The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-15
ST FHKRFsA CHURCH.

and supplied clergy, entered the building
through the main door and advanced 10 the
altar, chanting as they went the litany of
the saints. That over, the procession re-
formed, the four walls were blessed and the
solemn rite terminated with the recital of
appropriate psalms and prayers.
Solemn high mass followed immediately
with the pastor, Rev. 2. 0C0nnell as cele-
brauL Rev. Father Mulligan as deacon and
Rev Father Lynch as sub-deacun. Rev
Father Laiiy of Dixon acted as master of
ceremonies The musical accompaniment
consisted Of La Hache's "Misse Pro Pace"
with Milard's Ave Maria" for the 0tiertory.
The choir consisted of Miss Danahue. Miss
i. c. COakley, Mrs. Henry, Miss +. Boyle,
Miss Mcnamara and Miss K Pratt, So
pTauos; 7. >. Walsh, tenor; II. McCurrie
and Mr. Hlebel, bassos, and Miss Pratt or
ganiSt.
Immediately after tie first gospel Rev.
Father Sasia, :. j., preached the dedicatoTy
sermon, taxing for his text the following
words from ST. Matthew vii, 2J-26: The
fte rain fell, the floods came and the wind
blew upon that which he had built and it
fell not, for il was founded on a rock"
THE SERMON.
In his opening remarks the reverend
speaker dwelt upon the beauty and nspira-
ton Of the fine arts which remind us Of the
sWeeteT JOYS ana more TaVlshlng delights
we shall one day experience 10 the glory
and splendOr Of heaven. In just such man
ner did the beautiful structure they were
then assembled in remind them Of another
far nObler temple, not the work Of human
arts or human skill. but the work Of God
that home O.. unruftled peace, the home Of
the living God.
After a brilliant and poetic introduction,
the preacher proceeded to show how this
new temple reprOduces before the mind the
attributes and projections Of God. In doing
so he considered his subject under three
headS-the church as the temple Of God as
containing all the means furnished by PTOYi-
dence 10 enable man 90 gain eternal happi-
ness; as reproducing the attributes Of God
and reminding us Of the omnipOtent power
which sUstainS 1t,
Under the first head he drew attention to
the unity OF worship, unity OF faith and
unity Of government which has existed in
the church for eighteen centuries, and is
practiced to-day among 250, 600. 600 Catholics
What a splendid spectacle, he exclaimed, 10
turn 10 the pages Of history and ind that
from the days Of St. Peter to those Of his
222d successor in the chair the church has
never taught a contradictory doctrine.
Nowhere outside the pale of the Catholic
Church can such unity be found.
CORRECTING INFLUENCES.
Under the second head Father SASHA dwelt
on the two great evils which prevent men
from reaching their true end-the evil Of
the InlUQ ana evil OF tue utdTL i he Sacrd-
IN ents, lie said, are the only correction for
these eyils-the only power capable Of
reaching the human heart. a church with
out sacTaments IS a mere shadow, an idea,
and unable 70 control the passions Of man.
The mere preaching of the beauties Of
virtue and the Oanefulness Of vice is a
m1ckery The man who has fallen into evil
ways must have a helping hand extended
to him to raise him out of the abyss.
In considering his third point the speaker
said that one Of the distinguishing marks
Of the works Of God is their permanence
and stability. and this evidence of divine
truth is 10 be found in the Catholic Church,
aud in her alone. The French iDfdel who ex-
claimed a hundred years ago that he had
prepared an epitaph TO be engraved on the
tomb OF tie church was dead and gone,
while the church still lives to redeem his
nation. Every form Of persecution has
been waged against the church since the
days Of Christ; still 1t survives, and her
victories OF the past are guarantee Of her
tTlumphs in the future.
CONGRATULATIONS.
After the mass Archbishop RiOrdan ad-
dressed few words OF cOngratulatiOn to
the congregation on the good work it had
accomplished under trying circumstances
He congratulated the pastor for his energy
and foresight, and hoped that before long
the practitioners would be able 10 adOrn the
new ediiice, and then turn their attention to
a residence for the clergy and parish schools
for the children. He concluded by nvok-
ing the divine blessing upon the priests and
people and their good work.
In the evening solemn yespers were sung
Rev. Father McNalv of West Oakland
preached from the gospel of the day. and
the services were closed with benedictiOn of
the blessed sacrament