The age-herald., 1901-02-04
SPLENDID SERMON
 BY FATHER DOWNS
Spirit of Discomfort" the Theme
 of His Discourse
LESSON FROM MATTHEW
Weak Humanity Has Ever Manifested Dissatisfaction With the Wondrous Workings of Acknowledgment
 Priests Beautiful Picture.

The attendance at high mass at St. Paul's church yesterday-Septuages agesima-was large in spite of the bad weather. The Rev Father Downs was the celebrant and preacher. The choir sang the Kyrie, Credo and Sanctus from Farmers beautiful mass and the Agnus Del from Battmanns. For solo Gounods Sanctus.
 On entering the pulpit Father Downs read the gospel of the day in English, St. Mat thews, 2Oth chapter, and 1st to the 18th verses inclusive. The theme of his dis course was "The Spirit of Discontent" He spoke as follows:
 They murmured against the good man of the house, Matthew XIX. Il. The mur- muring and discontent so graphically de- scribed in the gospel of the day is a true picture of the condition of a great major ity of mankind. Far back in the twilight of history we find evidences of unrest and dissatisfaction. On reading the annals of the Hebrews at every stage of their various wanderings, we cannot fail to recognize how hard they were to please, though God hNCiA welfare, and granted all their demands. He became so displeased with their continued grumbling that He said to Moses, Let me alone that I may destroy these stiff -necked and perverse generation"
 We, my brethren, have taken the place of the Hebrews, as Gods chosen people. Unfortunately we have inherited their dis content and rebellous disposition of char acter Everywhere We meet with disgust and dissatisfaction, even in the most fav- orabe circumstances of life. On all sides we see despondency and want of resgna- tion, in sufferings and affictions. How uni versal is this spirit of discontent which makes the human heart so gloomy, and renders man so lttle at ease within him. self as to make him so often ask the ques- ton, "Is life worth living?'
 False Ambition.
 This spirit manifests itself first in false ambition. We see men who have all at their disposal that God and nature can give them, and yet they are not happy. They forever are stretching out their hands like children for every new attraction that dances before their eyes Look at the his tory of nations and behold how few rulers have ever been contented with their share in the government of the world. Being puffed up by the honor thrust upon them their spirit becomes too great for the mar row limits of their own territory. Instead of being guided by the principle that the happiness of the people is their own happi- ness, we see them constantly wranSling with their neighbors, carrying "chips upon their shoulders that some one may knock them off, and thus afford a preteXt for a quarrel And why all this? Often indeed, as a great writer remarks to gain patch of ground that is not the money spent on it. to say nothing of the human lives that are lost to gratify false and unrestrained ann bition. Forgetting in their madness that it is through God that Kings reign and princes decree justice" Some of these po- tentates have gone so far as to say, That had they been present at the creation of the world, they would have given some good advice to the Creator" Undoubtedly they would be as good as their word. If God had made the world to suit their fancy they would soon be building another tower to add heaven to their vast domain Witness Alexander the Great! He swept everything before him. Greece, the proudest of nations, was writhing at his feet Asia, with her, untold wealth and splendor, opened her gates to his victorious army. And yet this man in spite of his success and glory, sat down, like foolish child crying for the moon and wept bitterly because there were not other worlds to conquer.
 Witness great Napoleon Had he been contented with restoring order in his coun- try and promoting the welfare of his peo- ple his name might have been "held in benedction from generation to generation" But no! Nothing short of the whole of Eu- rope woud-satisfy his unbrdled lust for power. During his imprisonment he was asked which was the happiest day of his life. It was thought doubtless that he would mention Austerlitz or some other famous engagement. But 1t was not so. He replied that the happiest moment of his existence was the day he made his first communion"
 Spirit of Discomfort.
 Another celebrated ruler, after coming off victorious from many a hard-won bat tie, had so little peace of mind that he was heard to exclaim: 'I was everything and it amounts to nothing"
 It is not among the great alone that we discover this spirit of dissatisfaction. It pervades all walks and conditions of life.
 We find traces of 1t in the feverish com- mercal activity which is constantly seek ing investment for its hoarded capital in new fields, though it is compelled to wade through slaughter to the throne" of gold upon which it casts it's envious eyes, Among others (the lower classes) there appears this spirit of unrest and discontent with their state of life. Every one strives to keep pace with his more prosperous neighbor. Great expense is frequently incurred in this fool ish rivalry, which often ends in complete financial ruin the breaking up of the fam fly circle, bitterness and hard feeling against those who have been more success full in the struggle, complaint and mur- mering against the providence of God Yes, in the midst of this excitement, unrest and anxiety to shine in the world, we forget,that there is a divinity that shapes our end,