The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-01
WITH MIDNIGHT MASSES.
ROMAN CATHOLICS UsHERED IN
THE NEW YEAR.

Lasted Nearly Two HOurs-Rev.
Father Keilcy's Eloquent Sermon
AT the CnthedraI-He Draws n Con-
trast ina the Condition of the
Church Century Ago and Now.
vail Against 1t.
The Roman Catholic Churches were
crowded last night at the midnight SER
vices permitted through dispersal
ton from the Pope. The I'M
usual character of these ser
vices has already been explained Mid
night masses have been prohibited in the
Catholic churches in this country for
number of years for many reasons, and
hence the significance of the permission
for special services on the occasion of the
birth of the year 1900 which, in the Ian
guage of the Holy Father, will usher in
the coming century.
Services We're held at the Cathedral and
a 81. Patrick's and Sacred Heart
Churches, beginning at midnight and last
ing until nearly O'Clock this morning.
There was large attendance at all three
churches. The roomy basement of the Ca
thedral, in which the congregation is now
worshippng, was flied and many people
stood during the services.
A solemn high mass was celebrated, be-
ing the same as that celebrat-
ed at Christmas. The mass
was celebrated by Vicar Gen
eral Kelley After the mass, with the
other attendant ceremonies, sermon APP
propriate to the occasion was delivered by
Father Kelley, who spoke as follows:
"As the mass commenced the old year
died and new one has come. We know
not what il may bring for US. We know
that our duties and our interests, as in
former years, are considered. The one
thing necessary in 1899 is as necessary in
1900 The means of attaining salvation are
the same Are we less keen in the scent;
are we less anxious for our souls well
fare?"
There must be in every breast tonight
some sense of the solemn nature Of the
change-the passing and coming of a year.
The last has passed away with its record
of veal and woe. The new comes and we
wonder if it brings with il for us prosper
lily and happiness, and how misleading are
ihese terms. Prosperity and happiness! In
W hat does our happiness consist? Wealth,
heath, friends and a long life? Do these
give us passport to the kingdom of heav-
en-? There is a void to the human heart,
winch Is 81 lutuGNSt lildl iOut III tlltoG
ror the possession Of all can fill it. We
we're made by Cod for God and to possess
Him is the only happiness, which viii
satisfy The craving of the heart of man..
But we are here tonight by permits
on of our holy father, Pope Leo XIII, to
praise God, with our brethren throughout
tie world, for His manifold graces and
avors extended to us.
What wondrous change from the clos
ing days of 1888. The Pope was dying N
captivity. The most iHustrious bishops o.
France living in q Protestant land exiled
from their own. Churches desecrat ed
and turned into banquet halls or worse.
The world proclaimed the end of the Cath
Ollie Church. But the end has not come
yet. Republics have fallen, Kingdoms
have come and gone, but on the Vatican
Hill in Rome, where formerly pagan
prophecies were uttered, there sits an old
man. CARRIED in white and wearing a triple
crown who looks out as his five predeces-
sors of the century looked, on the dis
sensions and disputes of men, sublime,y
confident in the infallibe truth of his
Masters words: The gates of hell shall
never prevail. How nobly has
tne gifted Lacordaise told us Of
the protest of the world against
the unchanging church. II has come 10
the door of the Vatican, and d frail old
man has answered their cry for a change
But" it cries, everything else chang IS
astronomy, chemistry. the empire, why
are you always he same
Because l come from God ard because
God is always the same"
But we have a million of men under
arms We will draw the sword, the sw nd
which breaks down thrones, to cut off the
head of an old man and tear up the leaves
of a book"
do so; blood is the aroma in which l
recover my youth and vigor.'
"WeI. here is half my scepte-; make
sacrifice ana let Us share it together"
Keep thy purple. Tomorrow hey vii
bury ihee in IL; and we viii, chant ovtr
thee the AlHluia and the De p. otuncii,
which never change"
what a wondrous charge in our
own land. In 1893 handful
To-day nearly 100000 We have
met bitterness and persecution even here.
The backened walls of Charlestown Con-
vent the ruins in Philadelphia the streets
of Louisville, tell a story of bigoted into,-
erance Georgia passed through political
campaign, one Of whose leading issues was
anti-Catholic spirit. The detestable and
vile A. p. A. campaign is too recent 10
need further notice The church survives
and she is stronger to-day in the hearts
Of her children and in the esteem of right
thinking men of other religious views
She has survived shocks which have de-
stroyed less vigorous bodies, and Is
stronger today than ever. while around
her are heard discussions and divisions
which are unsettnnE the beliefs of thou
sands and undermining the authority of
Divine Revelation. In this wonderfully
preserved unity and vitality is abundant
for thanksgiving to God, who has been
pleased TO call US from darkness to admir-
able light
Nor must we forget our own lives and
the reasons for thanksgiving which a
study Of the course reveals For oil that
we have our thanks are due to God. To
Him alone the glory.
And how appropriate a time of retro
spect and examination is the beginning Of
the New Year How beautiful the con-
Guiding of the feast when, officially at
least. the holy name of Jesus was given
to our Lord What a woudrous page in
tae worlds story does that name I'll, Or
rather, how much does it overshadow
every other and belttle them. Once a
common name; now the hottest name
which falls from human lips and the oc-
castor OF profound alteration to angelic
hosts. They shall call His name Jesus
for He sholl save His people from their