The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-09-03
Chapel Services.

Chapel Services.
Catholic services were held in the
prison chapel Sunday, Rev. FIR. Cor
coran officiating. The choir sang the
offertory Though Your Sins be as
Scarlet" which was followed by Father
Corcoran reading chapter on manners,
from "Character," and the congregation |
singing the hymn "Pass Me Not, Oh
Gentle Savior" The lesson for the day, |
the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost,
was taken from the epistle of St. Paul
to the Galatians, chapter V. 1924. At
ter reading the gospel, FIR. Corcoran
spoke OH the impossibility of serving
two masters.
God and Mammon are the two OBJ
jects of mans love. In his desires,
strifes and ambitions he must guide
his life by serving one or the other;
there is no half way course. no COM
promise, no expediency. The two ways
are open, and we can tread but one at
a time The ways of Mammon are the
ways of the world, it's selfshness, vani-
ties and sorrows and regrets. Nam
mon can offer us but sensual pleasure,
the bubble of fame and the hollow
sham of applause. For this it requires
of us the sacrifice of self-respect, moral
dignity and every virtue that adorns
nobility of character and the religious
nature in man. The gauntlet of life
is through temptation and trials,
thoughts and acts that cannot be re-
called.
The, way of God is the way of life;
the manifestation of the soul to its
maker, with its love, glory and rever
ence. Christ, in His works, teachings
and the example of His life, impresses
on men this one great truth that their
central duty is serving God and not the
world. To live without serving God is
to live without purpose and hope of a
future. Strip life of religion and moral
chaos ensues. Every impulse, desire,
hope and effort that tends to the ad-
vancement of humanity must attune
their aims by its spirit. In the mad
struggle for wealth men regard not
their duties to God and man, but con-
centrate their united abilities and re-
sources in accommodating the vain prizes
of this life, with little thought of their
moral value or the methods that Sc
cures them. The idolatry to wealth is
the sin of the age, that saps at religion
2 and undermines the best supports of
2 character. The business man thinks
/ only of business, only of self, with every
/. thought on gain. The politician serves
but his party, thinks, acts and makes
/ his aims the furtherance of it's interest.
What he would scorn to do for anything
else, he will do for party. 1t is easier
to serve God than Mammon if we but
turn from the love of the worldly and
selfish. Every connecting link between
this world and the next must be forged
in the service of God and frightened
by love of His name, and fear of His
> power. Let us then cast aside thoughts
of the worldly and think more of the
heavenly, for the hope of hereafter is
built on right living and not the vani-
ties of this world.
Father Corcoran's delivery was un-
usually forcible and direct, and, in his
closing remarks, he appealed to his
: hearers to view religion in it's true
: light, as the one thing in life that
claims our first duty. Services ended
by the congregation singing the gospel
D hymn "He Leadeth Me-
From frequent compliments paid to
THE PRISON MIRROR, issued at Still
water, we are led to mediate upon the
}, good that little journal is doing. OF
!, course humanity is likely to "slop
: over the criminal on first association,
Q and then cuss him because he is full
l of faults, just like other people. But
, a careful reading of this specially pre-
s pared and supervised sheet leaves a
5 deep impression of the thoughts and