Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-10-31
CLOSE OF THE MISSION AT ST. MARY,s

ton ofSt Paul. At 7:30 Rev. Father
Brady, of New York, gave an instruc-
ton which was exceedingly plain and
highly interesting to persons not at
tached to the Catholic Church, as ex-
planning fully and clearly the belief OF
the Catholics as TO papal infallibility.
Basing his argument upon the three
facts in the Gospels, relative to the de-
livery of the keys to Peter, his appoint-
ment 10 feed the lambs and the sheep
aud the promise that his faith should
not fail, that he might confirm his
brethren, the preacher went on TO say
that for over 500 years there had
been an unkroken chain Of 200 persons,
of different nations, different degrees of
culture. and living under different civ
ilization. who had succeeded Peter in
his charge; yet The most dilgent histor-
ical inquiry had failed to ind Il single
doctrinal decision of any Pope which
confiicted with that of another. This,
he said, had been strongly illustrated
within the last quarter Ola century by
Dr.. DolIingcr and his party in the
Catholic Church, who had denied the
doctrine and published a learned work
in opposition to it, yet he was easily
refil,ed in Il phamphlet of forty pages.
He than explained the doctrine rs it
really is. 1t Is not. he said. that the
Pope cannot sin. In that matter. he is
just as other men. His may lose his
soul and he feared that some Popcs
had done so. Neither was it that he
cannot err in faith privately. bat it is,
that. as teacher and pastor of the Uni
versal Church, he is SO guided and re-
strained by the Holy Spirit, that he
cannot possibly teach error, officially,
to the church. lie cannot make anew
doctrine. bat can only define what has
always been believed in the church, bat
has never been clearly stated. The
best and fairest history of the Popes,
he said, had been written by n Prolcs-
tant and to that he appealed. After
the recitation Of the Rosary, the old
hymn, "Neni Creator Spirtus' was
sung and then Rev. Father Nevins,
president of the College of st. Thomas
Aquinas at the Catholic University,
preached tervid sermon from the text:
What return shall | make the Lord for
all that He has given me- He alluded
beautifully to the history OF the Psalm
from which it was taken. in which
David, after his fall and pardon, poured
forth his heart in thanks To his God for
His Astounding mercy, and applied ii to
the congregation. most OF whom had rs
great reasons for thanksgiving. He
spoke fcelingly of the necessity OF
prayer to obtain Gods grace-absolnte-
~ necessary for any good work, yet al
ways given to him who humbly asks it;
of avoiding occasions of sin, and OF thus
living the pure, honest and holy lives
necessary to be true followers Of a cru
cited Saviour. He said that Thousand
persons had approached the sacraments
during the mission Che congregation.
including children of all ages, and peo-
pie who made but nominal profession
of Catholicity, numbers but l.400) and
said he and his associates had been
amply rewarded for their labors. Then
followed one of the most impressive
scenes ever witnessed in Alexandria.
A baptismal font, adorned with beauli-
full flowers and many lights, and having
before it the baptismal register, &c.
had been erected on the right side of
the chanccl. Pointing to it, he remind
ed his hearers of what had been done
for them as infants and what promises
had been made for them by their spon
sors, and asked them how those prom
ises had been kept, passing over and OK
planning the hapiisma ceremonies,
When he called upon all who wished
to renew their broken vows 10
rise, the whole great congregation
rose rs one man. Then he slow
ly repeated the questions asked in
baptisms as to the fundamental ar
ticles of faith, and to each one there
came the cheerful response, Il do be-
lieve." Then he asked slowly and
solemnly $40 You denouncc SATAN
land all his works." to each OF which
questions there came the same fcryent
replies, u do renoupce him, " = / do re-
nounce them He then concluded with
a fcrvent prayer that God would bless
all and enable them to keep their prom
Uses. 1t was q scene not easily forgot
ten. The services concluded with the
SOltIIlil VI wv ipaNsHF'-'t '''s'
rament, accompanied by some beauti-
full music. AT S o'clocl, this morning
Bishop Van de Nyver confirmed Us
persons, IS males and 80 females They
were mostly children from - to lG, but
there were quite a number of adults.
most Of them recent converts to the
Catholic faith. About twenty were
colored. The Bishops addresses to the
children before the confirmation, and
his charge after it, were plain and prac-
teal, but very solemn and impressive.
At S o'clock tomorrow morning Rev.
Richard l.. Carne. who was made Il
deacon in Richmond last Saturday, will
be ordained to the priesthood Rev.
Dr. Nevins will preach. We are re-
quested TO say that the north wing Of
the church has been reserved for for
mer students of Mr.. Carne, at St Johns
Academy, and that the ushers Will seat
them and all Of his other friends and
acquaintance who go to the church
early.
THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT PUE-