New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-31
PULPIT SKETCHES
FATHER LILLY. OF THE DOMINGO,
CHURCH or ST VINCENT FFRpppg N"N

| tno dominican 'huroh aud Convent In fexngtoo,..
near SIXTY dfthst Something moro than M. 80
| niy interest oi journalism Wa, dovelopod ana
| frotcstants were not little excited nj iLc ,o ~
which some ycntured 10 set down ~ both ag,,,..l.
| aud mouacing For were not the Dominican Rr..
brokctel with certain Albigensiin horrors and a.
long herce caeer of the Spanish inqusitior IN an .
rent histories and the impression did NOT die ~
or quickly that this new venture Of an order btb.,,
| uurcpresentcd in New-York, meant mi.cb,eC =,
possibly some iurtiye resusctaton. Of the old tins M
| ciplines among refractory Catholics. but men fo,,.,
sometimes that times change, aud that men and in.,,
tutions change too AID that the Dominican Of todsv
| may be an exemplary and accomplished scholar ana
ecclo'lastic, while buried tie Observance. of h
| ancient ritual Certain 1t Is that great Church Ia,
grown up under tie vigorous administration Of Broth
eIs, with its vast congregations its ince-.ant .,,i
ITS silent ana orderly work among the needy ID .iek
besides It, chapiaincIes az the adjacent Fonndng 49,
| lum and also for the Little Sisters of the lO1r
he group Of binding il 1npretendiug and at n.
same time complete. The convent houses a com
lhuhity oil ten brothers, who are served by two law
| brothers. Besides, a good measure OF hospitality .
ha0itully extended to Journeyng ecclcsilIcs Whoa
duties bring them 10 the cty Broad ZEN, led -,
the ycst:bue, and pull at the bell l. answered by
lay brother who receives al calls aud Grand, in Tho
yesubuie and waiting rooms. Eyerywhere there !.
neancss evidence of refinement and not a litt e alton
ton TO indoor elegance OF strlct ire aid finish The
BROTHER himself seems to have stepped OF panel Or
picture IN the tl0rentine Du0m0 and there /. a dina
Guilty in arTang ones chronology and beainy. I'm H.
desired interview lie is clad in the picturesque habit
OF the order never seen in Ncwfork outside The on
vent or chan'el II is servIceable, crcauy-wh,,e
voollen garment that drapcs gracefully about tie
person, much h"e Iol1minous, moving clssock, with
cape iaillug over the breast An upper garment of
black partly covering the figure adds strange and
dramatic EXPIRE sion TO the costume Wlth porEc,
courtesy there is atmosphere of remoteuc,s an,
Pre-occupauon Certainly there seems no room for
idlcrs or tIespassers.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE or The PRIOR.
Tho Prior is readily accessible and il il Father Lilly
himself whose elder brother j. Provincial of tho
order in the United States The Prior enters with ia,
bearing that distinguishes Of affairs and weghty
responsibilities lie is OF medium height, strongly
oult and at enters the memory one Of those
effective, perseyering, square beaded men who are
capable of any degree of culture endurance and
achievement. The features are rather massive and
leonne, the eyes penetrating, tranquil and full Of
sparkle and light The voice, il resonant manly
baritone. and the speech only completes the impre sion
of u commanding and noteworthy parsonage The
readiness 10 communicate matters of general interest
grew shortly into genlalty OF such winning temper
that the AIblsenscs and spanish lnluls;On dropped
FAR into the rear of the interview Inc hr,t Catholic
Bishopoi New York, Concannon, was dominican. and
his cJnsecrated successor also a member of tho
same order, which, strangely enough, made hs fret
footing in ONO and Kentucky. entering from Canada,
IN 1907, providing alec Fenwick the urst Archbishop
OF Cincinnati there seventy brothers Ia tho
country, and he admsr hardly do than mako
good the losses by death. Two colleges are under
their direction, hut couveutual life Is neither academic
scholastic They speak Il Themselves the order
OF Preachers. The motto and legend OF the order are
hrst Feltas, then "a summary OF 'ts HE worn follow
the words, Laudare, Beuedicore, Praedicare
IL not easy 10 realize that the Prior feprcsened
brotherhood more than coo years old that has Itself
been repicentcd again and again IN the highest places
in the Church with its illustrious lines Of bishops.
cardinals. and pope', an order that developed tho
angelic theo0gIau. st Thomas Aqunas. whose ~.
on.sllng tfcatises arc to-day text books IN every
Catholic seminary; ono tlat raised up tchoos and
academies aud icd them with iliustlious preachers
aud lecturers. that Hooded Europe with iis burning
ewssslios aud pIoI aRandists, al order with its
~t,ouarpa. It's Fra Angelica, and ts Fra Bifipmco,
vhc the Prior gracefully referred To- tho present
ponti1'4 recent cucyoca letter IN which hr warmly
urges upou tho Catholic tbWch the revival ol tho
lhumiat theology and an emulation OF Domnlcn
moialiiy and hpihraf
fiGnr fnpraANp won@ufrrfR4 OK suSpAY.
