The morning call., 1893-05-22
PENTECOST DAY.
Solemn Catholic Services
in It's Honor.
THE ARCHBISHOP breaches
Commemoration of the Descent OF
the Holy Ghost-C Confirmation
in ST. Mary's.

Tha feast of Pentecost or Whlt-Sunday,
which commentaries the coming Of the
Paraclete promised by Christine descent
of the Holy Ghost in tongues Of tlre upon
the apostles-was celebrated in the Catho-
lie churches yesterday.
At St. Mary's Cathedral on Van Ness
avenue solemn high mass, accompanied
with sacred music. a sermon by Arch
bishop Riordan and the pontifical bene-
dictiou, marked the commemoration Of the
day. The cathedral was crowded at the
solemn morning services. and the sanctu-
airy was filled with priests. Christian
brothers and acolytes.
During his sermon the Archbishop said
that Pentecost was really the birthday Of
the Christian church. Before that day,
nearly nineteen hundred years ago, the
church was mere chaos awaiting the
breath of Immortality. That came from
Jesus Christ on that memorable day in
the upper regions of Jerusalem. when he
established the church under his apostles.
Centuries have passed. the greatest of
men have died and passed into oblivion,
nations have been swept away, but the
church esta blished 1900 years ago lives and
grows stronger every year.
Though its Popss, Bishops and others,
who teach its doctrines pass away. it
never loses its identity, for its founder is al
ways at its head.
But there is only one Christian church.
and that is the ona founded by Christ on
Pentecost Sunday. AL others are out
siders and do not belong to the Christian.
No man. he he ever so great, can change
the laws Of the church laid down at Pen
tecost.
II lake up the records and see that in
1888 Pope Leo XIII, is at the head of
the Christian church. little further back
Pope Gregory II; further back still
Pope Leo Xlt And so l could go
straight on. backward and backward. un-
til | arrive at PeDtecOst 1900 years ago
when the Christian church WAS founded In
the upper regions of Jerusalem. The
laws as given then are the same today n
the church.
las society is ecessary for cultivation,
molding of character and good morals, this
church might be called the Christian
society. In fact it Is the divine society.
not that its members are divine, but be-
cause its originator is divine.
There must be Christian church OF
there must not be. If we take up the Holy
Book, and, with our poor intellect, give our
version of what this and that means, what
we shall accent and what we reject. then
there is no Christian church. But If we
accept the doctrines as they have existed
for 1900 years then we have the Christian
church, and there is positively one, and
one only. Christian church.
TO it. and to it alone, must every one
come for salvation, for there is no saliva
ton outside of it aud all religions founded
by man are unrecognized By God, and
hence the followers of them are not
Christians"
In the afternoon the cathedral was
crowded by the friends Of large number
OF children who were confirmed. The ap-
plicants sat in the body Of the church, and
presented very pretty picture. the pure
white of the girls contrasting with the
black suits of the bows.
In all there were 100 children, ninety of
whom were girls and the remainder boys.
BESIDES these there were about fifty
adults. the ladies slightly in the majority,
who were confirmed.
AS ST. Mary's parish is consid.
cred the richest and largest In this city,
the costumes of the girls were accordingly
elaborate and costly. Some varied the
style by donning pale blue. the symbolic
color Of the Virgin Mary.
The affairs were lit up and beautifully
decorated. Two immense candelabra con-
tanning sixty wax candles each were sta
toned on the right and left of the altar.
Vicar-General Pfendergast was master
OF ceremonies. while Father Montgomery
and several other priests assisted the
Archbishop when he was confirming.
Before putting on his miire prior to con-
flrmation his Grace delivered an impress
s.ve sermon to the children on tie neces.
sity OF observing Sunday.
The choir, under A. e. Heimer, rendered
some excellent music.