The New York herald., 1876-09-25
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.

DIscOURsE NJ THK REV. FATHER WILLIAM A.
sPRcKLEs, OF CALIFORNIA.
This largest Of tho Roman Catholic churches Of the
New York diocese airiy filled yesterday morning.
Notwithstanding the rain. High mass was said At tho
usual morning hour by Fathor McCaulcy. The music,
under the able direction Of Mr. Danforth tho organis
consisted. before the sermon, OF selections nom ME-
ners Mass In A. the 'Crcdo" and subsequent musical
services taken nom -Moxart's Twelfth Mass, and
''veni CREATOR by Panofka, sung admirably by Mr..
TeIe, the baritone The sermon preached by
Rev. Father William A. specklos, OF ST. Mary's
Cathedral, San Francisco. The reverend gentleman
preached entirely without notes. and bis sermon
model OF compact thought and logical Inference. He
took the subject OF hts discourse the Gospel OF the
day, Luke XIV, containing the account Of Christs
miracle IN hea,ing tho man who suffered
from dropsy. He sad-In TINS chapter OF Holy Writ
behold bi"ssod Lord and Saviour performing a
miracle We do not view Him In HIS character
saviour In tbe present instance lie stands before us
not one whose divine mission to the souls
Of SMUT men. but who to heal suffer-
Inc bodies, minister to our temporal necessities and
alleviate The miscrics which earthly estate Is
liable. He stands as our friend in the matter OF our
daily lives. and while lie 10 tho Healer OF Souls lie Is
no. lees The earthly than the heavenly physician Now
the Church Is tue spouse OF Christ and HIS follower,
aud stand His footsteps be hor men,
hcrs as tie wsstho friend of man, loss IN his tenn
pora tnan IN hrs spiritual wants. The world disputes
cersirs her members IL says, .'your junction Is
20 the souls OF mankind but you nothing for
sns'a nsosss~s s % ." arm a , ms ~oaa ,s con
body To ave his soui." THIS not go. The Church
she real trend Of man. bodily, mentally and spirit.
usily. Man 10 creature oi three elements
an inteilsc,, demanding support and satisfy
ing for that which m; heart, dcmand-
ing sympathy and support, and a body which
requires food ramcnt and shelter. The Church is a
friend 10 alt three A a regards the demands
OF the human ncIcct the world arrogatcs 10 Itself all
Il he % d and q
IL claims to be the guardian oi science and OF all that
science has done to amcIior'ate mans condition.
wolid not dcrart an iota from all that tn, world,
represented by workers outside tho Church. has d0ne
l. grant all the caims u has the gratitude man.
IL has cxicrtcd reluctant treasure from the earth;
has sounded the depths of the ocean, has crossed
OF heaven that the ight aid the
and ihus minister to mans ccmiort and luxury;
ha-iamed the lightning To do It's bidding has achieved
broad victories the forces Of aud LAID
AT the cct OF humanity. With all this has !, satis-
fed the intellect of many II has done much, but
LETT much undonc We're man n creature OF the day,
the worlds work would have fulfilled ITS mission bu.
II has never answered and never can answer
the questions man has asked himself through
all past ilmc, ''Whcncc came ?r 'Whithcr
am going r"-thc great questions OF pain and pleas
urc, sorrow anu rladncss. 10 these questions
offers no solution no answer and man turns OF
sity 10 the Church. she CONES 10 tho rescue OF her
children Hencciorth they need not gropc; they have
only w follow The PLAIN paths OF reason and scripture
winch the church points out
so too, win the heart in tho Supreme hour of suf
fcr,ue IN the hour OF despair Oh you who have left
the path OF Gods direciion ask whence will you
whence can you tufn but 10 Church, In the
springtinc OF youth when the world fresh and
beautiful when you look forward to years pleasure
and indulgence, and HE seems garden stocked with
flowers spripglng up beauty tor deli lighiyes
mature years. when all that the world has
o'cr honor reward yours then perhaps earthly
Joys may be soace; hut your later years when
you inning realize the wortbicsrncss Of your
fc you look back aud find how false and hollow
the world believed IN ami you stand staring
your destiny in ITS incc. Try To rave yourself by your
natural strength ana you iaii-ia utterly To whom
you 60 tor safety but to the church,
nh eA. lsxtx hat h.
when aiiieis humsnity-tnat which has called forth
the cors and The thought Of every humanitarian and
political economisty Poverty. oh, how tho Church
surpssses tho world treatment OF this evil Tho
world only plead with The rich Tor the relief OF the
poor on the ground OF sympathy but the Church
command, 10 can threaten, 10 can punish The world
only draw ts remedies for poverty from natural
sources hut The Church draws her methods OF
m.nt IRON God Hinseif How d,d The pagans treat
poverty The poor had no rights against the rich
And Lord Intended TO restore the poor their
natural position society when though prince Of
the house of David. lie came hs the
abject poverty chose s Disciples poorest OF
the poor, aud. IN referring 10 s mirnccs raid
''And the poor have The Gospel preached 10 them
The Church by her own example shows tho value OF
poverty. Her Three vows obedience con fincncc
and poverty; and the Establishment OF tho various
mona-tc orders not only gives poverty sanetuy, but
gives opporunitv tor IT. rclict Tho world oners
poor house, thc Church oilers shelter the bosom OF
herr ehx