4 clostcrcd passage head through Tho con,cuah
oratory. into lho chanec sanotiary Of the church
There ia % prevailing impression Of length aad distance
ia the interior, accustomed By The four side walls aud
roof which Is pierced With email CAB q, for lisbung
the nave The sanctuary Is elective and implies yo,
although wnntins Ia the architectural and hpmr-
caque attractions oil ST. Francis MAVEN Ia S4toauh-st
lhc dstlns gushing type of the decorations
found, IN group each side of the altar of hIee
figures; on the right Saints hose OF INA and Agnes
aud Catherine OF Sienna, OF the Dominica. Mans; at
tho left SAINTS Peter Matyr. Thomas Al luas and
Louis Bertrand. OF the Monks. These pc.ucs are
kudled with the raPturoas ccsidtc feeling IT Fa
Angelica, and strongly acecutgatc the f"rcnuAe
spirit of the sacred place. Above the laOrlulce
great tre-co Of the CrucIhNIo hiI> the Wall, nd
re,coes with ScuptnraI subjects grace the ceilings
tlrogg huut the nave One of the lar GET organ.
America nils the western gallery The ,hut consist.
ing of quatee and chorus 'erpre- The mas O. OF the
most effective composers, giving prominence 70 me
classics SIX mas,e, arc said daily IA the church md
tbe building PROVO Tor coh5 eg~to" al l,oU0
10 IS probable that AZ least 5000 Clde.cut persons
worship ia the church every sunday.
IL Is easily understood why the congregation AT uIgh
Mass Is st!ihIngy mtc Ii CENT iJf Tic pullt Is rAed
with preacher OF rare aud exceptional ability IhJse
who have heard Father Thumd, Bu ke Lacorlafs
know what type Of orators the DomnicAns "e'eiop
Father Lilly hits up he So mon INTO work oi unport
auce ami magnitude. 1t Is something more AID
-reateF hdn tie harangue OF cxpostuatOns OF paIhh
priest It l.. strucuIally, eonrUmmate result Of eT
and ele CANT learning. ii ~ supreme occasion o.
attack or defence OF exposition. No muluJh or
e tuate artace If the orator or rhet0r can ., lost
sIllt OF II l. the purpose of the preacher TO capture
ana hJid his hearers unul the opportunity l. iItetlHy
cmptlcd and the labor IN hand brought 10 ripe c. IA.
plttJn one wonders that sdch severe plecs losic'
such scholastic and patTlstlc ctuitOn can wear even an
entertaining not 70 say fascinating gui,e And vet
one enters the arena at h electua struggles or
which men have sacuuced the!f best a4d -eaeS'
things, feels the clash AID los,lns oi solo Weapons
and the smtug Of heavy blows, without sthts- 81
mpaicnce with theology and thcolosian-. For tie
preacher puts rare Cooi Siu grace mt Ms NiNti'
without impairing its keenuess cOgenol. his de-
Ii, cry ged with dignity and the IepOse 81 con
scions strength. aud there Is The natural Spontaneous
iace of feryid convictions without E&ccLraey or 10
cle sance
FAMILIAR KNOWLEDGE or THE BIBLE
The subject IA one OF the most trying, for tho
preacher has taken the Real Presence, Tansubtan.
.iou-a mystery to the Catholic, aud cIuA Tor The
the OBLIGATION o. The crowded c"sre
cation The multiplied di1Ic lucs aud eme ucies Of
MS discourse bring into flil play his brl fancy 81
method his fr1nness Of grasp his magazine Ut tech
n0ue of scholastic discipline Here Is tremendous
play OF scientific theology winch for the nrst time Iops
It's aridity Is made soluble Tor even the pdA aAd
waviarug man The Sacred Scri ptures seem ltcrSiy
at ms Tongues end and III st after flight "t PunseaI
all charged with msuspcctcd cogenft
serve by turn for illustration and argument suoa
preacber. certainly know the Bible uluutely ana