Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-22

quite consistent tnat Tour years or q
mans life should be set apart for the
special study OF divinity, commonly call
ed theology, as he Is supposed to be n
minister and ambassador Of God. MOI
only propounding the truths OF Christi
ality 10 his fellow men, but practising
and exemplifying in his own person
what he teaches. 1t may be said that
this is true OF all ministers OF the Cos
pei, OF whatever denomination, but that
in its application 10 the priesthood it is
construed May fold more vigorously
is witnessed BY the csli6ate lives they
lead aud the unsaleried labors they per-
form. Literally, and without reserya-
ton. they give up the world and all its
pcmps and pleasures.
The training Of the PRIEST begins in
early childhood, or at about tho age Of
ten. Indeed, the pious mother often
promises the babe 10 its cradle to tho
service OF God who gave il her How.
ever, IL can trHthfuhy be said that many
are called but few ara chosen. IT, aftsr
. period OF years duriag which the twle
has been pruned and bent IL IL nos
found 10 be perfectly mobile TO the sa.
cred calling, 10 is Instantly released. In
consequences. the priest is never con.
tented with his lot, never lnkewarm:h he
is invariably zsalot who before the
world works, sna who in his study
prays.
The candidate OF ten begins lora
course OF Latin, In some countries last
ing nine years, In others seven. DuTinE
this tins he also applies hinssR TO
Greek, motnsm atics ana other studies
not included or completed In his ele.
mentary schooling, and be is meanwhile
acquiring al intimate acquGntspcs
with his foiure duties by acting As altar
toY and serving his supsrtorS IS thsy
mass. In this capacity his study OF
Latin is facilitated, and no learns what
discipline Is. All altar boys 90 rot be-
come priests; few of them ever have
any Intention of doing so, but all priests
have served as altar boys.
Tners is generally accepted tradl-
ton concerning accolytsS which cOrrs-
spends with tho popular notion about
clergymen's sens. 10 Is said that they
are, as . rule. proiane young rascalS.
who not unirequently lose their laitA
later on. The nondsscript story ac-.
counts for this hY saying that u is
natural for tho young and Yielding
mind, when brought into constant and
close proximity 20 tho hOsy place,
eventually TO lose veneraJion FOR It and
no longer to stand In awe OF tho TObed
and taper-lightsd sanctuary. 10 which
distance has hitherto lent enchahtmeht.
Familiarity is the foe OF mystery, and
the mystery being gone. the pleasure OF
the work goes with it; their coRven-
tional robss become = restraint, their
duties irksome, they make their obal-
sancs automatically, recitO their prayers
as beginner does his Alpbsbst, and
finally grow to dislike the church.
acknowledge that solemnity Is not =
characteristic Of childhood, bur ny own
opinion Of this matter is quite contrary
TO tho tradition. | End that tho boys
who serve a. mass are, - n rule, de-
murs young gentlemen who, whatever
their faults, have wholesome respect
for the church; and, n they ara some
times OF comostiVo nature. they ara
always willing 10 exercise their prowsss
iu defense OF their faith. which they arc
never ashamed To acknowledge. IL, az
they Immediately make the sign OF tha
cross IN repentance. The devotional
habit which thew acquire becomes =
second part OF their nature, and 10 in-
dulged In az all times and n all places.
Their nlmble fingers viii. on
the slightest provocltion, touch their
forehsads, and tboir lips arc always
ready TO pronounce Hal Mary" or
an "Our Father" whether preparatory
TO climbing q forbidden cherry tree or
taking plunge In tho East RIVER
where tho depth Is Suggestive Of dan
ger. The murderer Palllster, who was
drowned whilo escapiag fren sing Sing
prison, served as IA altar bay IN his
youth, and among ths few articles
found on mis- person was scapnlar sus-
pended from hts neck. IL was faith
ike this, moro properly directed, that
met martyrdom AZ Rome and sftoruard
ruled il along with The rest OF The
world.
As everybody knows, tho priest never
marrIss. BY decree Of the chureh 40
pat down In the celebrated Council or
Trent, the candidate must vov'to lead
a life OF cslibaey. TAsrs is'an sTcsp-
tlou, however. 10 a portion OF the
Roman Church in Eastern BGrope,
where from time lmmemOrAl married
men have been privileged TO enter tho
priesthood, but nono can marry aitor
ordination. A similar provision m the
matter OF wearing boards Is oo'osets In
certain districts Of Asia. The great
majority OF priests have from their
childhood, maintained purely platonio q
relations With tho opposite sex. ana inc
starving OF tho passions necessary TO
this maintenance Ia 40 inperllnt part
Of their training. IL may not require
any great effort on tho part Of boy or
ten 10 rensunce womAhkind, but be 10,
likely TO experience a few tuinges OF
rsrro. In after years; not, perhaps, be-
cause ha made such remuneration, onh
rather because II was obligatory Tor
him 20 do 50.
BY the tlas the candidate IL prepared
"a eBtor the university or seniHary. A.
which time he IL nearing his majority,
he is quite resigned 10 lead life OF sin-
gls blosssdn ness, 4 phrase which Is here
ussd in us true sense. He Is new called
upon 20 put down mis- other master pas
sion-prlde. The church considers that
prlds ia the father OF more evils than
any other human procliyity. The Dfo-
cess Of killing II r. carried on BY means
NJ meditatlons. chiefly IN the form or
prayers and lectures by the faculty.
The student diagnoses his OWE heart oy
asking himself the question, "cao ! Do
rsprlnandsd without experiencing eth
er asger or p4in?" he becomes an alb
ssluto tyrGat over himself In order 10 %
enabled 10 answer the question aGrna-
lively.