The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-02
ST. STEPHENS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Il Religion Free !-Church and State
Their Union Injurious to Religion
Sermon by the Rev. DIR. McGlynn.
The attendance OF the faithful at the different
masses in ST. Stephens on yesterday speaks well
for the practical faith OF the Catholics of that par
ish and the zeal OF the priests who minister to
their spiritual wants. The first mass, at five
O'Clock A. NJ, was celebrated by the Rev. DR.. Nc.
Glynn. At all the early masses there were large
congregations present. many OF whom received the
holy communion. 1t is estimated that about $4,000
persons worship every Sunday in this church and
1900 communicate. Copies Of the annual report
OF the attendance at st. Stephens Sunday school
were scattered throughout the pews. From this
report appears that during the past month there
was actual attendance Of ,2S2 children and 152
teachers
The high mass was sung by the Rev. Father
Flynn. The music OF the mass was Haydn's No. 8.
The organ part was played from the orchestral
score. When the choir hau finished the singing of
Solge's 'sNeui Creatorr the Rev. DR.. McGlynn Oc-
cupled the pulpit and preached
A SENSIBLE SERMON
on the faacy OF saying that religion, like the air,
should be Tree. Until, said he, God miraculously
builds churches and leeds priests as lie did the
prophet OF Old and preserves their clothes IRON
wearing out, religion must be paid for. When
people ask II religion Is not free | answer no.
me more precious n IT IS the more readily
no more sacred duty and no higher privilege than
to contribute, at the expense OF some sefsacrice,
to the building up or GODS altar and the support
OF the charities that naturally cluster around 1t.
Where better than in the Christian altar can
Christian charity find It's source, its nucleus ana
its centre; and by what heart and voice can
! Christian charity be better prompted and advO-
Gated than by the heart and the voice OF the
Christian priest.
1t is simply absurd to say that religion should be
or even is anywhere Tree OF expense to those who
seek or benefit by its illustrations. In those
countries where, to the unreasoning mind, 1t may
seem to be Tree IT Is In reality enjoyed not only at
the expense OF the weightiest pecuniary burdens,
but what Is far worse, at the expense OF
THE TRUE LIBERTY OF RELIGION,
and, consequently, at the expense OF It's dignity,
influence and benehcence
The iavors and exemptions lavished upon the
Church by the state in ages OF more ieryent piety
or S ana robbery and nave
nlshed to the fiery revolutionist a
speclous pretext to ply the torch, to piliage
to do to death the persons OF her minister's When
the frenzy had passed away, the state in various
lands sought 10 make some COMPENSATION by pay
ing pittance 10 the ministers OF religion, and by
rebuilding some OF her ruined sanctuares This
the Church has accepted as but some restitution
for great injustice, wnile the State will persist
in regarding the plttance as salary paid to one
of its officers, and The temples that 1t erects as
stu It's own property, even though called by cour-
tesy houses oil God.
!. The people but too often enter into that view,
and look upon religion as a mere department OF
state. the churches as so many government build.
iDgs and cergymen as so many
ECCLESIASTICAL POLICEMEN.
II s far better that people, should have the merit
OF paying directly for the support OF charity and
religion, rather Than through the Intervention OF
tax 2atherefs anu TAX distributors, TO whose
fingers, 1t is rum0red tnat in certain countries no
small portion oil said taxes has strange fashion OF
adherng.
1t IS certainly more meritorious to
tax ourselves voluntarily for these objects
tnan to pay under the fear OF the. club
OF the policeman or the hammer OF the
auctioneer. 1t would be an accursed day Tor true
religion when u should become apparently Tree by
SUCH means. when man pays voluntarily Tor Q
! ", 4
he has PAID Tor IL; but when he seems to receive q
thing Tor nothing he is IN danger of pricing II al
what IL has cost him.
In the afternoon the church was well filed by 9
fashionable and apparently deyout congregation.