The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-04
ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL.
Religion and the Wcather-WOrshfr In
Church and Out of Church-The
Scryice Yester6aV.

Religion and the Wcather-Worshfr In
Church and Out of Church-The
Service Yesterday.
Religion suffers very much from August weather,
If attendance at church may be considered any
criterion by which TO Judge Of the numbers OF the
pious people. There was not certainly much
temptation yesterday morning for anybody to
endure promenade in the streets under burning
sun, with the only relief from profuse perspiraton
the limits OF church pew and the prayers of the
clergyman, Tor, OF course, only a Clergyman could
read prayers on such a sunday morning as we had
yesterday. In Protestant churches of all denomina.
lions the obligation 10 attend service is not
generally supposed TO be so strictly commanded by
auth orty as il is IN Catholic churches, so that ST.
Patricks Cathedral. which in the cool seasons is
thronged with wofsbippers, may be considered
fair indication oil
THE EFFECT OF THE THERMOMETER
yesterday upon the devout soul, and there was not
q pew in the sacred odifce during the high mass
that had not some OF Its ordinary occupants
among the thronp whom old Sol had frightened,
either into lounging about the house at home or
into running away TO the sea shore OF among the
shades ana the breeZes o! the country. Thou
sands, of course, sought the GOODNESS and the Sum-
mer beauties Of the citys garden and II the shep-
herds voice was not guiding these from the pulpit
his reverence might, at least, ma he his mind easy
that his absent lock was not wandering upon bar
rem soil, but was growing rich in the purity and
those. too who went upon the ocean, or by
the sea side or into que; rural places where the
scenes were all OF SdbD3tG STIFFNESS ana vi sug-
gestive prayer. there might be little fear that some
stray thought had NOT touched the soil nor might
ii be affirmed that the irut from the chance seed
sown, far away from scorching influence, was
never to appear. And these are
CoEsoIISG THOUGHTS,
no doubt, TO all anxious clergymen OF all creeds,
who are trembling lest tie loss OF the weekly
pabulum OF devotion sho uld bring TO poor sinners
ieverybody but the clergyman Is slnner) de-
struction OF spirit and the departure OF grace, and
their reverences OF every denomination who
are now absent from their pulpits when
enjoying the invigorating air which comes
fresh and strong from across the ocean
or Is sweetened and periumcd among
need not bother their heads in the least about the
say-at homes here, the great city, and, least OF
all about the thousands VINO go on summer sun
day to say their sunday prayers in Central Park,
Or on the Hudson, or anywhere that the air is fresh
and pure and breeze u blowing.
TIE SERVICE.
For the first time this summer there was no SER
mon at the Cathedral yesterday, and IL is rarely
that at this church there is not some eXhortation
gwen. The usual high mass constituted the ser.
and the master OF ceremonies the Rev. Father
kearney Mir. Schmidt presided at the organ,
and the music selected was Mandanici's
mass in G. The ofIertory piece was an 80
sung by Miss sullivan. The ''Sanctus' and Gag.
nus Der were by Dietch. Even with all the heat
and tie vivid light that came streaming IN through
the stained glass windows the nigh altar had GER
tam mysterious sort OF grandeur about II as the
priest III Ills VestmentS stood before It, and the boys
IN their Cassocks, and bearing torches surrounded
n, the lights IN the sanctuary, seemingly burning
feeb,y, throwing upon the scene suDdned bright
ness never seen anywhere outside OF church.
Some OF the volunialies played 10y the organist
added much 10 the effect OF the service the music
being tender, solemn, and, as it were, wandering
among religious thoughts.