National Republican., 1883-05-04
ASCENSION DAY.
knights Templnr Services i'm the Churches
Combination Nt 50. Aloysius.

knights Templnr Services in the Churches
Confirmation Ht 50. AIoyslus.
Ascension day was appropriately celebrated
yesterday in the Catholic and Episcopal
churches, the attendance being very large
In the evening, Potomac commandery, No B.
knights Tcmplar, assembled at their
asylum on Thirty-second street, about 2
o'clock, headed by Pistorio's band, and
marched TO Washington circle, where
they were Joined by Washington COM
mandery, No. 1, with the marine band
The two communicates, numbering $50 sir
knights, then marched by the way of Penn
sylvania avenue, NJ, Thirty-second, and o
streets to st. Johns P. Il. church. The
knights pretty well filled up the body Of tho
church. while the unreserved seats and
tho galleries had been occupied long
before the hour for opening service, Tho
services were read by the rector, Sir Knight
Rev. DIR. Lindsay, assisted by other cergymen
DIR. Lindsay had been announced to preach
the sermon, but, having been quite sick for n
day or two, no was able only to make short
welcoming address to the sir knights, and
announced that DIR. Leonard, rector of st.
Johns, Washington, would preach in his
stead. DIR. Leonard then preachrd
from the text, Acts J., 4, and gave
an eloquent sermon. Ascension day, he said,
Christians. On that day man, triumphant
over death and freed from tho imperfcctions
of mortality, assembled to heaven, accompa-
nicd by God. There, as the head of the hu-
man race, who had reconciled the justice of
God with tho salvation Of man, he sits ever
as the Mediator until in the fullness of timo
the scheme of the universe shall be consum-
mated.
On the conclusion of the services, the COM
manderies left the church, and after Washing
ton commandery had passed in marching sa-
Lutte they proceeded on their way TO WASH
ington. The marching was highly conf
mcnded.
Rev. DIR. Seton preached q sermon to the
colored Grand Commandery and subordinates
at the Nineteenth street Baptist church.
There were present many officers and other
representatives of tho Grand Communicates
of Maryland Virginia, Delaware and Penn
sylvana. The church was densely crowded
DR.. Seton's sermon was an able, learned, and
eloquent production full of the truth and the
poetry of Christianity. He briefly epitom-
lied the plan Of salvation, and
Christ's part in it, and with few
light but powerful touches painted graphic
picture of the ascension from tho wooded
heights Of Olivet, on that day so fraught with
happiest memories for mankind. On that
day man ascended to Heaven, whore he now
dwels. The long period of mans estrange-
menu lrOm IOu was ONcT, anu JHTOuBH
all men were able to ascend and dwell with
him. He narrated succinctly the progress OF
the Crusades and the deeds of the knights
Templar in Wrestling the sepulchre Of Christ
from tho herds of the Saracen. He closed
with beautiful picture as presented to the
eye of faith Of the joy hereafter.
Confirmation at st. Aloysius' church was
administered yesterday at 3 o'clock p, IN. by
the Right Rev. Bishop Northrop of Charles
ton, S. G., assisted by Rev. Harmar @. Denny
s. j.; Rev. James Noonan, S. j.; Rev. p. II
Brennan, S. j., and Rev. p. j. OConnell, S. j
Mr. McAvoy acted as master of ceremonies
Mr. Powers assisted at the organ and played the
"Veni Creator" the "Avema Christi, icon
frma Hoe Deus" and tho "Gloria Patri,'
while the chancel choir sang these hymns
with correctness and spirit.
The reverend bishop preached eloquently
both before and after confirmation. The
number confirmed was 66l, of whom thirty
| two were adults,