The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-26
Christmas Day Appropriately OBJ
served in the Churches.
ST. PETERS, CONSECRATED
New Catholic Church Formally Dedi-
cated-Father werdein's First Ser
mon-Rev. Mr.. custer Ad-
dresses His Flock.

persons could not gain admittance. The
dedication of st. Peters Catholic
church was attended by several hun
dred worshippers and the services were
impressive n appropriate.
At. ST. Paul's church Father werdeln,
who has just been appointed as Father
Follet's assistant. was introduced to
the congregation.
The morning and evening services at
the NJ. f. church were very largely at
tended. Rev. MIR. Custer oficiated. He
also preached the sermon.
AT the Presbyterian and Baptist
churches the musical programmes were
admirably rendered.
At st. PauI's.
st. Paul's church was crowded at all
OF the Christmas services yesterday. At
the 1880 o'clock high mass more than
$50 persons were unable TO find seats.
The musical programme was admira-
bly, rendered by the choir. under the di-
rection OF DIR. j. F. Spelman, and the
orchestra. directed by Mr.. Bryant. The
soloists could not have been improved
upon. Miss O'Regan presided at the or
gan. a sufficient guarantee that the
playing was grand.
Father Werdein. the new assistant of
ST. Paufs church. officlated at high
mass. He also preached the sermon.
He took for his text from the scripture
of the day. which is as follows:
"A hid is born to us and a child Is
given to us.'-lsaius, chapter 3. verse 8.
Father Werdein explained tina the
text was a very simple announcement.
"A hid was born after 1000 years had
been spent in preparations for his COM
ing. That child had been born in pow
erty. Many of the people of those
Times Gnf1 that thAxv oil IAIf.,-. Il.
the son of God, II He was born a king,
the ruler of an empire or a great mon
arch, but for a child born in a Manager.
never. The son of God came on his
earth to redeem the people"
Father Werdein went on to speak of
the manner in which Christ came
into the world. He spoke of the pride
OF some people and gave al an example
n downfall OF Adam and Eve-Eve
was tempted into taking the apple
when she was told that 1t would make
her more powerful than God. God gave
power TO a woman to crush the head of
a serpent with her heel. which shows
that He is powerful and that with vir-
tue, all can have the strength of crush
ing the serpent's (satan's) head with
our heels. The tempter never wins his
hight when a person has will power. We
all have sufficient strength to crush the
temptation and thus defeat the tempter
He illustrated the birth Of Christ in
Bethlehem and spoke of the singing of
the angels, GLORY Be to God" and the
joy Of the shepherds when the birth Of
Christ was announced to them.
Father Werdein spoke of men who
called themselves Christians. but who
could not be even recognized as human
beings. Their only hope in life is the
accumulation Of gold. inc the enjoy
ment OF the pleasures Of life. They
never enter a church and Christ never
enters into their souls. Their only
thought In life is that Of money. The
teachings of Christ have been spread
throughout the world. God has given
His mysteries. and though we cannot
understand them. We must believe
them because they ave been given out
by the Almighty God and what He says
must be believed. You cannot serve
two masters. You must either serve
God or serve the devil. One will give
you eternal happiness and the other
will give you eternal sufferlngs.
Father Werdein concluded his sermon
by saying that all good Christians who
do not at the present time possess God
prepare their souls and hearts to
receive the son of God. which will as
sure them eternal happiness.
Al st. Peters Church.
The dedication of the new st. Peters
Catholic church took place yesterday
morning. Two masses were celebrated. |
one at 5 o'clock and the other at 1890
o'clock. The church was crowded at
both services. At the first mass the
programme was rendered by
of the members of the Junior choir
of st. Pauls church. The musical pro-
gramme for the high mass had been ar
ranged by Professor Kennicott. and he
directed the choir during the service.
Father Pirnat. pastor OF the church.
preached the sermon at both masses.
He thanked the people of Anaconda for
their generous response TO the appeal
that had been made to them.
In his sermon at hig mass Father
Pirnat spoke on the birth Of Christ in
the hearts of men. He said that Christ
on earth after 1000 years Of cries
and appeals of the people for a re-
deemer. 1t was then that He respond
ed and came on earth to save them.
He was not born in a palace. like a king.
but was born in a manger He came
into this world by night at a time Of
peace. Why did He come at hat time?
show the people that only the peace
loving people can receive Him."
Father Pirnat went on to compar
the natural n spiritual birth of Christ.
Son of God" said he, did not
come upon this earth until the people
had prayed for more than 1000 years.
BY his it is shown that He does not
come into the soul n hearts of per-
until they have realized the evil
Of SKI and have repented. Without
there Is darkness in all souls and
those who do not possess Him in their
souls cannot celebrate Christmas and
His possession can be retained only by
humility. He humbled Himself WHEN
He came on this earth. He humbles
more every day now by placing
Himself In the hands of the priest and
being sacrificed on the altar. When He
was born He did not come into the fam
lily OF the rich. but He came TO humble
like Mary Immaculate and ST.
All those who want 10 save
heir souls must come to Him and He
can save them. He will come
to the good n repentant and the
such as the shepherds. to whom
came at His birth"
Father Pirnat concluded by saying
the Christians should not follow
the people Of Israel. because they did
not raPnUniza Him and xvns,lI -. - /