The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-03

knelt I think God always heard the
prayers of these people. About five years
ago this scalan superseded by a chapel
built-by nleney sent home for that pu pose
from servant girls and laboring boys in
America
After mass the congregation join the
priest in praying in turn for eacn per-
son sick in the parish. and then for the
repose of the souls who died during he
week. each being specially announced and
each getting a special prayer.
Then follows the priests DISCOURSE or ex-
hortation, which, in our chapels, has a
profoundly moving effect The emo ions
OF the Celt are very responsive; it is a
common Sunday experience to find a con-
gregation of two thousand conxulsed with
sobs; and have innumerable times been
thrilled to the soul by chorus of wall
ings. which, rising and falling in waves,
filled the building.
Approaching Easter, ard approaching
Christmas, The priest begins 1.-THE stations"
that is. holding confessional in each
district of the parish He announces from
the altar on Sunday the name of each
party In whose house he purposes holding
station on each day of the week follow
ing. Every woman who is done the honor
Of "having station called in her house
goes to much expense 10 have the house
and its surroundings fitted in a manner
that will reflect credit on her and force
IL nOIu VI praise lIOfu dtItT Ddtl-&uu "
have the best and most elaborate break
fast the country can afford.
At the "stntion House."
The men and women and children Of the
townland, dressed in their neatest, are
collected at the station house when Father
Dan arrives on his rlckety jauntng car
at o'clock in the morning. The best room
in the house has been prepared for him,
and when, sitting here, he has lightened
many oppressive burdens by his counsel,
he says mass, administers holy commun-
ion and delivers to the sobbing penitents
a gentle and touching homily.
After breakfast, to which he sat down
With the heads of the household and the
schoolmaster, he collects his s.ipends, each
father of a family with his dollar-some
farmers more comfortably circumstanced
than usual paying Voluntarily dollar
and half or two dollars. This at the
Christmas stations-for the payment is
made but once a year. Other fees which
Father Dan receives are half dollar Tor
more) at each christening. and five dol
lars at a marriage. According to the
circumstances of a parish, priest re-
ceives from three hundred to seven hun
bred and fifty dollars year.
Formerly the priest went 10 the house
to perform the baptismal and matrimonial
services and remained to share in the
merriment. But now he Is enjoined to
perform both ceremonies in the chapel.
The most trying duty of the priest Is
the sick call. He is never sure of a
nights quiet. At any moment he ex-
poets a laundering at the door, which
may order him off post haste, In rain,
hail or storm, over half dozen or half
a score miles of moor that is not with
out its hazards at high noontide-to visit
some creature who is hungering for his
ministrations, before bidding final fare
well to caro- and ache.
But be the night never so bad, and be
the priest already wearied and worn. and
be the way dark, and ugly, and far, a
sigh is generally his most earnest pro-
test He arises, dresses hastily. takes his
staff In hand, and, his summoner leading
che way with a torch, bends him to the
mountain path. If at the wearied end
of the journey he finds that the nervous
old woman. who. In a scare, sent for him
at dead of night, is already sitting In the
chimney corner and treating herself to
a rousing bowl of tea, ne Is, perhaps, not
90 be too harshly judged IL he do not
give earnest of much joy at her sudden
recovery. And such q case Is far from
being exceptional.
Only "a Few Protestants.
Eplscopalians and Methodists are only
occasionally met with in our mountains,
living In small communities, in a. valley
or on a hillside richer than the remainder
Of the country. The lands which they o.