The Washington times., 1901-09-30
new RBC4OR'S FIRST MASS
DR.. Stafford breaches at st. Pat
rick's and Holds Reception.
The Church and Our Country Are the
Objects TO Which He Directs His
CongrcGntion's Atteution-Sermon
by Father WheIan. of baltimore.

Objects TO Which He Directs His
COngrcgntion's Atteution-Srrmou
by Father WheIan. of baltimore.
With the celebration of solemn high
mass, in the presence of large congre-
cation yesterday morning. the Rev Dr.
d. J. Stafford marked his installation as
rector of St Patrick's Church After the
mass the new rector. assisted by Father
Dolan, Father Gaynor, and Il. J. Hannah
gave reception at the parsonage to the
members of the congregation. other per
sonal friends of DR.. Stafford and general
visitors
There was very little attempt at dec
Grafton for the occasion. The main altar
was banked on both sides with palms and
upon it stood vases of golden rod and
coxcomb. The aisles were covered with
rich dark green brussels carpet. AS the
procession of altar boys and the assist
ant priests, with DR.. Stafford, filed into
the church. the sun fe4 in beams through
the stained glass windows, flooding the
main altar with irideseent colors. Before
the consecratio the main altar was light
ed up with a multitude of candles. which
rejected their soft rays from the glisten-
ing whiteness of the marble sculpture OF
the table of the Lord.i A special musical
programme aided in making the occasion
a memorable one.
DR.. Stafford sang the mass with a firm.
clear. and strong voice. The Rev. John
T. WheIan. pastor of the Church of St
Mary the Star of the Sea. Baltimore,
preached the sermon. which made deep
impression by reason of its strong argu-
ments. Father Whelan was assistant
g.. Do In pyhp q
was transferred to the cathedral in Balti-
more. He is a native of Georgetown. The
speaker took as his text Matthew ix:l-S:
Every high priest taken from among
men is ordained for II en- in the things
that appertain to God" and said:
What are the things that appertain to
God? The Lord tells us himself in the
gospel of st. Matthew all power is given
to me in heaven and on earsh,' and among
these are truth and grace. Truth is sig
nified by the charge to teach. and grace
is signified by the charge to baptize. and
these are the things that appertain 10
God The human race needs this truth
and this grace. The human race is always
aiming at something which lies above its
limited sense of reason. 1t is always after
a higher life. There is no man who is not
conscious of his weakness and his many
shortcomings and his sins. There is no
man who does not at some time send up
a cry to God to help him, to comfort and
advise him.
These two things. truth and divine
grace, belong to God and God alone. This
seems wonderful, but you have only to
open your Bible to find it. We find Jesus
telling his disciples to go and teach all
nations and we find Jesus giving them
divine grace and telling them to baptize,
to wipe away the stains of sin. to change
the wine and bread into the spiritual
body of God for the sanctification of his
children"
referring to DR.. Stafford. the speaker
said THE duties of priest and pastor
in this church are laid upon one who has
always had before him for his guidance
the highest ideal of sacerdotal life. To
him these duties are not new. To the
people of St. Patrick's he is no stranger.
You have seen nm in the various phases
of priestly work.
been that whatever talent, whatever quail
ity of mind, or power of speech, or force
of influence he possessed-al this should
be redoubled and intensified in the things
that appertain to God and in the service
of his neighbor. Nor will it be otherwise
in the future.
Before tht. conclusion of the mass DIR.
Stafford stepped forward within the altar
railing and expressed his deep-felt graft
tude for the kindness and love which had
been offered to him on all sides. He espe-
cially thanked the altar boys, and paid
high tribute to the choir for having rem
dered the most beautiful of all masses
He finally addressed himself to the con-
gregation, and said in part:
1T is customary on occasions of this
kind to outline courSe of policy which
shall stand as a guide for the future. |
wish to place st. Patrick 5 under the i'm
mediate protection of the blessed sacra-
ment of the Lord jesus Christ. | want
this to be the distinguishing feature. and
after that we Will render our devotlons.
The church and our com try. said DR..
stafford would be the motto. as it were,
to which he would direct attention. He
spoke Of priests love for the church and |
said that taking opportunity TO make peo-
pie better citizens and to make DrogreSsI ]
in everything that benefits humanity, fe
to be the duties of priest d. |
crywhere, but pre-eminently here.
The kind words Of DIR. stafford created |
a profound impression and there weAe |
many who had tears In their eyes whe\ /
DIR. Stafford said that MS first mass "A |
rector was for the members of the church\
aud those who had departed this life.
The musical programme was rendered |
as follows: Organ prelude. Meditation"
d Evry; chorus. 'Asperges Me- Kolros;
mass st Cecilia; ofertory, Ave Ma |
ria" y. Won Wllm; bass solo by Mr..
shannon, 'Eani Creator, A. Gumprecht;
alto solo pustlude, "LauS DeO," from
'Messe du Marriage" Theodore Dubois.
Solos were sung by Mrs. Annie Grant
Fugitt. soprano; Miss Mamie Grant. alto;
Melville Hensey, tenor; G. Goodchild. bas-
SO. and at the offertory w. G. Shannon
sang solo. Almond Gumprecht presided
q no