The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-07-09
LETTER PROM wooDvIlLE, MISS.


WOoDvILLR, MISS juno 2ssh, 1876.
Editor Morning Star,
Feeling much interested aud edited by the
accounts lately given in your paper Of the
arduous labors Of our Bishop in the eastern part
Of his Diocese, in your city and in Donaldson
Vile, will give a meagre outline of the visit
of Right Rev. w. II. Elder to Wood Vile and
other places in wilkinson county.
The Bishop arrived here on the 21st inst.
Though not called such, the religious exer-
discs really resembled Retreat. Mass every
morning at half past Elk o'clock instructions
to the children preparing for First Communion
aud Continuation, 10 O'Clock A. NJ, and at S
the Blessed Sacrament at 8 o'clock in the
evening. The intervals between these exer-
cses were employ cd in hearing confessions.
At the early morning Mass on Sunday, four
young persons made their First Communion,
and after the High Mass eleven persons were
% ititnied. In the afternoon two infants were
baptized. At O'Clock, We had the renewal
of the baptismal vows, Dedication to the
Blessed Virgin, and Bsnediosion of the Blessed
Sacrament
St. Joseph's Society then held meeting, and
were most kindly addressed by the Bishop, who
took that opportunity of expressing bis regret
that he had seen SO little Of bis flock individu.
ally, at the Same time congratulating them that
the cause of it had been, that they SO we'll ap.
preciated their rare opportunities of receiving
the Bread of Life, that he had no leisure for
receiving their visits, or accepting their hospi-
tally in social intercourse. The Secretary and
Treasurer then made their reports, showing that
there was still debt of over 5000, incurred for
the erection of st. Joseph's Church, which is
not yet quite finished. A little of the interior
is still unfinished, and it has received bat one
coat of paint. Ga Monday morning the Bishop
offered mp Requiem Mass for the repose of the
soul Of David Austen, whose spirit passed away
on the 10th of April, gently as an infant sinks
to rest-a fitting close of q blameless life, after
a pilgrimage of almost eighty years.
Bishop Elder then proceeded on horseback
to q station few miles from Woodville, and
thence to Fort Adams.
Were to attempt q synopsis of the admirable
discourses of the Bishop, certainly could not
do them justice, and fear that should occupy
too much space in your columns. The subject
of one lecture was the virtue of Temperance, rs
taught by the Catholic Church. Many heart
throbbed as the Bishop delicately drew q
RCbpu1C plCIuEc VI JIG woo "EOuRuU ny LD6
hideous vice of intemperance in the soul, the
body, the domestic circle aud the community.
Its darker shades he left to be supplied by the
imagination-or the memory. The breathless
silence of the audience attested the deep i'm
preston those burning words produced. At all
the public services numbers of our Protestant
friends attended, and it was with grateful sp-
probation that we noticed their beautiful
tribute Of that reverent silence in the Adorable
Presence which even the children of the Church
sometimes forget to pay. Our little church wac
tastefully decorated on this happy occasion.
The fuchias seemed to bend in tremulous ado
ration, while the graceful branches Of the
mimosa closely resembled palms clustering
round the cleaning statues. 1t was peculiarly
touching during the whole services of Sunday
to see q former slave, in the front pew Is
signed to the candidates for Confirmation
kneeling by the side of him whom he called
master.
On the Feast of the Sacred Heart, the child.
rem sang in such . manner, as proved the as
siduous training they had received from theil
faithful teachers. On other occasions the choir
gave some of the best selections from La Hache
Meroadante, Willard and Lsmbillote. We
noted specially the triumphant exultation OF
the Gloria in eDcelsis, as the angelic message
was repeated again and again, till it died away
in fute-like tones, breathing peace; and the
exquisite effect of o rsagnum mystorium at
the offertory, as one voice after another caught
up the strain. Even still We hear the fearful
duplication of the Agnus Del, and the earnest
invocation of the Holy Ghost in the Tcnt
Creator, sung while the Sacrament of Con-
irmation was administered. Many an earnest
supplication must have gone mp from those
whose hearts were touched and consoled by the
sacred harmony; that those voices SO sweetly
blending on earth might for all eternity sing
Hosannas to the Lamb who sits on the throne
ROSEMARY.