The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-10-20
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 60 1878.


total abstinence. No doubt you have been
led to expect q lengthy, elaborate and elo-
quent lectare, suited to the occasion and the
audience. fear you will be disappointed in
your fond expectation. am not q lecturer
nor am eloquent in any sense of the word.
never gave lecture. 30. called, in my life and
propose never to give any. il can help it.
demics. when the Catholic priest is occupied
day and night with visiting, oonsoing. auoint
ing the sick and dying, it is simply mpossb BILE
| for bim. even if he had the talent, to fud an
hours leisure for preparing elaborate dis
courses. such are expected on q memorable
anniversary like the present.
As priest of God and follower of tie Apos-
tie, content myself with preaching Chriss
crucifod, not in the persuasive words of hnman
elcq1ence but in the child-like simplicity Of
the holy gospel Hence can and will do no
more than give you brief, plain, old fashion
ed sermon Oh q subject most useful to the
majority of my hearers. As the male sex seems
to predominate in my respected audience.
will confne my remarks chiefly and directly
to the men. II / seem to slight the gentle sex.
they will please bear in mind that speak bot
indirectly for them, and that. when strictures
are made, she present company must always
be excepted" The subject OF my remarks
is:
THE DIGNITY AND DANGER OF MANHOOD.
once heard poor woman in great trouble
sigh With all the fervor of her soul: ~ wish
we're a man." The wish then struck me as
| silly and extravaganza. l now think it was as
natu al and Sensible ss most wishes are. With
oct ia tending any disrespect to the pious fe
raaia e?E. am of opinion that theirs is not an
enviable lot. wonId certainly regret beiog
woman, and thank my kind CIeator
that am a man. The more we reflect, the
more we see that it is q security, q convent
ence and great dignity to be man. The
mere word, "Man or Manhood" implies vigor,
nobility and dignity, and God himself did not
disdain to become man and thus raise man
hood to s1blimity.
1t tcannot be'denied that WON an xcels man in
the softer and gentle nsltiee OF body and soul,
of nd and heart. By ature, education and ha-
Bit woman is more modest, more patient more
sympathetic, more religious than man. She
is shocked by the very sight of sin and tonoh-
ed by every tale If woe. Her power ofeuduring
trials and torments is heroic. On bed ofsck.
ness she barely breathes a sigh, while man
will often howl with pain. Her piety is natu-
raj and proverbisl. We read of it in the life
of onr Blessed Redeemer, who had no truer
and trustier followers, even unto death, than
Mary his Blessed Mother, MaRdaleue and MAI
tha, Msry Cleophas and Seloms. We witness
her piety ever day in our churches, at the con-
fessionals, and at the Holy Table, where we
often behold three women to one man. Hence
the great st. Augustine was right when, four
teen hundred years ago, he already addressed
the Mother of Jesus: :Holy Mary, pray for the
people intervene for the clergy, intercede for
Yet it is equally true that woman is vastly
inferior TO man in all the stronger and nobler
qualities of our common nature. She is more
frail and feeble in body and mind ; she lacks |
vigor and depth of intellect che is second to
man botbe in position and in creation she 10 |
but the companion and helpmate of man, on |
whom she naturally leans and necessarily de-
pends for support and protection. Her reason |
develops more quickly in childhood. but re-
mains stationary in her teens, and thereafter
advances no more. Her sphere is limited, while
the world is mans theatre. She may preside
with grace and tact in the family circle, the
kitchen, the nursery, the sick room, the school,
aud in a little country post office, but general
ly proves an oddity and a faIInre ss an orator,
q writer, poet, an astronomer, o politician, or
a monarch. The ex 3eptiops Bre fe " and mere
~ serve to oonfiIm the rule.
Noble man, on the contrary, was intended
Ind created by the Almighty TO be the superior
II woman, the head OF the family, the king OF
he creation. On his strong shoulders and
20 werful brain the universe seems to rest. 1t
8 be that governs fnmilies, cities. states, king
IONS empires, and the world. From his sex
are chosen the guardians of the peace, the
pioneers of civilization, the pastors OF the
,hnrch, the rulers 0f the world
Poor woman, be she even q queen, an en-
Dress or an authOTess by exception, 10 not per-
nitted in the Church OF God to offioiste, to
preach, ITO uncover her head, or as much as
,lets tiny medal, crucifx or rosary. Man,
made but little lesS than the angel, should {
therefore appreciate, respect and maintain his
liRh position, his eminent dignity and mighty i
Dfi uence as head Of the family, the Church and '
he world. But alas in our age and country
he divinely appointed positions Of the SeIss L
re often reversed; woman, sometimes PoeeesS' c
ID of more sense and prudence, adroity takes c
he lead and man readily follows suit as an Z
tumble servant and satellite of woman. q
We read 1 ancient Greek history that the b
ynic philosopher Diogenee IVES once seen in {
road day light carrying lighted lamp i
hrouRh the Gro owded streets and m arket places &
Z Athens. "What are you about ~ am e
ookiuR Sor something" "What is it ~ 81 am {
eekinR q ndn-A trne man that knows and q
lonors his manhood" rTis related that come Q
ears ago queer individual, with Lighted p
ann at noon, was m making Q similar search in Y
;hicago "Wbat are yon looking fJrf" in c
uired q passing friend. 81 am after an honest
ian, but can hud none in Chicago" Indeed, b
q als forms are many among Ne, perhaps too ?
many for the welfare Of qoefll society every; 3