National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-31
.SURPLICE AND STOLE.
ECHOES FROM SUNDAYS SERMONS.
Archbishop Gibbons breaches at st. Matthews On
the Power of Conscience-Bishop iatane al
the Reformed Episcopal Church
Rev. DIR. Harrison's Lecture.

St. Matthew's Church was filed to overHoWing
yesterday morning at eleven o'clock 10 hear 'he
sermon of Archbishop Gibbons
The reverend prelate read the thirteth chapter
ofSt Pauls Epistle TO the Romans, ana selecteu as
his theme the power of conscience. He said:
conscience is living witness and Interpreter
of that divine law which is written on our hcarts
il is an echo Of the voice of Almighty God 10 man.
All of us have listened to this voice of conscience
Whether young or old, civilized or savage eond or
free. Christian or infdel all of us have heard H.
At one time you hear this silent voice urging ana
imploring YOU to walk in the pathway OF virtue
Another time you hear it restraining anu kecpiIs
you back from the pitfalls OF SID tnat Ne S
you. Again you hear this voice conaeniirS an
reprOaching YOU for some rloalloH Oh uOu Ia" o.
weak and ungrateful servant. a oo,,so1o
AT another time itspeaks &c comfort ana conSoie
you and amid lfes thousand ais we good and
faithful servant" when we have by some sPeci'l
sacrifice accomplished our Masters VIII. .,,;ro
Now observe the difference between 'Llt M ot a
called conscience and the acts OF those VINO are
ordinarily known as the ministers OF too Motu
We sneak some words to another, %oTGs VI aHiiio :
milton advice. ignorant OF inc hiCuen , a.aD ot
the case and not knowing how far our uItef;inces
may be applicable TO any of you. conscience au-
dresses itfef 10 each one of you, ana us
is applicable TO each one III paT1cuiSI N.Y. olS
docs conscience point out individual SINS anu
counsel US to overcome them, but 1t Is so 1uli Oh
that divine charity that II neVerreNeals ~ aotne
the sins that we may nave comnilt1ed II So III
break the laws Of your sin Is pIlOllsled III an
lis enOrmity and even exaggerated as II IIaVels
from lip to lip or is taken up by the press II !oi
sin against the law OF Coo conscience
you alone, anu WITHOUT HahihS hAio"" s0 ~
What beautifullesson is here taught. especially
to those in authoriy-he bishops ana p1es,s ,
to fathers and mothers, that when we are eaiieu
upon to instruct or admOnish our bremen OF
children we shall do so with all gentleness anu
charity and without making known their SINS,
no hidden from all ewes save our
own Oh my brethren, how forclbly does the
voice of conscience remind Us OF the existence OF
almighty and alpoweIful ,od; how G .ida,St
ruler who takes fatherly interest IN every one u
us and is swayed by our prayers. ms trutil
comes home TO every man. MOI only 70 lhe
cons End yirtuOus but also to the ungodly, the ND
crime and rebeliouS sinners in the hour OF Dan
ger and distress. For in that moment men,
whether innocent or guilty, look to a supreme
Power for that Succor ana assistance WHICH, c'i De
| had from no earthly source
Il remember myself about the close OF inc iate
war was proceeding by steamer from New I 1orh
| TO New Orleans The passengers comprised large
number of army officers, civilians, anu others. a
we proceeded on ouFvOyage many gave tneniseiSSe
up 10 want0n n2irth, to ntemperance, ana 10 !ule
ard prOfane conversation. Oar "Trip was IL PAL ~
larlv pleasant one until We arrived abreast OF inc
! New Jersey coast. Here we encountered a STORM
! of great violence. and an accident 10 the ma
chinery converted our gallant vessel from a thlns
of life to helpless log drifting ON the Wlde waste
| of waters at the mercy of the gale. Toward morn
ing another steamer was sighted ana came 10 oui
| assistance and endcavored to tow us into CheSa
pcake Bay. IS we approached Cape Charles the
| storm increased in violence, the hawser connect
| ing the two vessels snapped like thread, and fo
| a while it appeared as though we were nrlvins DC
| fore The wind TO certain and horrible DEAN. .
| "Whcn this was realized there was an entire
change in the conduct of many of the passengers
| and saw those men who but a short while before
| had been indulging in profanity, intemperanee
| other sins, making public acknowledgements OF th'
Divine Providence, and praying for deliverane'
| from our awful peril
| THUS it is, my brethren, that you can coun
| rpon YOUR ten fingers the Noltaircs, Tom PANE!
and Ingersolls who have not supplieated Tor III
vine aid in the supreme and critical moments
| life, or in the hour and article death"
At the conclusion OF his sermon the Arehb InIf
the orphans under the charge of the Sisters OF 81
Joseph, for whose benefit the collection was takel
up. .-, 1..,,,o,.o,,,
| The music of the mass comprised Beethoven
Kiirio in &C; Gionzas Gloria; Credo III I, by Zee
thoven; Sanctus, by Guonod; Agnus from Hay
denis second, and Ave Maria, solo and chorus b
| Karst was most exquisitely rendered.
| AT the veSper services $50 children and tweiV
adults were confirmed by the Archbishop.