Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-06-02
MEMORIAL SERMON
A MASTERPIECE


The members of Goodrich Post, No.
~, g. A. R., together with the Sons
of Veterans of Danville in all nearly
one hundred strong, Sunday morning
marched in body to st. Huberts
Catholic church where they listened
to one Of the most eloquent and pa
triotic sermons ever delivered in Dan
vile. st. Hubert's church, recently
enlar ged, was comfortably filed on the
occasion, the row of pews on each side
of the central aisle being occupied by
members of the two organizations The
weather was delightful and the breeze
of early summer straying in through
the raised windows over the.congrega-
tion kept the crowded auditorium cool
and comfortable. The music ont
occasion was delightful feature and
together with the fine address and the
solemn rites of the church made the
event one which will linger for long
while in the memory of the veterans
ana tn6 SONS OF veterans.
Mass was celebrated by the Rev.
Father Feeser, of the Holy Family
Convent, after which Father Jules o.
Foin. rector of st. Hubert's, delivered
the memorial sermon. The address was
q most felioitous effort, intensely pa
triotio, broad IN liberality. and warm
in its sympathy. After the services
many. indeed, were the complimentary
remarks INDUCED in by the veterans
and others, showing that what the
speaker said had sunken deep into their
hearts.
Father Foin taxes the view that the
veterans have heard their deeds, per-
formed on the battle fields. recounted
80 often that, especially as they ale
approaching time when they must lay
down the burdens of the world dis.
course relating to the future life would
be more appropriate, one relating to
their duty to themselves and their
duty to their Creator. The remarks,
therefore, partook more of q sermon
suited to the occasion than patriotic
discourse. The address was founded
on the following motto: "Perfidem
Libertas," which translated means:
Liberty Through Faith" Summarize
ed the sermon ran as follows:
Venerable Brethren and Respected
Friends: 1t Is with sincere pleasure
that welcome you to our Holy Temple
on this day when we offer the Upspot-
ted Lamb of God ON our Altar as the
sacrifice of the New Law, which was
typified by the High Priest Melchise-
dsoh. who offered bread and wine, as
We read in the Old Law. This Holy
Sacrifice, or as it is commonly called,
Holy Mass is our chief or greatest act
OF worship. The prophet Malaohias
foretold that it would be offered from
the rising to the setting of the sun.
Religion, which is the tie or bond,
which has united man with God since
the days of our first parents, consists
principally in Offering sacrifice; thus
we read how Gain and Abel offered
sacrifice. Abraham and the Patriarchs
offered sacrifice. Now as the Old Law
was but type Of the new we under
the Law of Christ offer the sacrifice
most acceptable to God which is moth
ing more or less than the body and
blood. soul and divinity of Our Lord
aud Savior Jesus Christ under the ap-
pearsnoe of bread and wine. The end
and object is to honor and worship
God in the most acceptable manner
also to obtain strength or grace to fight
the battle of life, which like good SOL
diers we must wage against sin and
hell. This battle goes on rs long as
life lasts aud the battle fold is our
hearts. Here. as Napolean said in ad-
dressing his soldiers" Here we must
conquer or die". The battle is against
the powers of against self
love. against error and superstition,
against injustice and immortality,
against all that which is opposed to
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
How must we contend against all
these enemies of our soul? Or what
weapons or means must We use to re-
pei the onslaught of our foes? Surely,
those weapons which Christ. our Lead.
er, has given us in His holy teachings
and sacraments. You who so valient-
ly fought for the liberty of your coun-
try have also to fight the great spiritu.
al battle for tho salvation of your own
soul so that when you hear the call
of the Master you can say like St.
Paul. have fought the Good fight and
have kept the faith So, too, | will
I gain an immortal crown.
In order that you may indeed, gain
the blessed happiness it is necessary to
be faithful to the commandments of
God, to keep constant guard and
watch over yourselves, and never to
compromise nor surrender to your foes.
The example of Abraham Lincoln
should be an inspiration to all Ameri-
cans to be loyal and patriotic. The
great battle field of Gettysburg-the
so-called high water mark of the Re-
bellion, is place to visit and study
the cost-the terrible price paid to pre-
serve the Union one aud inseparable.
Let us not be deluded that patriotism
or love of country is antagonistic or
contrary to love of God or religion.
No braver soldiers ever fought than
those who loved t. cir faith and obey.
ed the precepts of their church. The
cross aud the flag of stars and stripes
are the standards under which We live
and hope to die.