Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-18
sT. FAULTS CATHOLIC CHuRCH.


 day morning.
 ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
 Yesterday being St. Patrick's Day and the parishoners of St. PauPs having been promised panegyric on the life of that holy man, 8 much beloved by all Irish Catholics the world over, by that eminent divine Rev. Fla b ,r Clifford of Rome, Ga., besides an exceptionally good song service, large congregation was present.
 The choir, with Miss Mary Rabitte pre- siding at the organ and Mr. Will Chase with the bass violin, comprised Miss Nora Sullivan, sopranos; Miss Ethel Houston, solo alto; Messrs. Calder and Arrlco, tenors; Messrs. Maxim and Rosser, bass, and the Misf @, O'Neill rendered Millard's Mass and Gounod's Sanctus in brilliant style.
 The text of Father Clifford's panegyric was: Now, therefore, my sons, be ye jealous for the law. and give your lives for the covenant of your father, and call to mind all the works of the fathers which they have done in their generations, and you shall receive great glory and su ever- lasting name.-I Maccabess, ii, 50-6l.
 The capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchad- nezzar and taking of her inhabitants to Babylon as prisoners was described by Father Clifford and he spoke of the hanging of their harps on the willows and praying seventy years for delverance from exile. He said this was punishment from Jeho- yah for their many sins. He compared the
  land and said tho similitude was very striking.
 The providence of God, he said, em- braced three attributes, namely:
 1. His infinite wisdom, by which He sees all things from eternity to eternity, so that nothing can happen but what He willed to take place.
 2. His infinite goodness, by which He gives to all creatures the means of attain ing this end according to their capacities.
 3. His infinite power, by which He ef- Actually accom- mplishes in time what He or- dained from eternity.
 Hence, he said, nothing can happen by chance, but whatever takes place happens by the providence of God. "No evil can overcome His wisdom. He watches from things sweetly,' saith the scriptures. "The heavens and the earth and all things were made by Almighty God.''
 We know, said the reverend father, that happiness does not consist of riches and glory, for we know that often the imperial diadem adorns the head of one oppressed with care, and the purple robes cover q bosom full of sorrow. Nor can all tue suf- ferings of life make the good misera ble, nor all the riches of life make the wicked happy.
 It is never lawful to question the privi- leges of God, he said. All His works are good, and if He permits evil it is on ac- count of greater good. The providence of God is conspicuous in the situation of Ire- land. An island blessed with mild and salt ubrious climate, it's lands fertile and in- tersected with mountains and hills and valleys ever green. It is adorned with pie turet que lakes and rivers that -irrigate and drain the land as they flow through its golden gates to their home in the ocean. It is last seen when leaving the old country and first seen when coming from the new. It's history is familiar to all.
 brief review of the first settling of Ire- land, the inha bitants and their habits was then given, and finally the reverend father spoke of the conversion of the people to the holy faith.
 Then came the test of fidelity, as was that Of the chosen people of Israel in the time of tue fall of Jerusalem. A long and bitter persecution was thrust upon them. vivid word picture of the sufferiugs of the Irish Catholics was drawn; how they were persecuted and driven from their homes; the tortures and most diabolical prosecutions, and finally the liberation to great extent by men raised up by the Lord for this purpose. A brilliant eulogy to the martyrs of Ireland was paid by tue reverend father, which was worthy the men whose deeds resound in song and story throughout the civilized world.
 ST. RY'S-ON-THE- HIGHLANDS.
 Rector Fitzsimons selected as his text, "I Have Fought Good Fight.' He gave an instructive sketch of St. Paul's life. He was born about the same year with the Savior, and was second only to Him iu evangelical importance. Referring to the text the speaker said in the first conflict Paul was changed from a persecutor to a defender. His second conflict was In de- ciding upon his peculiar mission within the church. This Christian giant, like Alexander the Great, contemplated nothing less than the subjugation of the world to Christ. His third great conflict was in the nnt nsil at Inrt olof yhn. l,a at- sition that embership in Gods church could not be conditioned on such an insti. tuition as circumcision, and fought that so we'll that he oyercame the opposition of Peter. His fourth conflict was during his detention in Ephesus as prisoner, where 1t seemed inexpiicable that his mission should be so thwarted, and how we'll he fought tho good fight there is attested by the most famous letter in the world, namely, his letter to the Ephesians. His last great on earth was ended and the ax of the Roman executioner hung over his head, as was shown by his letter to Timothy to come and see him and bring his coat. One of his great conflicts was with despondency caused by the e>recol- at last was expressed in the words of the text. All men have to fight fight. There Is no good light unless we keep the faith. There is no crown unless we finish our God-appointed course. No tomb has been raised over the spot where Paul died, but posterity has erected monument in thesei words: "l have fought good fight"
 The vested choir is an attractive featurel of the services at it. Mary's. The mem bership of the choir is as follows: Organ ist, Miss Adams; quartette, Mrs. T. O.. Smith, soprano; Miss Cornelia Meade, con- tralto; MT. Randall, basso; Mir. Lanier. tenor; chorlsters, Misses Kathleen Lewis, Louise Rucker, Anna May Phelan, Rennie Leigh Head, Ada Johnson, Daisy Lewis, Edna Blackwood, Anna Roberts, An-i nie Pearson, Lou Chisoim, Kate Smith, Mary Triirble, Eizabe eth Jones, Carrie Nance, Alma Feagn, Jamie, VanHoose; Messrs. Meade, Kohegap q