The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-17
THE PAuLEsr MISSION ENDED.
Father Brady breaches the Closing
Sermon-An Impressive scene.


Ssrm Impressive Scene.
The closing services Of the PauIist mission
was held at the cathedral lass night. Ev-
cry seat was occupied and the aisles we're
filed with people The cathedral has seldom
if ever. held larger BODY Of worshippers
When Father Brady mounted the platform
leading 10 the cross erected on the first day
OF the mission, it was impossible 70 gain
access to the building with comfort Toe
entrances were checked with a throbbing
mass of humanity. Many persons went
away unable 70 gain admit;ance. Ladies
unable to procure seats stood in the aisles
and at the back Of the church, sightrsrely
| witnessed in such place.
TIE services CONNIE ced with the recital
| Of the rosary. conducted by Father Brady,
and Ia which the congregation Joined fer
| ventlv.
Father Brady preached an impressive
sermon on the stability Of the church. Toe
church, he sail, was fOnnied on a rock and
not on the shifting sand. He referred to
many instances when kings and statesmen
had sought to destroy the influence of the
church and had failed. In recent days he
cited the case OF Prince Bismarck, who de-
termined u break down the power of Cath
oliciSm in Germany, and who when remind
ed at the outset of the futile attempts in
that direction of other statesman in for
about II in the right way. This occurred
nineteen years ago, said the speaker, and
to-day Bismarck's plans and Vaccinations
against the church, have proven as abOrtive
and Intellectual as those of former statesmen.
The fact is, said the speaker, the divine
assurance has been given TO the church that
it shall stand as long as time shall last, and
tnat in the church's pilgrimage through
the ages, the gates OF hell shall not prevail
against her. The essential doctrines of the
ClthOlic church, he said, are true and are,
therefore, eternal.
At the conclusion of his sermon, Father
Brady, in his own behalf and that of Fathers
Dashon and Clark, sincerely thanked the
bishop, tde priests connected with the
cathedral, the acolyteS and the members of
the choir for their kindness, assistance and
good will with which they had helped them
during the past two weeks in making the
mission so gratifying a success. He also,
in the same strain, thanked the peo-
pie of the parish for their attendance.
and for the ladies who d corated the bap-
tismal font he had nothing but words of
kindness and praise. The font was placed
;on the southerly altar, and was artlstically
and lavishly decorated with floral offerings
and Illuminated with lighted wax candles.
After giving thanks to all Others who
aided, directly or indirectly, in bringing
the mission to an end, the ceremony
OF the renewal of baptismal VOWS took
place. 1t is seldom that such a
scene is witnessed, and as well as being
novel, it was intensely dramatic The rev.
erend priest, in his somber garb, with the
large black crucihxion which he invariably
carries exposed in front of him, and kneel-
ing at the foot of tall, black cross, unre-
lieved except by a white shroud, called
upon his hearers to renounce the
devil and his works, and to renew
their faith. Weak old men, decrepit women,
robust manhood, beautiful ladies, strong
young men, bright-eyed girls, the weak,
tine lame, little children, and even the
blind, with their right hands lifted towards
heaven, following the direction of the
crucifx in the priests uplifted hand,
solemnly, feverently and kneeling in the
pews in the aisles, near the doors, up in the
gallery and at the outer entrances, re-
nounced the devil and his works and re-
newed their faith in the Catholic church
Immediately upon the conclusion of the
ceremony the large audience, still kneeling,
received the papah benediction, delivered
by Father Brady.
The evenings services closed with bone
diction, at which Miss Reynolds of New
York sang 20 Salutaris Hostian with much
feeling and sentiment.
Father Brady will lecture at Catholic
Library hall tonight, for the benefit of st.
MarY'S orphan home