The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-04-02
Il GREAT RELIGIOUS SOCIETY IN COCK
Lcork Examiner. March ID

Among the great facts which mark our
cnrrent history as community, there ID
none at present more noteworthy nor more
admirable than the union Of great masses
of our workipgmen in religious assoc'a-
items. At the present moment there are
between five and ak thousand of this i'm
portant division of our population enrolled
in the great sodality of the Holy Family
that splendid Archconfraternity which In
comparatively few years, and from very
modest origin, has grown to vast proper,
tions, in many parts of Chrlstenuom, anu
seems destined by Providence to fulfil
noble mission, as a most powerful means OF
counteracting some of the greatest evils OF
the age by rendering the working masses
really and practically religious. 1t has
been, from time to time, our pleasing duty
to note the progress of this most admirable
association, in Cork especially, and we
have assurances that it's influence on the
moral and material condition of the people
ia of most sanitary kind while the con-
tiuuance and growth of that influence may
well be expected to render our working
classes all that it ia desirable they should
be. This religious movement amongst the
laboring population is one of the most ex-
cellent of the various religious phenomena
which are destined to mark the eplscopate
of our venersted Bishop as golden era In
the annals of this diocese I; and it need
scarce be said that it ia one which his lord
ship has watched over with the most
earnest and cordial solicitude. He has
recognized in its success not only special
favor conferred upon his flock from on high,
but proof too of the moral soundness and
the abundance of good principle which ex
lists in the masses. Under his lordship's
sanction, this fund of good has been
drawn forth and developed by the
jealous ministratous of his clergy,
and to the excellent measure of ex-
cellent fruit which has been shown to
add the record of grand public manifesto
ton, the like of which has not adorned the
history of any Catholic community in these
counties for a long series of years. 1t
would be idle and uuwise to deny that,
side by side with this religious movement
in Cork, there exists much that is deplora
BILE of moral weakness in the people, and
that intemperance prevails to an extent un-
worthy of Christian community. That the
| confraternities have rescued many q man
from that destructive vice ia beyond doubt
and it has been his Lordship's Wlsh to hold
up to those who still indulge the too com
mon failing, the example of those thousands
| of men who, in religious aAs"ciations have
| discovered the only sh-ctual meRns of re
sisting its sllurements AT the opening of
| the holy Lenten season he desired at once
| to give some evidence of the good that reli
glon had already accomplished for the
| people, and to act before the miDds of the
| eJ'lng, a powerful argument why they too
| STARE ITS blessing To thia erd, he con-
vened yesterday at the Cathedral of the
diocese ali aggregate meeting at the four
parOchiai confraterpities of the Holy Family
in Cork, aud directed shat they should pro-
coed thither from their several churches in
solemn procession. The outcome of this
| we'll timed ordinance is now a matter OF
local history. We venture to say it leaves
| behind it, amongst all who can regard it
honestly, none but the most satisfactory and
| L. "
striking proof of the hold which religion
has upon the affections of the people, and
| hOw potent example is in elevatIng them
morally, and even improving their condi
ton socially. The spectacle which our
streets presented yesterday, when between
| five and six thousand working men, of
various grades, marched to the Cathedral
to take part in religious service, was one
which NO friend of the people could look
| upon with indifference. Not only were
| there order, decorum and self respect in the
bearing of the men, but even their per-
sOnal condition gave testimony of the
good results of leading practical religious
| lives.
The several confraternitiee. numbering
1900, 1900. 800 and 1900 men, formed in line
Of procession four deep and marched in a
body to the Cathedral. Many thousands
of spectators lined the route. The pageant
was a striking one-the bright colors of the
| h0h oClo Iloooho picasduIiy AoISEluR Tue
dull uniformity of dress, and the shields
which had a peculiar, medi0val look
cleaning brightly in the sunshine above
their heads. They arrived at the Cathe-
dral at two o'clock, and by half past two
all were in their pIaces-at least SO many
of them could enter. The scene in the
| Cathedral was marvellous. Fully four
thousand men with their various emblems,
thronged the building from alter to porch
and from wall to wall yet there was the
most perfect decoruD, and manifest con-
seriousness OF the sacredness of the place
and the occasion.
The Bishop delivered an eloquent sermon
suitable to the occasion, after which he
gave the pledge to all who were willing tc
take it till next Lent. At the conclusion Of
the sermon, and while the Bishop was
robing for Benediction, the congregation
sang the beautiful hymn, God Of Mercy
and Compassion" followed by the Litany Of
the Blessed Virgin. Benedictfon of the
Blessed Sacrament was then given, and
during the Exposition the Tantum Ergo was
chanted by four thousand wholesome OF
| sublimest canticles in the litnrGY of the