The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-23
CHRISTMAS MASSES
 WILL BE NUMEROUS
FIVE AT ST. PAUL'S AND THREE
 AT OTHER CHURCHES-BlSHo ALLEN MAKES APPEAL FOR THE
 ORPHANS.

Masses on Christmas Day in the cath- ollie churches of Birmingham will be as follows:
 St. Pauls-Low masses at 6:3O 7:3O, S;30 and 990 o'clock; solemn high mass at 10:3O o'clock The sermon at the last mass will be delivered by the Rev Father Mcdonald, c. M.
 Our Lady of Sorrows-Low masses at 6:3o and 8 o'clock; high mass and sermon at 10 o'clock
 St. AGgustine's-Low masses at 7:s0 and S:15 o'clock; high mass at 10 o'clock.
 Tuesday, the vigil of the feast of the nativity, will be a fast day.
 The following letter from the Right Rev. Edward P. Allen. bishop of Mobile, the diocese yesterday:
 Rev. Dear Father:
 T have compassion on the multitude" are words of tenderest charity from the lips of the Incarnate Son of God The spirit of sincere and practical sympathy which they breathe was manifested in the miracle which He wrought to feed the multitude. His love for His poor brethren He has bequeathed to His church as one of the evidences of her di- vine mission. This good mother, solctous at all times for the temporal as well as the spiritual welfare of her children, real izes that the helpless among them have an especial claim upon the charity of her IL; of the little ones of Christ at this holy season in the name of the Infant Saviour moves her to make every sacrifice for their relief. "The little ones have asked for bread" is a, petition that no lover of children can suffer to go unheeded. We may never say whence, then, should we have so many loaves to fill so great a multitude?" There will always be gen. ,erous souls "to break it unto them."
 Every year we appeal to you, dear brethren, for "the loaves." It is q source of consolation to say, and in this we praise you, that our confidence has not been misplaced. Thanks to your nobe-hearted charity, our devoted re- ligious have been able ito break bread to the hungry" When the little ones
 
 for the love of the Infant Saviour, we know you will not suffer them to be turned away because there is no room for them in the inn
 We are painfully conscious of the fact that times are not prosperous, and that it is necessary to practice economy. But where will We practice 1t? Will it not be in the luxuries of life so as to procure its necessities for those who would other wise faint by the wayside. Tt is not the will of your Heavenly Father that one of these little ones should perish We ask you, has your charity in the past made you poorer? Has not the Lord, whom you have made your debtor because you have had mercy on His poor, returned you principal and interest many fold in the form of spiritual and temporal blessings? What charity has brought more consolation? Have not the prayers of 'the. innocent of hands and clean of heart" ascended as sweet incense up to the throne of the lamb to swell the song of praise which their little com panions in glory never cease to sing to the lover of little children? Who shall uaie co say tiidt lnelr petitioHS TOT DleSs- ings upon their benefactors will remain unanswered? Amen, I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to Me- the Father of the poor will say at the last day to those who gave Him to eat when He was hungry, and took Him in when He was a stranger.
 Please read this letter on the last Sun day of Advent and again on Christmas Day.
 Wishing you, the Rev. Dear Father, and your faithful people, all the joys of . holy and happy Christmastide, I am yours in the blessing of the Divine Child.