Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-01

BRILLIANT SCENE AT ST. ACGCSrINES CHURCH
GBAND HIGH MASS CELEBRATED BIZ THE FIRST
cOLoRED PRIEST IN AMERIcA--cARDIsAL GLIB
BoNs' SERMON on LIBERTY.
Thousands Of colored people-the majority
of them Catholics, the remainder simply
curious-crowded every seat and every availa-
bic inch of standing room in St. Augustines
church this morning at 1890 o'clock, when the
solemn high mass preliminary to the conven-
ton of colored Catholics of the United States
was opened. The aisles were packed with
humanity DESTROYS either of participating in
the ceremonies appertaining to the mass
or Of witnessing the glittering spectacle.
The altar and its vicinity presented a brilliant
scene. The numerous candles were all burn
ing. and their Pickering flames, dimmed by the
many-tinted sunlight which. through the
stained windows, flooded the great interior, re-
fected the polished white marble and on
the gilt candlesticks. Inside the rail, with
their backs to the congregation. and on the
north side, sat twelve priests the black and
white of their robes contrasting, yet harmon
iZing, with the color and glitter around them.
On the'steps of the altar were the three Of
floating clergymen, the celebrant being the
one around whom most interest clustered. 1t
was Father Augustus Tolton, the only colored
Catholic priest in the United States. In a GRIM
sOn-upholstered chair, on small platform i'm
mediately in front of and beneath the pulpit
sat
HIS EMINENCE, CARDINAL GIBBONS,
supported on each side by priest. The cardi-
nal was clad in the customary scarlet and
wore on the third finger of his right hand a
magnificent jeweled ring that sparkled in the
sunlight and reflected the glowing hues that
were all around. The altar boys in purple and
white, and wearing white gloves, were, in at
least their own estimation, features Of the oc-
cason. The great organ, its gilt pipes glstening,
pealed forth its most thunderous harmonies
and unisons, or breathed sweet, touching
melodies; the orchestra played its brassy or
hutellke accomplishments; the choir sang as St.
Augustine's choir always does; the smoke and
perfumes of the swinging censers filled the
atmosphere, and the senses of the great con-
grtgation were intoxicated with the splendor
OF the esthetic scene.
THE CARDINAL's SERMON ON LIBERTY"
The sermon was by Cardinal Gibbons His
ter was from the Sth chapter of st. John,
especial emphasis being laid upon 'If the son
of nan shall make you free We shall be free in
ded. Liberty, said the cardinal, was glorious
thing. and no liberty was greater or more
valuable than religious liberty. The word
Thirty was broad in its meaning and it had
ben abused. Physical. religious and civil
Thirty were then discussed. The physical
| Thirty was exercised in coming to the church;
| th,religious liberty showed itself in the at
| te1tance Of SO many who desired to wor-
shl God in accordance with the die
tats of their own consciences, and
the civil liberty was exercised when
thS voted little while ago for the person of
ther choice in the presidential contest. But
whe these forms of liberty were of great i'm
poiance there was
| ANOTHER KIND OF LIBERTY
of hich he desired to speak especially-it was
meal liberty. He characterized liberty as a
| swrd which could either, as it did with
Sal, infict a mortal wound upon its bearer.
or, as in the hands of the archangel,
| Mihael, conquer the world for God. The
prper exercise of free will was referred to,
an the cardinal said that while civil liberty
| wa valuable-no one could be more devoted to
| Unlimited States and to her institutions than
heSas-yet civil liberty might be developed at
the expense of moral liberty. OF what real
vale was civil liberty when man appropriated
| to imsef the liberty of sin, of RIGHTEOUSNESS
In oncluding his remarks
HE CARDINAL WELCOMED THE DELEGATES,
| in is own name, in the name of the clergy
antof the congregation, which he eulogized
Thu gathering, said he, will mark an era in
thenistory of the colored people of the United
Staes. for never before had colored Catholics of
the,ountry met in convention. He trusted that
theieliberatiOus of the convention would be
NAKED by moderation and discretion. The
actOnS OF the convention would be watched by
the:ountry, not with the kindly eyes of friend
shi, but with the sharp gaze of criticism. He
suggested that the convention discuss the edu-
cat0n of the children-the religious education
necessary TO the life of the republic.
temperance was also fruitful theme which
| shold be looked into, for the destructive pow
ersf strong drink were evident. Industry
| andreligiOn were also subjects which might be
debted The universal level of the Catholic
| chuch-its equality-was eloquently dilated
| upo, and attention was directed to the fact
tina eolored priest had celebrated the mass
in empany with two white clergymen.
Rv. Father McDermott. of Pittsburg, was
| the deacon, and Rev. John f. Burke, of New
Ior, was subdeacon. while Rev. Father Walsh,
| of t. Augustines, was master of ceremonies.
| THE CLERGY PRESENT.
| Along the Catholic clergy present were the
Rev. Donnelly, o. p; Splinter, o. p; Logan,
OIL McGurk, S. j.; Mackin, Schmitt, and
| Slatry. Fathers Stephan and Clark were the
deaons of honor who supported the cardinal.
TIE work of the choir included Giorza's
Mas No. l; Wiegan's ''Veni CREATOR" and Cali
cares 'Hoc Nocti Christus" The soloists
wer Mrs. Irving. Miss Dey Miss L. Dey, Miss
| Coaley, Mr.. Ignatius jackson, Mr.. James Sims,
Mr.. W. T. Benjamin, and Mr.. Alphonso
| JacsOn. chorus of forty voices, directed by
| Pro George Isemann. rendered the heavier
| selections. Prof. Thierbach was the organist,
| andthe orchestra, which consisted of fifteen
pieos from the National Guard band, was I'M
derhe leadership of Prof. Schroeder.
| THE CoLoRED PRIEST.
| Uder the circumstances il was not strange
thatven the cardinal had to divide the popu-
~ lar honors with Father