The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-01-07
CHURCH NOTES.
THE SPECIAL. SERVICES AT ST. PETERS
CATHEDRAL FOB THE CObORED & PEe-
PLE-THE BAPTIST AND METHODIST
cHUR cHEs- Es-sUEDAY-scHooL MEETING
WEEK OF Prayer, &C, &C.

a. ST, Peters Cathedral by the Right Rev.
j, J. Keane, Bishop, assisted by the Very
Rev. Father Janssens and the Rev. DR..
O'Cpnnell.
Every seat in the edifice was at the SER
vice or the colore6 people except few in
the galleries, but many could not effect an
entrance, much less obtain seats. The best
OF order prevailed throughout the services,
the congregation showing by their deyo-
tionai department their respect for the
house OF God aud their interest In the SER
vices. -
The services were opened with the sing
ing OF a hymn by the Suufay.school chill
dren---" Saviour, when in dust to thee" NJ
A few tines only had been SING by the
children near the altar when the strain was
caught up by many Of the vast congregation
OF colored people, and soon there was o
volume of rich vocal music, for which the
colored people are noted.
AZ the conclusion of the singing the Bish-
on explained to his hearers the attitude Of
PRAYER, following with an appropriate
prayer.
THE BISHOPS REMARKS.
The Risbop then addressed the congrega-
ton. He said (brieilyl:
Dearly beloved brethren, | cannot eX-
press 10 you the thankfulness to God that
fills my heart on beholding the vast number
assembled at the first Of these exercises,
which trust will be attended with great
abundance Of heavenly fruit and bring
blessing on all those who may assist US.
It has long been matter Of deep solici-
| tude for us to think OF the thousands OF our
GOOD colored PEOPLE, Tor whom thus far we
have been able to do SO little. We leel the
deep responsibility we have for those 36.0o0
souls who have been invited here to listen
to our words. Would that we bad 1t IN our
| power to do for them tenfold what has oeen
done by other denominations. Wouid thae
we could offer them church OF their own
like the spacious structures provided 1or
them by other denominations.
As we have it not In our power, We do
the next best thing, invite them to our own
church to assist in these exercises, and IN
doing this we fulfil duty we owe towards
every Immortal soul.
We have no right to make distinctions be-
tween the souls that God made and for
whom Jesus suffered All souls are equal
in Gods sight. God is no respecter OF per-
sons. Every immortal soul is equally IN the
sight Of God worth the blood OF bis Divine
| Son, and the Lord Jesus and Saviour shed
his blood for all men without exception
| In worldly matters there will always be
distinctions. There will always be in the
| world the rich and the poor, the high and
the low. The world will always have these
distinctions. But God knows no such dis
tinctions. One soul is as valuable in His
sight as another, and therefore GODS CEurch
makes no distinction in souls; and there
fore it is that in Gods temple I beg our
Heavenly Father to pour down His bless
| ings upon this evenings exercises Tor the
,{1, 10. hn rrln of
Jesus Christ, His Divine Son, and for the
| good Of your immortal souls.
In this evenings exercises we will, in the
first place, raise our hearts to God IN prayer
and recognize the duty OF homage we owe
| to Him as His creatures. In the next place
we will sing hymus; and we hope, from
your attendance at these exercises, you will
become acquainted with those hymns, so
that all may join in singing, for God loves
| to hear all voices join in singing praises to
| His name. Thirdly, there will always be
instructions, particularly Catechism lessons.
because in that little book is summed up all
the doctrine contained in more words in nu-
merous books.
The Bishop here explained the method Of
catechitical instruction, and went on to
speak OF the sermon. He said. Now, in this
sermon on instruction, my beloved brethren,
I will teach you nothing but the religion OF
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We
have no other religion. We have no otner
faith but the faith taught us by Christ. We
have no religion but the religion he left US.
we have no hope Of salvation except in
Christ, and shall teach you IN this sermon
only the faith and religion of Jesus Christ.
And therefore l call upon God to witness
| that in all the instructions I shall give you,
| in all that tell you about Catholic faith and
doctrine, shall tell you the truth, the whole
truth. and nothing but the truth. shall
not deceive anybody, nor conceal anything,
nor m,srepresent anything, but give you the
plain. simDle truth, the same as 1t was de-
| livered to Us by Christ. F.,
The Bishop then read the 1st chapter. o;
the Catechism, which treats OF GOD, the
| Trinity Of persons, and our duty to Him as
His creatures. He then read from the 9Th
and 7th chapters of the Holy Gospel accord
ing to ST. Matthew, and took for bis text,
"What will it profit man to gain the Whole
world il be lose his own soul!,' 49,
| He explained to them the value OF q soul,
and drew graphic picture OF the sufferings
and death OF Christ as the price paid for its
REDEMPTION. He referred to the different
ideas entertained about the way to saliva
ton, and denied the teaching "once 1T
grace always in grace" as not being con
tanned in the Bible, and opposed to the
| teachings or Christ; claimed that the will OF
God could only be learned from the Churcf
! He had commissioned to teach it. lie said
| "On another occasion I will explain to
YOU Jesus Christ directs us to learn the vii
| OF God from His Church. He tells us'thal
we must not trust every one who tries to
| teach us the way to Heaven, for how can
they teach unless they are sent,' and you
know that our Lord says that when the
blind lead the blind they both fall into the
| pitt You must find out whether that
Church was established by Christ and
founded by Him to teach you the way to
Heaven"
He concluded with strong exhortation
to his hearers TO work earnestly and make
any sacrifices in order to secure their saliva.
zion. and invited them to come every Sun.
day night to the exercises in order that they
might learn all about the Kingdom OF God
and the way to salvation.
The Bishops discourse was IN every way
suited to the capacity OF his hearers, and
received their close attention throughout.
A hnnn followed, wach was succeeaeo
by prayer; after Which the congregation
was dismissed.
AS mag be judged from the Bishops dss.
course, tie Instructions will be OF EsTo-
sressiye character, begiHniBg With the stnl-
ole rudiments of religion aad ending WIGS
an expianas.on of the ritual OF the Catholic
Church. W 80 - ~" 90
t.} METHODIST CHUscHEs. ID
At the Brosd- Street Methodist church ON
Suaday seYen members were received Dy