The New York herald., 1873-12-26

Runp taIto), Mr.. Brauer ftenor, and MT. Troska
tbasso). Mr.. Pm. Loesch assumed the leadership
OF the orchestra. LambiIlotte's "MeSse Pastorale"
Tor Advent was prepared, and to every portion
thereof the company did lull justice, without
single mlshap The mGradnae, Was ns arranged nr ,of
Donat Muller, and they were joined towards the
close by the orchestra, directed by A. Amend Al
the ofiertory Verdis "Dle Veriassene" formed q
pleasing contrast to the luxuriance OF the Goria
and "Credo." 1t was a clarinett0 SOLO. give
% mar S Se Seo s .s the effect was
very striking. The expression OF wonder, amaze
ment and gratitude embodied IN the "Ex Maria
Virginen was echoed softly through the spacious
nave and aises and the inscrutaDle mystery OF
the birth OF the Redeemer was announced In the
inspired collection oil harmonies IN the "Et Homo"
more graphically than II 1t were cut in brass. This
pant was repeated with renewed energy by the
A te M
At the close OF the mass grand march wound up
the musical performance until three O'Clock, when
Schmidt's vespers were sung.
was preached by Rev. FIR. Wirth, rector OF the
community OF Redemptorists. He took for his
theme the Gospel Of the first mass OF Christmas
Day-Luke, H. l, IA. His discourse throughout was
vehement and logical, and, although ne did not al
lude personally to Bismarck or TO the Old Catho.
hes he was nevertheless understood to level his
shafts at them when speaking OF modern would-be
reformers The history OF the world he said, bears
on Its pages the lives OF many great and wonder
full men. Some OF these men have exercised so
much power and influence that they have made
epochs In the worlds history. But there is one
man who has exerted more influence and power,
who has made a greater epoch, tnan all the others
combined and that is Jesus Christ He is greater
than all the statesmen and conquerOrs and re-
formers, because His mission was 70 reform and to
redeem the whole world. and because He Is God,
while the others were mere mortal men. How lie
succeeded in reforming the demoraized and cor
rupt empire OF tine pagans all history attests. He
found nations, as well as individuals governed by
passions He undertook to reform them by de-
claring
WAR AGAINST THE PASSIONS
OF men. Hence no system OF reform that Is ident-
fed with the passions, or that is not In direct
opposition TO the passions, can be OF Christ. AS
He took upon Himself the task or reform He GER
tainly Is adequate to that task, and no man has
the right to attempt reform without Christ who Is
ever present with his Church In every age men
have undertaken reform, but their systems crum-
bled with themselves, because they attempted to
do without Christ. Most or the European govern
ments are trying to inaugurate reforms III cOnso-
nance with mems passions. They will certainly
fail as others have failed. Even some OF those who
already In the fold OF Jesus Christ, evolving
the divine plan OF reform, have gone away and
ceased to preach against mems passions. The
speaker concluded by exhorting his hearers TO re.
joce that they possessed the true faitn In which
alone they could hope to accomplish the viii OF the
Redeemer.