY nc prophecy said that the
saviour Woula porn at Bethlehem; and, follow.
ing tne gu'' .nce OF the star, the wise men found
lin u" &c. And, having found Him, they rel down
81" worsbpped Him. They then made Him the
ofYeripQs they had brought with them-god, as
tribute due to Him as their King; frankincense, as
10 their God myrrh, as to mortal man tfrankln
cense being then used In religious worship ano
myrrh In the burial OF the dead.l
l. ThIs extraordinary manifestation OF God,s goou
ne,s to us ought to excite In our breasts the mos
gratelgl thoughts. We were thus called 10 tnt
faith and to-day the same sure invitation is glvet
! TO the millions TO come and worship their Goo
| But lust as in the East all the nations saw ths
| star and but few availed themselves OF its guid
ance to the Saviour, the light which Goa to-ua,
gives to attract men to adore and serve HIN IL ue
| spsed or unheeded by too many. We may wen "
loaf In admiration OF the great faith OF tne WISE
| men as they approached their God at Bethleneh.
THEY ASKED FOR THE KING OF THE JEWS,
and found Him In an humble home, SURROUNDED %,
| none 0fthe pomps and vanities or the woriu 10
''His Kingdom was not Of this world" But tne,
| opened th6ir eyes TO the heavenly truth ana snu
them to the>world's vanlties, and believed IN UNI
light that Coz had given " guide them. Her0'