Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-06-04

Beautiful Ceremonies at the Institution
of st. AIMS SOdality.

In the Catholic Church the month oil
May is specially dedicated to the venera
tion of the mother of Christ, and through.
out the world devotional exercises and
festivals in her honor are conducted on
scale of grandeur as magnificent and
impressive as the opportunities and
means of those participating will allow
10 her this denomination accords posi-
tlon in its religious teachings second only
to God alone, and Catholics ask her aid
in their prayers for spiritual or temporal
taVors which they seek from their
Creator. She is looked upon as high
above all other created objects of relig-
ious respect, on account of her singular
position as the medium by which re-
demption was made possible and the
many virtues with which she adorned
this dignity. Besides the numerous relig-
louS orders which use her name in their
titles, there are several associations form
ed which place themselves under her
protection and guidance that they may
gain her help and assistance in life
One of those is the Sodality of the
Blessed Virgin, organized recently at st.
AIMS Church, and which was formally
instituted on Sunday evening under the
name OF the Daughters of Mary
The last evening of the month was a
most appropriate time for this institu-
tion, and the church was crowded with
people of all religious beliefs who had
gathered to witness the ceremonies con-
nected with the consecration of the
young ladies. The society assembled at
the Convent of the Sisters of Mercy and
at 7.30 marched into the church. They
were dressed in white, with wells of the
same color, and presented an impressive
appearance as they slowly filed into the
building and occupied the right centre
pews reserved for them. They were
under charge of Mother Agnes and were
followed by Sister Dolores with the
Children of Mary, composed of boys and
girls under sixteen years. The girls
We're dressed in white like those who
preceded them, and were covered with
dark blue wells which added sombre
aspect to their figures The boys wore
red badges on their left breasts.
After those in the procession had
taken their places in the church the
exercises of the evening began with the
singing of "Mary, Dearest Mother" by
the Daughters of Mary. At the end of
this beautiful hymn the young ladies
took their positions at the altar railing
and responded to the questions asked by
the project, Miss Bella McGill The
answers being satisfactory the ritual of
the sodality was read by Rev. F. p.
McNally and the Act Of Conservation
recited in unison by the society, in
which the members obligated them
selves TO lead lives in accordance with
the rules of the organization and placed
themselves under the protection and
counsel of their patron, Saint Ann, and
the Blessed Virgin Mary Badges of
membership were given to the candi-
dates and they returned to their seats
Several applicants to the Children of
Mary then proceeded to the railing, and
after answering the questions of their
project, Miss Mary Heron, they were
admitted, the ceremonies being some
what similar to those of the higher
order The new members were de-
corated with badges and medals, en-
blems signifying that thei, young lives
We're dedicated to the veneration of
Mary.
Rev. f. P. McNally assembled to the
altar and spoke for some time upon the
character and virtues of the Virgin
Mary, showing what an instructive ex-
ample of patience and suffering her life
was and how the young ladies of to-day
can find in her a model whose footsteps
they should follow. He clearly explain
ed to the audience the attitude of the
Catholic Church toward her and demon
strated why the respect and honor given
her is necessary and due to her for the
position she holds in heaven. Continu-
ing, he denounced those who acknow-
ledge Mary as the mother of God, but
who, by their actions of disrespect,
caused by prejudice or ignorance, use all
the means their puny power can com
mand to degrade her. Catholics, he
said, do not worship her. They adore
one Supreme Being alone, but through
Mary and the saints, whose power they
invoke, try to bring themselves in closer
communion with God He closed the
address with sympathetic words of ad-
vice to the Sodality, entreating its mem
bers to be faithful to the promises they
had just made before the altar.
Several hymns and sacred music by
the church choir followed, after which
the usual May deyotions were com.
menced. The singing of the Litany in
Latin was rendered in an exquisite
manner and unlimited praise was given
the choir for the part it took in the cere.
monies. The services ended with the
benediction of the Most Blessed Sacra-
ment.