Morning journal and courier., 1881-04-25

The sculptors follow nature. The architect has his plan. The navigator follows his chart. There must be recognized and ad- mitted standard of excellence. Without it progress is impossible. The Christian has the Bible the example of Christ, his precept and missions and the spiritual life which he alone can impart.
 There were number of ladies and gentle men proposed for membership.
 At the Catholic Churches
 The devotion of the forty hours opened yesterday at St. Mary's church. It will be concluded by solemn high mass tomorrow morning.
 A mission was opened yesterday at St. Johns church, conducted by the Jesuit fath- CTS. Father Maguire preached the opening discourse in the morning, and at vespers last evening gave a short explanatory sermon. In an impressive and highly interesting manner he announced the special objects of the mis- sion, and in a discursive way covered a vast amount of doctrinal ground. The prev alent causes that tend to the distraction of Catholics from their religious duties were touched upon in general way, with prom ise of more specific attention in the further services of the mission. The restless activity of humanity that is seen in all things apper- taining to worldly advancement was depre- cated in its exclusion of the real purpose of ife-the salvation of the soul. The intellec- tual vagaries of the day, and their damaging influence on Christianity and religious fervor, received passing notice and were treated in manner that showed an ability in the preacher to crush the castellated theories hot koIro of oi1,6c among the youth of the day, theories that have grown from the infdel teachings of the rostrum and the drippings of too liberal press. Father Mcguire held throughout the attention of the congregation, and there is no doubt that during the two weeks mission much interest will be taken in his discourses. The singing both morning and evening was excellent, Mrs Craig assisting at the mass and singing in her matchless style. Miss Mallahan and Miss Stack led the singing at vespers, both rendering their solos in an ad- mirable manner. Miss Stack. the organist, deserves much praise for the efficiency which the choir has attained, which has been main ly due to her untiring exertions. There will be services every morning. afternoon and even ing during the mission, which will continue through this and next week
 The Power and Permanency of Ideas.
 Rev. M H. Houghton at the Church of the Messiah yesterday delivered a discourse under the above head from the words. ''Let that therefore abide in you which ye have heard from the beginning" He referred to the unrest and unceasing activity of the hu- man mind, to the inspiration that natures great boundless panorama gives and to the domain of thought. The highest function of the human mind is to interpret these cur rents of universal life and move with them. The progress of our country was referred to in eloquent words, listened to with great in- terest. The progress in the domain of sci ence was equally well referred to. The high est thought, however, of this or any time is the thought of man himself. Reason builds forts and breakwaters. Intuition is proud bird rising up to the shining stars. Reason is giant felling the forest oaks Intui- tion is an angel. Reason is a king. The one mounts to heaven in the chariot of hope the other seeks the paths of law and fact. Take the recognition of God or divine power. See how it has decked the earth with altars. Their ruins cover the valley of the Indus, the Nile and the Euphrates. the border of the turbulent Jordan, all around the sluggish waters of the Dead Sea. Wherever human feet have trod there have been a1tars, prayer and praise. How this great idea has deifed almost cry animal. How it has brooded like the deathless fires of the vestal virgin over the cradles and the graves of dynasties and empires. We are but allvding to the universal belief in power and intelligence superior to our own. It does not matter through what oracle he speaks. His may be the voice of universal nature as it speaks to us in the wild roar of the waves or the sweet whispers of wooing love. He may have talked with Moses on the mountain or with Jesus on the Jordan. He may be the God of the hunter on the plains, or the Father of the Christian in his closet. Both Christian and infdel recognize some power and gladly submit to it's decrees. The speak CT now considered the idea of duty, the recognition by man of the law of obligation. Mans idea of duty is older than any book, and will live regardless of the fate of creed and ceremonial. have yet to find a savage race who did not recognize the law of duty the essential clements in life; one of the grandest of moral features. We love to think of those who have toiled and suffered for others. The story of Socrates walking the streets of Athens to preach morals to the young touches the heart. The dying agonies of the man of Nazareth call forth our tears. Man never looks so grandly heroic to his fellow man as when he has risen a victor in the awful struggle of self-conquest. The third and last idea treated by the speaker was that of the future life. How it breaks like sun over the dark horizon of history The barbarian has felt its power | and bowed before it. It has given courage 1 to the martyr and nerved hin to endure the 1 rock, the gibbet aud the cross. Materialism l never built an enduring monument, and it l never will. Materialism is the worlds spir- l itual winter, the season of leafess trees l snow clad earth, of streams paralyZed, of | dead flowers. The sun gives no heat, the | cold moon reflects her dim and waning beams l on mountain of icebergs; the birds refuse | to sing the only music we can hear is the | pitiless moan of the bleak winds through the l leafless trees, and this to me sounds like the | sweet but sad refrain of MT. Ingerson when he pays his peroration of impassioned elo- quence over the grave of annihilation. The human soul will not be satisfied with one l world. It is the boast of materialism to en- joy this life. Yet memory will look back ward and hope forward, and immortality like star rises between the fading lines of menl- ory on the one side and the gathering joys of nope on the other, and crowns the soul with m eternal triumph. God weaves the pledge | ,f a future life like 8 rainbow over our hor- zon Ip it's prismatic hues we see the death ess flowers that bloom in the worlds Eden, ! while under it's radiant archway we stand at l he gate of heaven and behold the reflected | avs as they fall upon the sweet babe in the l radle, and creep tenderly evenings shad- ,ws over age as it trembles by coffin. In he sacred name of these universal truths let IS tenderly trust, and for their good let us oil and pray.
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