National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-07
THE GLORY OF TIE CHURCH.
Eloquent Sermon OF Mgr. CnpoI at st
Aioysius'.

hlOysiuas
The II o'clock mass at st. Aloysiu5' yester-
day morning was largely attended by
dcvotecs, and among the congregation wcro
many distinguished persons in official and
social life. Tho Hon Saclyiilc Wust occu.
picd pew near Tho altar. Tho docora.
toiis Of the altar were very beautiful.
Hundreds of candles were burning, and
the ilOral display blended hurunOniUusIy with
the rich coverings Of cloth upon tho altar.
The gcstnc OF the priests we're q. rich and
elaborate design and texture. within the
sanctuary worO seated on the right side tho
Gclchrant, Father Murphy; deacon, Father
Denny; subdcacOn, Air. Gillespie; master
Of ceremonies, Mr. MattsOn. Onpl-itc was
Mar Capcl, and on his left was Father
NOOuuu. Ranged in front were the thirty
sanctuary boys, dressed in writc surpliccs
and red cassocks During the celebration
OF tho mass tho scene presented
by the many culorcd yc,tmcuta was
superb Tho music was llHydn'E mass, No.
4, aud was well rendered b. Inc choir under
the direction of Mr.. sherman, the orgonist.
Before the sermon, "Ncmi Ctoator,' by WCi-
gand, was sung by Miss Byrnc, NIrs. shcr-
man, Mcssrs. pugh aud lloigr. At the c'ur.
tory, 80 SalUtaris,' by Bas5ni, was rendered
by sAiisg Byrnc. The imprcS;iycngss Of the
occasion being in honor OF the Feast of tho
Epiphany and the commencement OF tho
Forty Hours Devotion, was felt By tho faith.
ful. The quiet which vcryUuol throughout
the sacred cdince, at times broken only by
the low and solemn tones OF tho
organ, lent an elect which
brought the faithful to due recognition OF
the solcmnity Of the hour and caused q scnso
OF deep religious reverence to prcvadc the
vast congregation. After tho singing OF the
"Voni Creator" Mgr. Capol assembled the
pulpit. Ho was dressed in Il bishops robe Of
purple. All eyes were turned upon him as
he announced his text, Isaiah lN, 10, in
elusive, beginning, Arise, shine; FOX thy
light is come, and the glory OF tho Lord is
risen upon thee" The gospel OF tho day,
said the peverend speaker, mentions the jour.
ney Of the magi to Bethlehem, guided
there by the star. and the alacTity
which they manifested in following the mys-
terious star and the interior prOlnptngs Of
grace afforded a lesson fit for the day and its
teachings. The point made was the reasOna-
bleness and the necessity Of searching after
truth. In the affairs ofevery day life no man
of unbiased mind rejects a question under
discussion without examining both sides.
How much moro reasonable is it to examine
we'll all that concerns our eternal salvation,
and put ourselves upon the path that leads 10
salvation. How necessary it is, for if we
make a mistake and accept falsehood for
truth the truth is irreparabe. The
mali also give us tho reasOnablncss
and necessity of perseverance in
this search after truth. The midnight hour
the cold, the length of the journey deferred
them not. The disappearance of the star as
they reached Jerusalem turned them not
back. They boldly made inquiries of the
tyrant Herod, as to the birthplace of the
King of the Jews. In the doctors of the syna-
gogue pointing out as tine birthplace Bethlo-
hem of Judea, and not protiting enough by tho
knowledge themselves TO go to that town,
which was but short distance of, and con-
vince themselves of the vorticatiOn Of the
words of the prophets. we have an example
of many of the men of our own day.
who have near at hand the means
of finding out the truth, but who fail TO avail
themselves of the opportunity. These wise
men give an example, too, OF the reasonable
ness and necessity of embracing the truth
wherever found Instance that nOtwth-
standing the poor surroundings Of the in
fint, they adOred him as the true King of the
Jews. Thus they show the reasonablcnoSs
and the necessity of embracing the truth
wherever found"
The reverend gentleman said that he
would on next Sunday continue this point.
During the sermon of some fifty minutes
!cug,h the congregation sat in rapt attention.
Tho bright thoughts couched in vigOr and
h"auty of expression fell with wondrOus ef-
ltGt. Throughout his entire discourse
rhure were bursts of intellectual splcndor
hat affected the audience with great power.
Il Is allusi ohs to the church and her ministers
rs thc conservators ofher teachings were mas
tcrly in letail and beautiful in description.
Aft" 0 sermon the mass was continued,
4 by the commencement Of the Forty
DpyOtiOn