The Washington times., 1901-07-28
A GREAT PREACHER.
Wonderful Sermon Delivered After
the FrancO-Prussian War.


During the week the golden jubilee of
| Monsabre. took place. The Parisians
| made every effort to have the services
connected with the celebration held in
Notre Dame, the scene of SO many of
Pere Monsabre's successes. But the great
Dominican wished 1t otherwise; he was
always against pomp and display. So
there was a quiet ceremony at Havre, to
which all friends and intinnates were in
vited, and Paris was denied one of the
big functions Its soul loveth. Had Pere
Monsabre come to Paris his reception
would have been memorable one, for he
has been, in his day, one of the most pop
ular priests in France, and many are the
souvenirs associated with his name. For
instance, a prominent statesman who has
long since ceased to visit either church
or chapel, told me that Pere Monsabre
gave him the most thrilling patriotic ex-
perience of his life
It was the terrible year after the an
nexation and the Dominican was preach
ing course of Lenten sermons in the ca
thedral of Metz. His farewell sermon was
on the resurrection, and In his peroration
he drew magnificent picture of the de-
liverance of his countrymen from the
barian and the pen of an ambitieux'' had
placed upon them. My friend said he
had been through many exciting episodes.
had been in many feverishly enthusiastic
gatherings. but scene such as followed
the preachers parting words he had new
er seen nor experienced. AS he described
it: ''The congregation sprang to their feet
and something like a howl of rage went
through the church Men. women. and
children began to sob. They fell into one
anothers arms IN a very ecstasy of grief,
and more than one curse against the con-
queror was mingled with the prayer for
notre belle France.
tsre Monsabre once had to preach a
charity sermon in a little provincial town
mnere he was not known TO any of the
priests. On arriving al the Presbytery he
put on very coarse accent and, in very
who had expected him that Pere Monsa-
bre was not well, so the superior had sent
him to preach in his place. The poor
priests were in despair: they tried every |
ing. they offered every fnducement for |
his return to Paris. He, of course. re- |
manned obdurate to all appeals He'd do |
his best" he said, but they must be sure |
and give him n good breakfast before
hand" He kept up the joke until he got |
into the pulpit. The delightful surprise |
when, instead of the harsh, provincial ut |
of the uncouth stranger, they |
heard the soft, mellow tones of the great J
preacher.
Another story told of him is that cne
day as he was just going to preach a |
came to him that a lady wanted |
to see him. She was worried about an af- |
fair of conscience; she felt she'd like to /
see him. etc After much waste uf time
she came to the point. She was given up |
to vanitySs That very morning. she con |
fessed, she had looked into her looking |
glass and yielded to the temptation of |
thinking herself pretty.
Pere Monsabre looked at her and said !
quietly: 1T that ait?'
That S all
well. my child he replied. you can
go away in peace. for to make a mistake
It not a sin.''-Mainly About People.