The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-07

Tho largest congregation ever seen
on q week day gathered a. tho cathedral
last night to hear tho old familiar voice
Of Rev. Father McElIigott, Of Grafton,
w. Va, Tho church was densely
crowded with u throncot tho old friend,
Of tho former assistant priest OF tho
cathedral, This is tho first time tho
reverend father has spoken hero since
his promotion to tho tecto,ship ut Graf.
ton, aud tho people Of Whcoliug wore
delighted to 500 his congcniai face. ue
took Tor his text: "unlcss YOU do pen.
ancc, you shall. all likewise PERISH"
Luke xiii; 3.
Some contend TINT the word peuancc
Is n inere SORROW for past siua; scrip.
turaa implies rlore. II Is an earnest
sorrow which will manifest itself ia an
external way. st. Augustine says that
true sorrow for our aims will be maui.
tested BY works OF penance. Our Lord
says OF Sldon and Tyre that II his works
wero done among them thoy would
have done pcnance in sackcloth and
ashes.
Tho speaker then recalled tho works
OF pennnce which arc recorded in the
Old Testament. Ho quoted a large
number OF texts from various books OF
this part OF the Bible. He quoted largo.
ly also from the New Te,tament Then
no took up tho history OF the church
the constant tradition concerning the
duty OF doing works Of penance.
From penance as q virtue. tho rev.
ereni speaker proceeded 10 "Pcnance
as a Sacrament" lie referred to the
severe seif punishment. imposed on
themselves by the early Christians for
Srieyous oiIenies against God. lie con-
trasled those with tho relaxed spirit OF
many Christians Of to-day. The father
then entered into detail concerning the
various works OF penancc. First. lie
spoke OF lasting. its relation TO tho soul
and body. showing how tho spirit is
strengthened by tho modification OF the
body. Then he spoke OF seli.denial rs
another mean OF penance; how pleas.
ing 1t is to God and what good q man
who has the spirit OF selt-denial can do
society. The next means Of penance,
according to tho speaker. and on which
he dwelt moro %iervenlly, was to accept
with resignation such crosses and atilic-
tons that arc our portion in this world;
accepting them from the hands OF God
a. punishment Tor our aims. These. he
affirmed. are the most pleasing sacrifices
we can offer 10 God.
Father McEiligott then showed the
effects OF Il peniteEtial lifo on a Chris
tian. proving that it is 4 potent factor in
securing perseverance in a holy lie.
Such q spirit makes us humble minded.
keeps down our unruly passions. keeps
our minds on God. BE showed how
easily man falls from grace. He spoke
of ST. Paurs warning to those who stand
to take heed lest he fall. a self.indul
gent Christian, who seeks luxury and
knows not the cross OF Chris. walks in
dangerous road, is liable to fall and die
in his sins. He then explained the
parable OF the barren tree, from which
he dwelt shortly on Gods long forbear'
ance and mercy, but showed how that
patience can be worn out. The tree has
its trial. it bears not the irult desired
Gods patience is at m end. The tree il
cut down and thrown into the fire. Lee
US then not be the barren tree, but lei
US bring forth fruit worthy OF penancs,
After services a number called at the
cathedral residence to see their old
g fr;an1 ". "#