The Irish standard., 1894-06-16

AS a GALA DAY J.
Confirmation Services at st. Vim
cents Church, st. Paul, on
Sunday Last.
HIS GRACE, THE ARCHBISHOP,

- e X Z 4
HIS GRACE, THE ARCHBISHOP,
Delivers Most Suitable and Flo
quent Sermon Before Large
Assemblage Of People.
Last Sunday was gala day at st, Vim
CENTS church. An unusually large con-
gregaticn assembled at the morning ser.
vices to see and hear his Grace, the Arch
bishop. Solemn high mass was at half
past ten o'clock with Rev Fl. Monihan,
celebrant; Rev. James Trobec, deacon;
Rev. Richard Cahill, st. Thomas Semin-
airy, sub deacon, and Rev. l.. Coegrove,
master of ceremonies. The music which
was specially prepared for the occasion
was rendered inspirlngly by chorus OF
thirty voices under the direction of Prof.
VIM. Manner. The affairs were decor.
ated with u profusior of flowers and
potted plants. The Arch bishop preached
the sermon which was a most eloquent
and persuasive one, and was an appeal
throughout for a better life, for an
earthly existence in accordance with the
laws of God in order that all may live
more worthily and happily here, but
may finally obtain the crown Of inmor-
tally.
1.-THE lesson for US when we stand
alone without the aid of God,' said the
speaker, SIS shat we suffer much. We
have all many temptations to meet and
resist. We must, 10 meet them success.
fully, work for God and in him alone.
In Him our life is as sunshine to the day.
We are made for Him, and from Him the
strength of our souls must be drawn,
but away from Him we are like the rose
in the garden without the nourishment
of the dow. We are put on this earth
with manifest tendency toward God,
who consoles US in our suferings and
gives force and merit to our work. Ali
we do must be in recollection OF tho d.
vine power, but, alas. mon are caught by
earthly motives.
Teaching the young to be good and
suggesting rules of morality may do we'll
enough in calm weather, but that teach
ing will not be effective in storm. All
human considerations 60 simply:to hu
mamie and civilize US externally, just as
animals are taught to be mild and ODE
dent. We need to be truly good, to
have principles SO strong and effectively
penetrating the soul as to cause dread
in the violation of moral laws. We need,
too. loving God, who reigns above us
and who says We must do good if we
would earn the reward, but if not we
shall be punished. He has given us
strength TO accomplish what He designs
We should do. When our passions are
turbulent and oil human strength fails
to subdue them, let us walk with God
and He will make us as strong as lions
and we can defy the passions, the wick
edness of the world, and even hell itself.
think Of the saints cheerfully court
ing death for the sake of Christ. Ali
moral education that leaves out God
fails, because it appeals to human phil
osophy and is failure. When the de-
mon says, Satisfy your passions and all
will be we'll tomorrow, answer back,
NO, God is tomorrow, as He is to-day
Practice RICH teousness, speak and think
of God in ali your occupations and at all
times and you will be saved.
ave all wish for happiness and COM
fort, Joy and honor. Those who live
apart from God wish these things as we'll
as others, but they fail to obtain them.
To an Indifferent observer happiness
seems to exist in being away from God.
Roses seem to cover their pathway, but
il we examine these roses thorns will
there be found. The glass which tasted
as nectar will be found the bitterest of
gall.
"What is life? Health to-day, to NOR
row sickness and death. Youth is sue
ceeded by silvery hairs, beauty and fash
ion fade away. What are all these when
we look toward the grave and see our
loved ones hurried thither and know it
is our lot some day to follow them?
They who have drank life to it's dregs
have found it bitter Solomon said that
all was vanity. Suicides occur through
lack of faith. In daily toll only is there
happiness. 1t could not be that the
great God placed us here to be Knocked
by the hollow promises of the world.
Over the grave We see the rays Of immor'
tally from above. We long therefor be-
cause we regard it as the threshold to
light and eternal happiness. Be near to
God and obtain happiness here and here
after"
CONFIRMATION SERVICES.
At 8 o'clock in the afternoon the Arch
bishop and assisting priests were es-