The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-02-06
IN IMPRESSIVE SERMON.
Father Hopper Discourses on
Death in Sin.
A VERY EARNEST APPEAL,
He Urges His Hearers to Prepare
For the Great Event Of All
Events in Their Lives So
That They May Not
Die in Sin.

The Mission Services at st. Mary's
grow in interest. Yesterday morn
lug at O'Clock. almost au hour be-
fore daylight, a large congregation
Of men and women had Assem- bled
to assist ut the first mass and to hear
the sermon preached by the Rev.
Father Hedges. Considering the
cold and inclemency of the weather
the exhibit of earnest religious fer
YOUR was remarkable. The choir
was in attendance. rs it is every
morning, singing anthems Of praise
TO God. The sermon embraced in
structions on the subject OF confes
sion and WAS Interesting aud elo-
quent. At its conclusion another
mass was celebrated by Rev. Father
Hopper aud at S O'Clock there was
mass and instructions for the chill
dren OF the parish. he beautiful
temple was througed with the little
oues and the address wus suited to
their understanding. The results
of good life were pictured with u
master hand and the evils of sin and
Its punishment was told in man
ner that must have deeply impressed
the young listeners.
EVENING SERVICES,
Last plight, ut St. Mary's, Rev.
Father Hopper, one OF the Paulist
missionaries who are conducting the
mission at that church, chose Tor his
text the words of ST. John, "You
shall die in your Sins"
II =, aid. 6, M
melancholy than death, and there is
nothing that fills our soul with more
sadness than the death of one who
has lived in sin. Death spares
none, rich and poor, saint ana SIN
ner, all must die. Despite our eff
forts to thwart death, 1t is here for
the purpose of severing that bond
which holds us dear to earthly ties.
Remember, oh. man, dust thon art
and to dust thou shalt return. Death
ID therefore unavoidable to all mau
Kind. Death is the beginning of Oh
eternal Joy for those WHO die in the
Lord, but for those who die in NOR
tai SIN 1t Is the beginning OF eternal
perditiou.
Death comes like thief at night
whether we are prepared or not.
A man may say: Death il some.
time sudden, but it shall not be with
me II | am prepared Will YOU die
IN your SINS or hearken unto the
voice of.dlvlne wisdom and prepare?
Desert your wicked ways. Our de.
cislon In this matter VIII determina
hs Tor heaven or hell. Are you not
tanBht by experience that an evil
HE Is miserable one?
What islto be gained by DELAYING
yonr coming to God? The penalty
OF SIN is death. Repentauce without
the help and grace of God is limos.
sible. Deceive not yourselves nv
brethren. for as you live so shall
you die. The desth of sInner -
not time for mercy, but Judge
ment; not Tor reconciliation, but for
damnatlon, for he has persistentlv
dlsresarded Gods holy ordinauces
God created you, my dear bretlron
LOT everlasting happiness, but by
your Sin you are preparing your.
selves for everlasting damnation.
otroiilng through n graveyard each
inscription teaches us these lessops
the shortness OF life and its nncer'
talnty.
1.-The past OF a sinners life 10 Ind
enough, the present is sad, but what
OF the future? The loss of GREAT
eternal destiny and torment in he'll
Where then will be all those Ma
sures for which he has lost his sonI9
Lett behind in the world he loved
better than God. This pictnre
dear brethren, Is dark, but 1T onlv
accords with the warning. for thav
oil shall seek me and tiud me NOT
But God does not want Won 70
lose your soul. In his infinite gooI
ness and mercy he has given Won
warning and instruction. Will Won
Iurn from your sins and come to
Him to day? Let us all make oooI
confessions during this mission uu
Then We may be able to say. | have
ahmed, but have repented and made
promises to God which | have La
Some may say, however. Il am a
poor miserable, discouraged sinner
GOO can forgive. but Will heg' r.,
anch l say, Gods mercy is ipfinite
Ae can and will forgive. Oil God