Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-23
OFFICERSANDMEN
AT SPECIAL MASS
BISHOP PRAYS FOR ADMIRAL
EVANS
ST. VI5IANA SCENE OF GREAT
BEAUTY
Sailors Of Fleet Attend Impressive
Ceremonies at Which Stirring
Sermon Is Delivered by
Churchman

It was the church militant at the
Cathedral of St. Vibiana yesterday
morning when the Star Spangled BAN
ner took the place of saints banners
and the clanking of swords formed a
fit setting for the gorgeous uniforms
of the officers of the navy as they took
their places in the cathedral.
The light from the candles glinted
first on the gold of the priests beau
tiful robes and then on the gold braid
of the stately uniforms of the officers.
1t was the special mass for the Cath
olic officers and sailors of the heet
celebrated yesterday morning at IL
o'clock, and never before has the
stately old cathedral seen more beau
tiful scene than the officers and sail
ors marching down the main aisle
each doing reverence to the great Ad-
miral American flags were draped
about the church and the pulpit was
adorned with the red, white and blue
Rt. Rev. Mgr. Harnett, V. g., cele-
brated the low mass, which was pre-
ceded by Prof. Colby, who played a
medley of national airs on the pipe or
gan. The knights of Columbus acted
as an escort to the officers.
Rear Admiral William II. Emory,
who Is himself Catholic, occupied a
seat in the sanctuary. At his side was
seated Chaplain M. c. Gleeson or the
Connecticut About dozen of the Of
fcers were present and among the in
vited guests were General Adna r..
Chaffee. General Robert Wankowski,
II. w! O'Melveny, j. c. Drake and
Joseph Scott.
Join in Song
During the service Tom Karl sang
an Ave Maria and Miss Lillian Scan
lon sang 80 Salutaris." At the close
of the service all present Joined in the
singing of Holy God, We Praise Thy
Name"
Aside from those already mentioned
the following priests assisted in the
sanctuary:
Rev. Joseph G. Glass, Rev. f. A.
Antill. Rev. d. w. j. Murphy. Rev. p.
+. Mclaughlin, Rev. NJ. Scanlon. Rev.
George Donohoe, Rev. Daniel Laver-
ty, Rev. T. r. Fahey, Rev. Jeremiah
Burke, Rev. p. J. McGrath, Rev. A.
Bucci. Rev. J. J. Clifford, Rev. James
O'Neill. Rev. William E. Hughes, Rev.
7. Gleason, Rev. ]. Arnalis, Rev. e.
Garardi. Rev. Paul Dreln, Rev. Ed
ward Brady, Rev. Joseph McManus
and Rev. F. j. Conaty.
Addresses Country's Defenders
Bishop Conaty preached the sermon.
Always eloquent, he was never more
so than when addressing the coun-
try's defenders yesterday. touching
prayer was offered by the bishop for
the recovery and long life of Rear Ad-
miral Evans, which was heartily
echoed in the hearts of all present.
Bishop Conaty said in part:
Service is a law of our nature; we
are bound by our very being to serv-
ice to God who created us, and by our
faith to service to the Redeemer
whose blood effected the salvation of
In GnnRinl
service to your country because you
have voluntarily assumed obligation
in her defense. To give proper serv-
ice demands the cultivation of our best
manhood. 1t demands our highest
character. Religion is the greatest of
all influences in the development of
manhood: it is the strongest element
in the upbuilding of character. To the
man who consecrates years of his life
to the service of the country there is
an inspiration which comes also from
honor, that tie which binds us to give
to our country even more than we
have promised in our best service. We
are apt sometimes to think that the
demand for character is limited to
certain conditions in life or to certain
persons. After all, character is de-
manded from every man, and charac-
ter is only the development of the best
that is in us under the influences of
religion ana euuCdtlOH. Every Walk IN
life calls for the faithful man who can
always be trusted with whatever is
conided to him and to do whatever
he has agreed to do The faithful man
succeeds because he has fidelity; his
character is in that fidelity, and be-
cause of it he succeeds. Any man
who is determined to have character
can have 1t. Human nature may be
frail and weak and inclined to evil. but
through the grace of God there is no
man who cannot rise to a character
which will lead to usefulness and sue
cess in life and to the happiness of
heaven. We are what we make our
selves, and often in the poorest sur
roundings and most despicable condi-
tions there is much that is good, and
in that good there is to be found an
element of character. Some of our
greatest saints and noblest men have
sprung from humblest homes. Moth
ing worth having comes without cost.
and what is, worth having is usually
earned by earnest effort
Greatness Is Duty Well Done
1--WE are sometimes led to think that
greatness consists in becoming great
men, falling to remember that great
men are only great because of duty
well done by them No act in life is
triflng, for 1t is the little things that
make up life. Work we'll done is an
advance toward greatness. each act
performed according to the best that
is in one is stepping stone to a
great character. A man may be great
in any position which he fills with
honor. Let me impress upon you the
truth that greatness is not in holding
great positions. but in doing the very
best that is in you whenever you do
ANYTHING at all. Every man should
have an honorable aim and purpose in
life. and that aim and purpose should
be followed with perseverance. Gods
will should be the guiding influence
and Gods grace the helping aid.
Opportunity is for everyone. and
opportunity after all is only taking