The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-18
ST. Adams CHURCH.
FESTIVAL OF ST. ALBAN, THE MARrYR-sEB-
MON BY THE REV. ALFRED q. MORTIMER, OF

FESTIVAL OF ST. ALBAN, THE MARTYH-SER-
MON BY THE REV. ALFRED @. MORTIMER, OF
ENGLAND-THE WITNESSES OF CHRIST.
Yesterday tho festival Of ST. Alban, the martyr,
and the dedication festival Of ST. Adams Church, in
East Fortysevontn street, and especial effort had
been made to make the service moro than usually at
tractlve. Tho morning prayer was read at half past
A. NJ, and at quarter before eleven the choir
quislly took their places in their stalls and tho
Litany was reciled after which the choir again re-
tired TO prepa for the grand procession. In q few
minutes the COR OF the vestry room opened and the
procession forth, marched down the east aisle
the church and the centre aso the stalls In the
chancel thus making complete circuit Of the CHURCH.
singing the while the old professional hymn, Onward
Christian Soldiers" Tho procession very imposing
and WAS formed as folows:-First came the thurfcr,
bearing the censor, which he swang from sde to side
he marched, the perfumed incense permeatipg tho
entire church; following him came the crucifer
with the cross hfRh up,fcd; next behind Ihere
the chortsters the boys IN blue cAssocks and white
aud the men in Usck cassocks and white cotlss
came Father Mortimer Of tho English Society OF
the EvaDgeiists oil st. John, sometimes caed the
'Cowley monks;' then came iour acolytes clad Ia
red cassocks white cottas acoytes Bearing
huge lighted candles, anu last oil all Father Morrill,
In iu cccies asticil white vcstmepts and cap In the
procession were carried Two very handsome white silk
banners, heavily embroidered wnh gold, one repre-
senting the Anpunciaton and the other the Nativity
The service began with tho singing OF the ''vents" 10
Gregorian chant PARTISAN tonc); after which the col
ebraton OF tho molly communion Immediately fol.
lowed. The sermon followed the Niceno Greed, aud
tho oncriory the sermon, during which Tours set
ting OF the lie Deum' was sung.
Tho sermon was preached by the Rev. Alfred G.
Mortimer, who has been but three weeks IN America
FIRST chapter OF the Acis, And ye shall be witnesses
uato me-" These the last words, he said Of our
these the very last words Of whom wa pro.
fess 10 love- whose name we bear whose faith pro-
less TO HIS Church on EARTH Tor alter he had uttered
tuem cloud took Him up out OF sight These words
the stay aud hope Of the early martyrs Of the
Church. 70 snail be my witnesses, my martyrs. SAID
Jesus, and they wore His martyrs. The words were
spoken to the apostle, but they are equally
addressed to US. How do We I'LL tbcmf How
do We DO wilnsssesf DO we follow the apostolic ex.
ample Tue apostles and martyrs sealed their wit
with thor lives. The preacher made dcd
reference to the suftrIngs OF ST. Paul. Tho enemies
the apostles that they had been wilh Jesus Would
any OF tho enemies OF tho Churcn now-the iuhdci,
tha. We have been win JesusS Those early apostles
and fathers OF tho Cnurcn were witnesses by tarlyr-
oom. they laid aown thor lives by fro and sword,
and suffered torture and death rather than deny their
Master.
THE FIRST ENGLISH MARTYR.
To-day we celebrate the festival OF tho saint under
whose puce and protection we worship I'm this
church. st Aban was tho brst English martyr, the
first OF our ancestors wno laid down his lie Tor his
alih nearly sixteen hundred years AGO Sl Alban was
marlyrea A. ID. 305L Tho charge Is addressed
to US to-day, anu u Is just as ihs Church
Is Iathlul or not 10 mat Cnurkc tndt ~ ID blTOnH
or weak What the Church mo- DIS now 10 10 realize
that II has du,y 10 perorm--to Dear witness 10
Christ, 10 DO HIS witness on ear.h The perse' u,ions
oil the Church by the world Is not what wcaKens Il,
Tor persecution only makes stronger, but ~ Is tho
com with tue world that destroys the Church
Chrsicndom, IN the time Of ST. Albau, meant psrsecu
ton anu Witnessing Now Chrksenuom Is ouly an
Tor III. word, and the call 10 us now TO
come o. thai nominal Cnristendom aud be ,rue,
falhiuI Witnesses.
Tho preacher here drew a vigorous coLtrast be-
tween those VINO take the name oI CHRIST anu wear
as oak Tor their own evil designs and those who
are humble and true witnesses. and concluded HIS
discourse by pointing out some Of the ways In which
true witness ought 10 Lc borne, one Of which was by
alms-gving. He SAID ~ no man vino has latin
which does not cost him nything does not think