Evening star., 1898-12-09
pATRONAL FEAST DAY.
LA.
Services in Celebration at Catholic
AlnfYeTSiiY.

ShfNeTsity
The feast of the Immaculate Conception
is the PatronaE Feasr5day at the Catholic
University, and yesterday it was observed
with more than usual solemnlty The oc
Casion was an academic one at the uniyer-
sity. and the professors attended the serv-
ices in their academic robes. The process
sion to the chapel was formed in the lower
hall of the Caldwell building and was
under the direction of the marshal of the
university, Dr. Charles r Nell. The lay
students led the procession. and were fol-
Iowad in the following order: The students
Of tho Holy Cross College. the students
of the Marist College. the students of St.
Thomas College, the clerical students at
Caldwell Hail. the presidents of the diff
fsrent colleges, Very Rev p J. Franciscus,
G. 8. c.; Rev. J. F. Sollier, s. ~; Rev. NJ.
p. Smith, G. $. p; Very Rev. j.. F. NJ. Du
mont. s. s., D. D.; the faculty of law, with
their dean. DIR. Robinson; the faculty of
philosophy, with their dean. DR.. Pace; the
faculty of divinity, with their dean, DIR.
Shahan; DR.. Daniel w. Shea, general sec
retary, and the rector of the university,
After taking the places assigned to them in
the chapel by the marshal, the pontifical
mass was celebrated. The officers of the
mass were: Right Rev. John NJ. Farley,
ID. D., auxiliary bishop of New York and u
trustee of the university; Very Rev. 2. J.
Garrigan, ID. D., vice rector of the univer-
sity; Rev James B. Hayden of Albany and
Rev. stephen c. Hallissey of Springfield.
Reys. Louis O'Donovan of Baltimore and
John A. Ryan of st. Paul, Mimi, were
masters of ceremonies Ths choir in
charge of Rev. William j. Higgins of Phil
adelphia, the organist Of the university,
rendered exceptionally fine music. selected
for the occasion-ths Gloria. Sanctus and
Agnus Del were from Mercadanti's mass
and the Gloria and Creed We're Gregoran.
The offertory and the Ave Maria were
very We'll sung by Mr.. Neil Z. Brennan of
ST. Thomas College.
The sermon was preached by Rev. John
T. Creagh, .. D., professor of common law
at the University. Among other things,
DIR. Creagh said:
In every science there are certain basic
principles which one can afford to dis
regard who aspires to accomplish anything
of real or permanent worth. Attempts to
explain operations of nature or to deyelop
philosophical systems without due r5gard
for fundamental truths always result to
the confusion of him who would work in
this way But it is even more essential
that we never lose sight of certain funda-
mental truths of Christianity if we would
successfully systematic our lives on the
lines laid down by Christ and followed by
Mary. since in religion We have no essen
tial growth, no fear lest the next age cor
rectly condemn as untenable what we now
erect into dogma; whereas in science and
metaphysics such growth and such con-
demnation are never impossible. One of the
fundamental spiritual truths, the preacher
declared, was the acknowledgment that
we are weak socially and individually; the
basis of our soul structure must be laid
deep in humble recognition Of our i'm
potencs.
This principle of diffidence in our own
powers Is, however, one which man without
grace-given enlightenment finds most dif-
ficult of acceptance on account of humani-
tvs wonderful achievements in the past
Man is apt to charsh a confidence in him
salf aria lv jr1-.h ,f
and will, which is horne out neither by
religious teaching nor by the experience
of our race. ,-9E.
Continuing, he described the condition Of
man before the fall and then referred to
the awful effects of Soriginal sin, which
robbed man of all his preternatural en-
dowments of Immortality and power and
knowledge, and shut MIN out from the
supernatural life of grace and glory, leay-
ing him subjectlt manifold evils. Tho
especial causes Of mans moral weakness
the preacher found in the wounds of ignor-
ance and concupiscenee. which, according
to the teachings of our faith, affect every
individual member of the human family
The Blessed Virgin was, by the wonderful
mercy of God, miraeulously delivered from
the dire effects OF this law.
Turning, then, to the experiences of man
kind, he referred to the gradual deteriora-
ton of spiritual strength which followed
on the fall, with the result that faith and
religion are now less potent determinants
VI tilOuSHt anu attion thdii tLeS were lmmS.
diately after the fall Striking evidences of
this deterioration previous to the coming
of our Lord were given. and the fact was
Insisted on that even now it is possible
for individuals to drift far from God
through native weakness, and for society
to minister to the Vaccinations of our an
cient enemy as he plays upon our racial
weaknesses of mind and will.
Our intellectual triumphs give us inst
cause for pride, but the presumption and
dogmatism of schooldom and it's short
sighted arrogation of the right to pass upon
the cononicity of universal truth, clearly
show that the primal curse has not been
Cancelled in SO far as it effected woundinp
of our intellect.
Besides the regular members of the
household, the rector entertained at din
mar Right Rev. J. NJ. Farley, D. D.: Right