The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-29
ACTIVE WORK At
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH
Some Results of Recent Paul
list Mission.
NEW MEMBERS RECEIVED
Father Kerri5an's Practical Sermon
on the Old Year and the New.
Spiritual Account Of Stock
Must be Taken.

st. Paurs congregation is growing in
numbers steadily and this is evidenced
by the increasing attendance at the
various masses and other services. on
yesterday hundreds of the faithful were
at the first mass at 1880 o'clock. The
second mass at o'clock was largely at
tended by the Sunday school children and
the teachers, and at the high mass at
1880 the big church was filled. The
membership at ST., Paurs is stated IN
round numbers at 1000.
As a result of the Paulist mission
Father OReilly has received into the
church about twenty-five converts and
many persons are attending instruction
with a view of being received.
At nigh mass yesterday Gounod's Misse
Solennelle was sung in unusually hne
style. Mrs satterfleld, Mrs. Putnam and
the other soloists were in excellent voice
and the large chorus kept the pitch well.
The Rev Father KerriC1n was the
celebrant and preacher. He delivered the
following discourse:
Old Year and New.
My Dear Brethren-The old year is on
the wane-a new one about to dawn. As
this is the last Sunday before the new
year, it should be of profit to consider,
briefly, some of the thoughts naturally
suggested by the departure of the dying
year.
You are aware of the worldwide repu-
tation the American business man has
for his many industrial qualifications,
and especially for his shrewdness; his
business sagacity. This has enabled him
to command the worlds greatest mar
kets to amass fabulous wealth, to make
this young giant of a nation the source CT
considerable perturbation to competitors
in the fie. l of trade. They are forced
to acknowledge the Superior business
methods of our captains Of industry"
and are even sending delegations to this
country to study these methods.
Now. one of the most important actions.
evidencing that sagacity, is being put
into operation during the few remaining
days of the year: an action which super
sedes all else and, were 1t omitted, would
mean speedy ruin. 1t is the taking ac-
COQilL VI SloCh+ DullHS INC ut-Nb AN"
days, even ct tie expense of trade itself.
the wise business man will spend most
of his time and that of his clerks in
finding out just where his concern ST DIS.
For this purpose some large plants close
down entirely for two weeks. They go
into retirement, as it were, 50 as to be
free and unhampered in so important
matter. Before the business man dare
start out on the new year under the
same regu' lions that have ruled the
closing year, he must know exactly the
results Iof those regulations. If there
be a balance of prlft, he leels at least
safe. If there be a Deficit, there must
be some radical changes I'd these at
once. He spares , effort . discover It's
cause of the leakage ard o-ce discovered
it is rooted out remorseless.y.
And why all this intense care and alert
ness? Why, to acquire something as
that he can enjoy but a brief while at the
longest. The man will die-must die-in
day, a month. year or two. He must
leave all this behind he cannot take
cent with him. There are no pockets In
shrouds.'' But his soul will live on for
ever and ever and ever. Where? All!
there's the rub" 1t will live either In
heaven or in hell in unending happiness
or everlasting torment Whichever 1t
shall be depends upon how he has con-
ducted not mans business, but Gods bus
iness here on earth 1t depends on how
much lncorruptible treasure he has stored
away In heaven; on the sagacity with
which he has invested the talents given
him by Almighty God.
immortal Souls.
Now dear brethren, every man, woman
and child, however they may differ In
their secular avocatons, are all engaged
in the higher calling. to save their i'm
mortal souls. This business overtops In
an infinite degree all others, for our Lord
says: What doth it profit a man
IL he gain the whole world and lose his
own soul. or what shall a man give in
exchange for his soul?' If the soul be
lost, then all is lost. Failure in worldly
matters does not always mean irretriev-
able ruin; does not always mean disgrace
A man may try again. and, avoiding past
mistakes, redeem himself But once the
soul is lost. there is everlasting ruin, ever
lasting disgrace. No second opportunity
is given. Our opportunities are given In
this life and must be made use of here.
and these closing days Of the old year is
one of them. Let us. then, dear brethren.
during the next few days take lesson
from the wise business man. You know
the scripture says that the children of
darkness are wiser In their generation
than the children of light" Before we
start the new year, let us take an ac-
count of stock. This should not be very
difficult for us now, considering the so
ecent mission.
How You Stand.
Look over the books of the past year.
Find out how you stand with Almighty
God. If you have been living a good life,
continue to do so. and you need have no
fear. II you find you have done little
for God and are on the verge of spiritual
search out the causes while
you have life left, and sacrifice them at
once. Don't daily with them or you are
ost. Form new rules of conduct for the
coming year. and resolve. with Gods
help, that you win observe them scrupu-
ously. And mean it. Don't go into the
matter intellectually.
Don't say that you are going to turn
over new leaf" with no definite idea
Of just what you are to do and how to do
It. The first temptation will be the
crucial test. Your manner of meeting
this will decide in a great measure your