The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-10
w1rH or wIrHoUr cEREmoNY.

An Interesting and Instructive Lect-
ure By Ri. Rev Thomas q. Becker.
with or Without Ceremony" was
the subject OF one of the most interest
ing and instructive lectures delivered
last night by Rev. Thomas A. Becker,
that z Savannah audience has had the
Measure of hearing in long time
The lecture was given for the benefit of
the Little Sisters of the Poor. The
audience was fair one and of high cul-
ture. The speaker was introduced after
p few appropriate remarks by Mr.. NJ A
O'Byrue, in a manner, which he stated
was suggested by the subject the lee
turer had chosen, without ceremony.
Bishop Becker said the subject seemed
peculiar one, but that it had sufficient
elasticity to cover the tariff, hypnodsm
or any of the burning questions of the
d3y. He referred to the essential differ
euce between man and the rest of crea-
ton as being chiefly in the power of
speech by which not only ideas but differ
emit shades of meaning were expressed.
He began with illustrations to show
how effective and impressive ceremonies
are and how they are necessary in all
walks of life. He referred to the power
of me orator as lying largely in the
'nomD and ceremony which was displayed
and taking up the ancient Greeks he
showed how ceremonies were an essen
tiaI part of religions. To the rights and
ceremonies of worship all bowed in deep
est respect. Even the very games of the
Grecians were characterized by the most
impressive ceremonies. The laurels won
in OLYMPIC fields descended to their an
He took up the Pentateuch of Moses,
with which he said no history could com
pare. His purpose he said was to prove
mat without ceremony no religion could
evist Ceremonies were at the fOunda-
lion of the true religion, while false re-
iigions paraded in borrowed plumes He
took the Pentateuch as a basis. No Jew
he said. however learned, would deny that
record. This, he said, and other things
in proOf of its genuineneSs and authenti-
city. He spoke of the ceremonies used
Inv The priests mentioned here the offer
ines. sacrifices. prayers and eXorcisms and
said that revealed religion ceremony
went hand in hand with doctrinal and
moral teaching. The proper origin of all
ceremonies belonged TO religion.
He spoke of the ceremonies of the Cath
Ole church as enrolling and elevaJing.
They contained no secrets, no signals save
the sign of the cross-of Gods word. He
said that the different orders of the
church had no secrets. No person in the
church, he said, ever took an oath to do
or not to do anything until fully informed
of the full purport Of it. He spoke of how
the Catholic church had maintained an
unity for sixteen centuries when the
Quakers left it TO renOunce its ceremonies.
Their very reconciliation of ceremony, he
said. produced ceremony.
He spoke of the lodges and guilds exist
inc in this country, of their mysteries
and of the Oaths taken. The citizens, he
said, were trapped, taken in, against the
laws Of their country and of its cOnstitu-
lion He gave Odd Fellowship a rap, call
ing 1t one of the small fry of these socie-
ties which originated in a species of
buhOOnery.
His description of the Cathedral of
Milan and its wonderful architecture was
a most beautiful piece of word painting.
This, he said, was a poem in stone. St
Peters too he mentioned, and other
well-known cathedrals in Europe
lie mentioned also the sculpture
of Rome and its famous disciple, Michael
Angelo, whom he said the Catholic relig-
ion alone could produce. From these
ideas he brought ont the GU hit that
nowhere else, save in the church, are the
great arts and sciences subserVient to the
maker of all A great traveller, he said,
mad remarked that there was nothing
left to see in Rome beyond the works Of
Catholic art
AL the solemn musical servic s of the
Catholic church, he said have been inl-
tated by such denominations as make
any pretensions to musical services. He
spoke finally of the martial ceremonies,
which he characterized. as most grand
and impressive. All he said, were unan-
swerable arguments, but he left it to the
audience to decide. ''All in favor of cere-
mOny, he said, SAY aye" And there
was good strong AYE" in response