The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-10-05
The Church in Georgia.


Tho Church iu Georgia.
BISHOP GROSS APosToLIcAL ZEAL.
lFrom the Savannah Newsi
The remarkable eloquence, devotion and
energy brought to his new charge by Bish-
op Gross are already making themselves
felt, and never before in the history OF the
Catholic Church in this State have it's ten
cts been so popular and its hs 50
on Gross has been but q short time In charge
OF the Diocese of Savannah, and yet in that
short time his restless energy has carried
him into nearly every portion of the State,
and he has formed the nucleus of many
churches where there were none before.
The Bishop spent few days recently at
the hospital home of General Robert
Toombs, in Washington, Wilkes county,
and while there delivered series Of lee
lures and sermons that seem to have taken
his hearers by storm. Here is what is
said of him and his efforts by the Washing
ton Gazette, edited by gentleman who
does not deal in puffery:
"The lectures of Bishop Gross were con-
tinued last week in accordance with pre-
vious announcement. On Thursday even
ing. at Summers Hall, he lectured ON the
Confessional, and explained the Catholic
doctrine and teaching on that sui Subject Jas
soning clear and his logic faultless.
His style of oratory is most cultivated
and pleasing, his language simple, pure,
elegant and chaste. There is charm aud
fascination about the man which creates an
almost irresistible desire, when he has
seaueutly all of his discourses were listened
to by very large audiences. On Friday even
ing he lectured again at Summers Hall on
the doctrine of Purgatory, and explained
| what Catholics believe and teach on that
subject.
On Sunday morning.. after High Mass,
tion, or the doctrine of the real presence of
the body and blood of Christ in the Euchar-
list, This sermon was the best and most
forcible argument we have ever listened to
on the subject. These three discourses
were almost entirely argumentative in
their character, and were upon subjects
display of oratorical powers yet at times,
the Bishop would burst forth in a strain OF
| impassioned eloquence seldom witnessed
| even in the pulpit.
| On Sunday afternoon he preached ser
mon on the Virgin Mary and the Catholic
belief and teachings in regard to the Saints
and the honcrs paid them.
This sermon, while the logic and the ar
euments were equally as forcible as in those
discourses which preceded it,was master
piece of eloquence and impassioned decla-
nation. The subject was one which ad-
mitted of such display, and Bishop Gross
ia evidently man of deep feeling and the
theme seemed to bring out all his powers.
We cannot even attempt to give an out
line of these sermons, but can never forget
the eloquent, impressive and thrilling man
ner in which he pictured the Virgin Mary
at the foot of the Cross on Calvary, when
all had deserted her Divine Son !; when
one apostle had betrayed him, another had
denied him, all his disciples and friends
and followers gone, his mother only remain
ing surrounded by wild and Infatuated
mob which respected neither man, woman
or child, and cared for naught, no matter
how holy or sacred. We think that the
impression made upon his hearers by this
discourse will not be erased.
By far the largest number of those who
heard Bishop Gross during his stay in our
were highly delighted. Although his dis
courses were upon subjects of exclusively
Catholic faith, and in regard to doctrines
which Protestants condemn, his manner
was SO courteous and his language 30 en-
tirely free from anything offensive that no
ed at anything said.
He closed his las: sermon with a beauti-
full tribute to his audience for the kind and
attentive manner in which they had listen
ed to him, and thanked onr citizens fol
their generous hospitality during his stay
in our town.
He was a guest of General Robert
Toombs while here, and those who met
him socially were as much pleased by his
afable manners in private as by his lee
tares and sermons in public"
THE CATHOLIC COLLEGE AT MACON, GA
"A committee of Macon gentlemen called
on Bishop Gross, who was in that city OF
Friday, for the purpose of eliciting infor.
nation in regard to their opposed Catholic
College. The Bishop intimated to the gen.
tlemeD, In the course of the interview
that the Labratory property would be
sufficient inducement to secure the College
to Macon, and the committee, acting upor
the hint, Immediately proceeded to canvas
the city for the purpose of raising money
for the purchase Of the property.
It will be seen by the notice elsewhere giVo1