Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-07-28
KELLY AND EDLIN.
Services and Ceremonies on Occasion Of
the Celebration Of the Tweniy.flfth
Anniversary Of their Conse-
Grafton
Sermon by Father Meagher-Handsome
Presents and. Appropriate Con-
CALCULATIONS - The Dinner
and the Guests.

The twenty-fifth anniversary Of the
ordination of Fathers KelIy,and Edlin,
Dominicans of st. Peters church, was
celebrated yesterday with unusual pomI
and impressiveness. There was high
mass In the morning at nine o'clock, al
which the attendance Of parishiOners Of
the reverend father filed the capaciOus
edifice. The high altar had been pre-,
pared with floral decorations and wax
lights, and the pillars iD the transcept
were festooned gracefully with ever
greens, while the musical powers Of the
choir were attuned to lOftieT strains than
common. Weber's music accompanied
the celebration of the sacred office, fairly
rendered by the old attaches Of the choir,
under the skillful man cement OF Pro-
fessor Harsh. Father Kelly, one Of the
jubilates, celebrated mass; Father Ed
Lin, another of the hOnOred ones, acting
as deacon, while Father Bskel, domtn-
lean belonging to the church, was sub
deacon. Everything appeared solemn
as on special holidays. Within the
sanctuary we noticed among the thrOng
of clergymen Fathers Walsh, Quinn,
Luzelli, MulhOlland and Dyer, OF Mis-
souri,, four franciscans belonging to st.
Mary's, and Father Meagher, OF Edge
field, in this State. After the gospel the
latter clergyman Rscended the pulpit to
preach the sermon Of the occasion.
SERMON.
The reverend gentleman took his text
from the inspired gospel Of Ecclesiastics:
Let us now praise men of renown, and
our fathers in their generation, ETC."
This grand and solemn occasion seems
to require that / should be the Interpreter
OF your sentiments, and therefore that l
should not give expression to these SEN
timents in more fitting language than
that inspired by the Holy Ghost and ex-
pressed by the prophet with regard to
those grand men of old who were the
stay of their people and the supporters
OF religion in their time.
The human body is composed of seve-
raj parts, that seem to need the protec-
ton and sustainment of the other; and
some are delicate and tender, and there
fore require the protection and defense of
other parts, such as the eye. The eye re-
quires the protection of the hand. The
hand willingly offers itself to save it from
danger. So, also, in the mystic body Of
Christ there are delicate members to be
sustained, weakness to be strengthened,
tenderness to be guarded, and delicate
ness to be protected. Almighty God,
from time to time, or, rather, constantly,
raises up among his people men endowed
with spiritual vigor for that purpose TO
protect the weak, sustain the tender,
guard the delicate, and minister comfort
TO all who need 1t. These are the men
of renoWn spoken of by Ecclesiastics.
God has given them Inherent qualities
which attest their divine vocation, and
which raise them above their fellow
men, to be benefactors Of mankind, and
humanity rejOices at such. Then, as the
Holy Ghost inspired Ecclesiastics, "let
us now praise men of renOwn." TWen-
ty-five years ago, my dear brethren,
there stood before the altar four young
Levites, to receive, by heavens seal and
sanction, that mission which their in
herent qualities attested they were wOr.
thy of. They came and presented them
selves before the altar, tOreceiVe divine
seal upon that mission. They were raised
I'D above their fellow-men, that thus
they might be benefsctors to humanity
and thus earn the praise of Ecclesiastics,
bestowed on those fathers Of renown who
deserved it so well. Let US, then, see if
they had those qualities that prove their
divine vocation, and what their mission
demanded of them. Two of these you
have before you to-day. One Of them
lies buried within the walls of this
church; the other celebrates his festival
in some other part Of the country.
What is required of one who undertakes
such a mission? What qualities should
he have to show that heaven has sent
them, and that their mission is really
divine call? In the first place there
must be unity and purity OF mind and
heart and purity of intention: and then
there must be zeal along with this purity.
There must also be spirit of self-sacri-
flee, for that purpose demands all the
energies Of the mind and all the powers
of soul and body that one is possessed of
in order that he may use them. Had
these four LevItes these qualities? Are
they worthy to be proclaimed amongst
the ranks of those the scriptures call
men of TenOWn; rich in virtues and pu-
rity, teaching the present generation in
holy words? Have they, then, that purity
that is the first great characteristic of
the christian priesthood? Have they
had unity of mind, unity Of heart and
purity OF intention? Many years ago
hey consecrated themselves to God;
hence, we may conclude the sentiments
Of their minds when at first they made |
This vast sacrifice. They cOnsecrated |
themselves when it required the strong
est faith and the greatest devotion to !
make such a sacrifice. Young men,
with the world thus bursting upon them,
and the world holding out its greatest |
men of mind and of heart, |
men of ability and education, and |
amongst these great things men of |
hearts and hands ready to execute great |
hings; men who could acquire grand |
place for themselves, and carve out any |
hing, and thus attain the highest glory |
hat men could reach. They trampled |
Ipon the world and the ambition |
II the world; they spurned its
charms and allurements, and they went |
)efore God to cOnsecrate themselves to |
Him, believing their mission was the
,randest glory that could be bestowed |
N man. What is man unless there is
eternity? What is man unless there is
mother world wherein he would reside |
n the bosom Of God? The man who |
oses it is forever unhappy, and the man
Who gains it forever In glory. Like great |
General, giving his whole heart ana soul
a order to do justice to those he com.
hands, fighting like them and having
lis confidence in them thus, these young |
nen consecrated themselves to God by |
-ows, and were determined to devote |
themselves to his service, and the cause
( their fellow-man. Aud they made
-ows OF poverty in order that the glory
nd riches Of the world might not tempt |
hem. And in order that they might
be better execute the spirit OF their
mission with purity Of mind and heart,
hey made q vow of chastity, and thus
sised themselves above their fellow.
nen. The Apostle tells us that man
7hO is married thinks only how he may
lease his wife. There are two things
4 his soul which do not leave it en-
rely pure, the love OF family and the
esire for riches. What is pure is not
liked up with alloy. Hence the virgin
Kinks only of the things Of God, and
therefore, she is pure in body and soul.
hese fathers, by their VOWS Of poverty
lade years ago, determined that the
llurements Of the world should have
o share in their hearts, that their
linds would be crucible OF medita-
ons, in order that nothing but the pure
OctTine of good may come from their
DIS. Their vows of chastity, made at
le same time, clearly show their souls
nd bodies must be pure, in order that
Othing on earth may draw them from
lie world or turn their hearts aside from
lat to which they devoted themselves.
ha enthusiasm of VOuth NAV bV false !