The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-27
PERILs OF OUR COUNTRY.

WHAT They ARE AND HOW They SHOULD BE
MET SERMON BY REV. MI. STEELE.
South Third Street Methodist Episcopal Church,
Brooklyn, Il. d., was well nod last evening with .
congregation IN which members Of Tho Grand
Army 'ot tho Republic tho order OF United
American Mechanics and Order OF tho Ameri-
Union were Inc. udcd. rncy were attracted
by memorial sermon preached by Rev. W.
Z. steele ant cpstory Of Decoration Day. HIS themo
was-.lho Perils OF Our Country" Those peris nc
classcd under three heads-Romanism, Dcmagogue-
ism and Communism lu Celebrating his
theinc Mr. steele sketched thc principles that
undcrlio American Institutions, such tho
supremacy 81 constitutional law the equality OF
Dsiorc that Law, The diffusion oil intelligence
through the common schools all over our Land, and
tho right md opportunity oil every aspire and
attain 10 the highest position ana Office In the Repub-
Iic. Wherever there Is discrimin ttion in any OF
these ,ninss there cannot DO true liberty Wherever
there are individuals or class VINO have special
privileges gwen to them, there liberty Is curtaitcd.
America Is tue greatest elevator OF tho masses
OF men, and any man VINO has brains
rise among US. Instances IN proof OF tins
cited by Mr.. steele. John JACOB Astor, he SAID.
once peddiou apples IN New York; A. e. Stewart was
u poor schoomaster; Po.er Cooper was a
mechanic aud his controlling idea was TO give the
poor men OF his city u Tree insl,tuton for higher
grades OF education. Mr.. steele prayed that God
might bless him with long lie. General Jackson,
Dsncl Webster stephen A Douglass, Abraham Lin
coin Henry Wilson, Andrew johnson aud others
referred 10, also examples OF poor men or the
Of poor VINO rose ~ the highest positions IN
this land.
FaEE SCHOOLS
Mr. steele insisted tnat Tree schools were absolutely
necessary 10 tue existence o tue republic anu tho
maintenance OF constitutional hbsr.y. Not one VI
the threatened dangers OF to-day come IRON our
schools. lhey come rather from men who nave
been INSIDE our schools And Que reason Why wc
should mantain them Is that all The great Inventions
Of the aeo originate IN America For instance, tho
steamboat, the telegraph ana telephone. Now the pes
10 our country arise, said Mr. steele, IRON a form
OF faith iLmical 10 our Institutions lie then quoted
from the speeches. OF Catholic bishops aud press and
ia ia my q
have tho supremacy 10 this country, and that
when they have Il our common schools viii 10 o.u
aud cvl anu religious nDcry will become tnlng OF
the past The educational practice Of our country
has always, no said, favored tho reading OF Go.s
ord The schools and he insisted that neither tho
ionowers of the Pope OF Coniucus, OF Monammcd or
any others should Interfere with vested and
o. our liberties aud this great corner stono
must not DO removed or tampe rod with. In touching
ON dcmagogueism Mr. Steoic referred 10 Tweed who,
he said, died w',h the execralons Of the people whom
he mad robbed upon bis head Aud there. are mcn
both cities to-day Who would soil and their
consti ueuci.s Tor place and posit0n. La regard
Communism. he said u was greatly magn,hcd; that
there are nnions OF workinsmcn all over our land
who have no sympathy Whatever with
u. They have enough do 10 got bread
and butter Tor their families without going into
movement OF that, when prom Only failure
from The start but admitting That the Comnun. Is
as strong as ~ reported hcrc Mr.. steele reminded
his hearers that A. an offset TO them We have tho
United States army, tho state miutia, the Grand
Army OF tbs Republic, tho 0fder vi United Amer
ican Mechanics, the Patriot sons oi America,
quotations VINO are ready AZ tho nrst approach OF
peru 10 our country TO runie is defence. Our only
hope Tor the iuturc he said 10 ~ tnc patrio Of tho
people ana thor owe tor tho old nag ana Tor Amcr-
can Institutions
81. MARY'S, STAR OF THE SEA,
ST. Mary's, STAR OF tho scs, Roman Catholic Church,
Court street, near Loquer stree, south Brooklyn,
tho scene VI an imposing ceremonial yesterday,
the occasion beng hrst communion anu an.
nua reception Of tho soday societies Tor the Month
OF Mary" ~ mo baii.past seven O'Clock mass which
was celebrated b. Rev. l. Toner, about one hungred
little girisand MS many boys received communion
tor the hrd time. Tue girls were altred
IL whife swiss muslin dresses. long wells,
wreatns, white shoes aud gloves anu the Toys wore
dark suits and sclrs. Besiaes these Juvenile com.
muDcants tie members OF other sodsIstics received
communion, the pastor, Rev Henry % Lougniin, as
sstiBa IA cservice la the giterboon vesper tho
reception aud renewal OF baptsmai vows took place.
Tho religious spectacle one Of extrcn ne beauty.
The societies formed in st. Mays Hall, winch al.
Joins thc WAurch, and, carrying banners aud floral
devices ns offerings Tor the adornnent OF tho altar
marched across tourt street NJ Nelson, ana along
Court TO Luqacr, where thr PROCESSION recrvssod mo
street and catered the church.