The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-29
SISTERS INSTITUTE
Rev. T. F. Coffey, Mrs. Burke and
Miss Burke Are Heard.

Rev. Thomas F. Coffey concluded
his talk on the Liturgy of the mass
yesterday morning at the teachers in
stitute. After tribute to the signifi-
canoe and pre-emnenCe of the mass
over all other forms of penance and
alteration, Father Coffey declared that
the coming together of people in the
service of the mass produces import
ant results; in receiving holy COM
munion there is one table and one
only for the common use of rich and
poor, sick and well, old and young.
The fact that mass is celebrated in
the Latin tongue is often discussed.
There are many reasons for it. The
mass in the early history of the
church was said in Latin. The faith
does not change nor the language in
which that faith has its chief express
sion. Another reason why latin is
used is that if mass was said in the
vernacular, in the tongues of various
nationalitieS the catholicity of the
church would be lax, the unity of the
fold would be impaired. A third ad-
vantage is that those who qualify to
celebrate the mass in Latin enjoy the
literary benefits of the ages that are
gone. The literature of the early
church was all in Latin, and has been
handed down in its purity to present
generations.
The altar is generally built in the
form used by the early Christians. 1t
may be of various materials but in
every one must be the altar stone in
which are invested, sealed and ce-
mented relics of some of the saints
By no condition or permission can
mass be read by a priest without the
altar stone.
SOME SUGGESTIONS.
In the center of the altar is the
tabernacle about which gather sug-
gestions of st. John in the desert, Mt.
Sinai, The Last Supper, recalling
thoughts of Calvary, the Real Presence
and Christ among His People. lt is
surmounted always by the cross at the
front of which Mary stood.
In civilized lands a priest may not
say mass without a server who repre-
sents the people assisting in the sacri-
flee. The description of the sacrificial
details We're very interesting. This
morning Father Coffey will speak on
Church History"
Mrs. Burke read greeting from
the Sisters of st. Francis at Lacrosse
Wis, after which Miss Burke took UP
the subject of geography, in which
she emphasized teaching actual facts
instead of the abstract ideas, often
gained from this study. She advised
getting as far as possible from the
danger of allowing the children to
think of cities as dots and rivers as
crooked lines. Miss Burke is partic-
ularly interesting and helpful in her
talks.
After intermisson Mrs. Burke con-
tinued the subject of grammar. She
advocated parsing, but spoke strongly
against diagramming and warned
teachers not to place too many incor-
rect expressions before the child. Let
him see the good in grammar and
companionship, not the bad. In fact
false syntaX should not be used in the
lower grades. Mrs. Burke asserted in
the course Of her remarks that twice
as much money is spent on chewing
gum as on text books, while the
amount spent for candy was fourteen
times greater. The United States does
not pay enough for education.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
In the afternoon Miss Burke spoke
on arithmetic, giving many practical
hints. She urged more use OF mental
| arithmetic and advised the "cycle'
system which teaches advanced parts
| in simplitied form to the lower grades
| Her talk was heard with great inter,
| est.
The room was intolerably hot during
| this session as the windows were dark
| ened to prepare for Mrs. Burke's stere,
| opticon lecture which followed.
Mrs. Burke spoke charmingly fol
| some time on Culture Heroines," dur,
ing which times many beautiful illus
| trations were shown. She began with
| Dante's words:
"Our intellect engulfs itself so far
That after 1t the memory cannot CO.
And then gave a series of anecdota
sketches of many revered saints OF
the church. Among them Saint Lucy
Saint Margaret, Saint Cecilia ant
| Saint Barbara. st. Elizabeth, of the
Roses, was named and four famous
reproductions of pictures of st, Cath
arine were shown, among these beinl
the well-known one OF Andrew De
donna in detail were given, while th
Sisters sang softly Mother Tell Me,
the effect being most impressive.
The session of this forenoon will enc
the institute, after which Mrs. Burk
Will go to ST. Louis. and Miss Burk
| will start Immediately for Albany an,