The herald., 1895-07-01
THE CHURCHES YESTERDAY
Bishop Montgomery Preached a
Sermon in Redlands
A PATRIOTIC DISCOURSE
The National Celebration a Theme for
Talks
The True spirit Of Liberty at the Church of
the Observation-Disclosures Greatness at the
Welsh Presbyterian Church

Bishop Montgomery preached yesterday
in the Catholic church at Redlands. Mass
was celebrated by Father Fitzg erald, with
q largo congregation present The father
in introducing the bishop remarked that
"this is the first time that Catholic
! bishop has spoken at Redlands," and ex-
pressed the belief that it would not be
the last. The bishop thanked the people
for their cooperation in aiding the priest
to put up the little church. He then
read the epistle and the gospel for the
| day. From the latter he preached a
splendid sermon upon the Authority OF
the Church."
Authority is everywero exhibited by
God, directly or indirectly. 1t Is exercised
even by those who deny it to the church
! OF Christ. But they lose sight OF the fact
that there is no power but from God. "
The authority of the church is from God
divine, not of human creation. The
divine quality was shown by the bishop
in mannr that exhibited extensive and
accurate knowledge of the inspired word
of God. the holy scriptures.
| Passing from the question OF the au-
| thority in tine church to that OF civil gov
ernment the bishop spoke of the nation s
| birthday which is celebrated on the
Fourth of July. From the gospel of the
| day he showed that Christ ever had
| care for the temporal welfare of man.
| Nearly all His miracles, whilst they had
higher significance, were wrought to be-
| stow upon men some temporal blessing.
The miracle recorded in the gospel of
| the day, the miraculous draught OF fishes,
was case in point. Then He healed the
sick and infirm: He gave sight to the
blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the
| dumb, nay. raised the dead to life.
But most of all. taught men the lesson
OF their true Importance and gave them
the principle Of all true freedom. You
shall know the truth and the truth shall
make you free"
The bishop believes that our torn Of
government is the best and most perfect
yet enjoyed by men for all who are capa-
BILE OF approaching and perpetuating 1t.
Therefore it is tit that the day should be
commemorated on which our nation was
born and from which she dates her life
among the sister nations OF the Garth.
He said that the Catholics especially
had not the duty only but right to cele-
brate it. Though few in numbers in the
first thirteen colonies they had glorious
part in the. Revolution. Not only did those
who were here 90 their whole duty, but
it is a fact of history that but for the
aid of Catholic France and tho neutrali-
ty of Catholic Canada, the success OF the
Declaration would ha been very dJubt
full. Therefore we must cele brate 1T not
as class or a party but as citizens in
common with our fellow citizens.
But the bishop reminded his hearers
that the great principle underlying it and
which alone gives efficacy to the Decla-
ration must not be lost sight of. These
principles are truth, honesty and virtue.
The declaration stands for all these and
without them it is noble effort but d
dead letter. Therefore though the
preacher and the ca,echist should not
, mention expl lcit.y the Declaration itself,
but who should teach these princiTle as
the guide of life, would be teaching the
highest loyalty to the letter and the
spirit OF the Declaration. He felt that
there had been falling off in civic life of
genuine appreciation of these facts. The
early history of the repu blic was a glori.
cous record in our public men who had
placed seltishness and personal interests
second to the good OF the whole people.
He hoped that the celebration would re-
new in US all practical return to these
principles.
The day Of the bishops visit to Redlands
was one much appreciated and we have
little doubt that he will soon gain be
invited to the prettiest little city OF Cali
| fOrnla.