The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-11-04
Being . sermon Delivered al the CaShe.
dFai BY Rev. Father SIsnEsr,
Of Charleston, W, Va, on
sunday Evening" Last.

~, RsS BiNl'0pr pty Rsr. and RI. BrothS7,
Of he Ci1gy, Dedriy BeI0rod BrcihTm:
The fate Otthose who sleep 10 calmly DO.
meath the mounds which on every side
ripple the surface Of the burial ground, Is
an awful mystery. Yet, trusting in the
good dispositions which they manifested
in their final moments, in the virtue Of
the holy sScrAmOnts which they received,
and in the bOundless mercy Of God, We
love to apply to them the words Of Holy
Writ, blessed are the dead who die in
the Lord"
1t isbecauss Of this cousoling trust, even
more than Of the natural affection that we
entertained for them during their lives,
that We cherish the memory OF our dear
dead, that pray for their souls, and
that we visit and Adorn the cousecnted
ground in which their perishable remains
are lain away.
It 10 this cOnsoling trust also which ex.
plains why you tiocked in such nunbers
here to-day TO witness the solemn dedica.
ton OF this memorial chapel erected
through your piety over the grave Of the
unioTgOttel Bishop Whelan, who, true in
death as in lie, wished 10 be laid at rest
in the company OF those 10 whom no minis
tered so long and so faithfully.
Four years and three months ago !
witnessed another gathering in this GENE.
terry similar 70 the one now see before
me. Where this chapel now stands there
than d u
pressed sorrow stricken multitude,
eager To get last lock at the casket which
contained his remains. Besides the pray
ers Of the ritual not word was then ut
tered, for, when hearts were so full, 1t
would have been wrong to break in with
cold language upon their speeches. sor-
row. Now, however, that time has TEN.
pered that sorrow into 4tIectionSte re-,
membrance. and that this occasion calls
for such tribute, will, with Gods help,
tell you few things about his deeds aud
his virtues, and explain the purpose OF
this monument which will transmit his
memory unto your children's children.
Honor, gratitude and tilial piety. Cath.
olics OF the city Of Wheeling, you have
done your duty in erecting this chapel %
the memory OF the proto. bishop Of yout
city. But you must allow me, even be-
fore uttering word concerning his merits,
to assert that your honor, your gratitude,
your filial piety demanded that you
should not permit the memory Of Bishop
Whelan to perish.
Honor is the sentiment In men which
prompts them 10 appreciate and foster the
dignity Of their nature. ACtuated by
this sentiment, they love and bear in
memory what is noble, and they spurn
and seek to bury in oblivion what is base.
1t is Of the utmost consequence 10 the vel.
fare OF society that its individual members
should aim 10 keep this ennobling senti-
ment alive in their hearta. Honor goes
further than Justice. 1t acts spOnLane-
ously, and hRstens to accord what is due
TO merit even before any claim has been
advanced. It is not the mere equitable
acknowledgment OF debt, but the cor.
dial recognition OF what is noble, true and
good. 1t is magnanimous and is ready TO
DO pleased with what is well done, even
when It Is done under the stimulus Of the
sense Of duty. It's standard Is always
lofty one, and 1t rewards with its distinc-
tons, not alone success, but every Hener-
Gus effort TO attain that standard
In response to this sentiment. q nation
surrounds with its adeCtionate loyalty the
person Of the ruler, who, by his wisdom
and devotion to his trust, has conducted
his people TO prosperity and peace In
obedience 10 this sentiment, an army con-
fers its confidence and unconditional sub.
mission on the commander who has led it
to victory and glory In the field. In re-
Spouse to this sentiment, q Christian peo-
pie will bestow its reverence, its o6edi-
enCe, its love, and. after his death, its I'm.
perishable remembrance, upon the pastor
who has furthered its temporal and eter.
nal interests, and guided it by the light OF
his own bright example into the path
which leads 10 the glory OF heaven.
Now say, II ever the honor Of a Christ
ian flock had cause to keep alive and cher
ish the memory OF its spiritual shepherd,
| It il tho honor Of the Catholics Of Wheel.
ing anent tho Bishop oyer whom they
has been dedicated. The evidence for
this will be sufficiently given when fur
ther on ] come to tell you what he did for
i you.
Meanwhile will mention another viz
tue which cannot be associated from
honor. mean gratitude. What 1t Is, l
need hardly occupy the time In telling 1t
is simply the hearts best thanks for iavors
which have been received. tits the re-
turn, not in silver or gold, bat in priceless
feeling, for what silver and gold never
could psY. II is the evidence Of nobility
and worth on the part Of him by whom It
| Is given, ct the same time that It Is the
richest, perhaps only, adequate retGrp to
him by whom it is receivable. Gratitude
is the most valuable coin current; aud,
alas! II is as rare as 1t is valuable. It is
an honor to be debtor when one has the
coin to discAGrEs the debt with. Graft.
tude Is the encouEa Rld Vgs!epAnce
Iot blindness and liberslity,. Like warm,
gentle rain descending upon a fruitful
soil, gratitude calls forth deeds Of heroic
charity and sacrifice In rich iuxurtancs
wherever 1t falls, while its absence, like
: the s0orchlng breath Of sirocco wind,
dries up every fountain Of generosity and
devotion. Gratitude may be a merely
natural virtue, and then, like sweet
flower Ehl0h grows spontaneously in the
forest, uncultiSRted Of 7tle hand OF man, It
, is not without It's peculiar BEAUTY but
) when 1t springs out Of the soil OF Chris
tan charity and is yivided by supernatu-
raj grace, It Is like d lovely exotic trans
planted from thp garden OF o celestial par
adise. This ytftds grades Us p 2
u leaves none Of It's debts undischarH.
i ed, but Il lnVes shove oil to discharge
those obligations which have been ia
4 lposed through services rendered to the
Immortal soul Tograitude the greatest
benelactor Is he who has done service to
tho spirit It does not underrate those
i who feed and plothp the body, but It cher.
J is9es deeper thanktllness towards th6se
e who. think more Of the soul whilst they d
not forget the body.
! Of gratitude, ] say what I said Of honor
> 4 eyer there was . binding claim upon
The claim which exists fOF the oS!hoilcso