The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-31
DISCUSSED
 RELIGIOUS RITES Father kerrigan Gave Conclud-
 ing Lecture on Baptism RATIONALE OF CEREMONIES
scriptural Authorities Cited for Forms in ReIlgion-Parents Asked to be Careful in Selecting spon-
 sors for Their Children.

At St. Paul's church yesterday the Rev Father Giles, o. S. B., was the celebrant of the first and second masses, and the Rev. Father Kerrigan was the celebrant at the third mass at 1O:So o'clock. Father Kerrigan gave his concluding instruction on baptism. He spoke especially of the ceremonies connected with this sacra- ment, and said in substances:
 For a better understanding of the cere- monies of baptism. few remarks on cer- emonies in general are in order.
 To many of our separe ted brethren, whose knowledge of thin S Catholic is limited. the churchs ceremonies may ap- pear silly and meaningless. This is be- cause they do not comprehend their beau- tiful symbolism, and do not know their ancient Christian origin. Ceremonies act as mirror to reflect outwardly the hid den significance of the function being per formed. They are to the action what the word is to the thought.
 Ceremony is natural to man because of the intimate union between soul and body. The body must give outward expression to the inward workings of the soul We find ceremony in society, in the law courts, in the lodges, in the army and navy. Why should religion, which de- mands 1t most, be the exception? Were ceremony silly or supersttious, why did an all-wise God sanction the ceremonies, so minute in every detail, found in Ex- odus, Leviticus and Numbers? In the New Testament we find our blessed Lord &C., companying his religious acts with ap- propriate ceremonies, as in Gethsamane, On His entry into Jerusalem, at the last supper, etc.
 To object that the church's ceremonies are empty forms. pharisaical, devoid of inward reverence, is entirely gratuitous, as every devout Catholic we'll knows.
 According to present indications. in the near future Catholic ceremonial will re- quire no apology An evident reaction is setting in from the hard, cold stern re- ligious setting of the various creeds with out the fold. The finer instincts and nat ural cravings of the heart are demanding a more adequate means for giving express sion to religious fervor. Deeply deplored is that misdirected vandalism of the six teenth century which, mutilating Catho- lie ritual, deprived men of their strongest aids to devotion.
 The ceremonies of baptism are many and beautiful and are employed by the church to render this mystery venerable to the people, to teach them it's effect is evident from the writings of the fath- CTS, and since we can place no beginning of them, we must conclude that they are of apostolical origin. Some precede, some accompany, and some follow the baptis- nal ablution.
 Here followed description and explan- ation of the various ceremonies, during which the speaker called particular at tention to the choice of a name and sponsors for the child. Parents, he said, should not give the child a heather or profane name. the name of an enemy of the church, nor a sckly sentimental name, signifying nothing at all. The name to the child and to gain that saint s prayers. Sponsors are guarantees before God for the cbild, and should watch over its Christian training; hence parents should not select as sponsors non-Cath- olics, Catholics who lead publicly sean dalous lives, nor those deficient in knowI- edge of the principal points of Christian 1 doctrine.