Semi-weekly herald., 1911-01-26

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leaves when the autumn blasts blow
strong and cold. Generation after gen.
GRAFTON departs to make room for 9TH
ers. Every infant that Is born, every
J child that we meet on the streets
seems to cry out in unmistakeable Ian
guage, Make room," GIVE place.
You have had your turn" your day
Is waning; your evening is drawing to
a close; your night Is coming on; pre-
pare TO depart and make room for u.s.
And as II this were not enough our
frail being is ever reminding us OF
our approaching dissolution. Every
raln, every ache, every sense OF weari-
ness, depression and distress, what
are they but SO many warnings OF our
fading life? Every beat OF our hearts,
every pulsation of our blood. what
are they but SO many breaches in the
wall OF our existence? What are they
but SO many echoes OF the churches
admonition, Remember man thou art
return
These. my brethren, are no mere
theories. they are absolute facts found
ed on reason and experience. And II
this be so, II man be but shadow
and life dream" why this feyerish
anxiety for the things OF earth? Why
this fierce struggle for its riches. its
honors, its pleasures? II life itself
be but bubble. these things which
depend on life for their enjoyment
what are they but the phantoms OF
bubble?
My friends, 1t Is the soul and the
things of the soul that count for what
doth 1t profit man II he gain the
whole world and suffer the loss of his
own soul, or what shall a man give
in exchange for his soul7" Our souls
were purchased by the blood OF an
Infinite God and are. therefore, price
less. Hence 1t Is that In the Catho-
lie church, we honor thousands and
thousands OF martyrs who most Joy
fully gave up their honor. position,
property, friends and went cheerfuIly
to the rack, the cross. the gallows,
and the gridiron. Why did they do
so? To save their soul and bring 1t to
heaven. Why did kings and emperors
descend from their throne? Why did
queens exchange their costly garments
for sack cloth? Why did brilliant
statesmen forsake the worlds applause
for the quiet of q monastery? To save
their souls, to possess an eternity OF
happiness, to enjoy forever that beau.
tiful city OF which David In rapture ex-
claimed Glorious things are said OF
the city OF God" and which made
the devout Fulgentius exclaim on en-
tering Rome in the period OF its glory.
oh, celestial Jerusalem, how beaut
full must thou be, II terrestrial Rome
be such!" The world OF the day mar
yelled at such disinterestedness in
kings and queens. And yet what did
they do? They gave UP a temporal for
an eternal kingdom. casketful OF
earth for a basket laden with gold.
They bought an eternal kingdom for
straw. for all felicity, power, riches
and earthly delights are no more than
heaven. They followed to the letter
the teachings of Christ who says that
the kingdom of heaven is precious
Jewel, a hidden treasure for which we
ought to forsake all the goods OF the
earth and that single soul Is of
greater value that all the Kingdoms OF
the world.
You. my friends. have but an hum
BILE lot In life, you have no Kingdoms
or treasures to lose. Most OF you
have to earn your bread by the sweat
of your brow. But perhaps you have
ar inordinate attachment to the little
trifles you possess, perhaps like Esau
you are willing to trade your eternal
inheritance for mere mess OF pot
tagc, perhaps you are carried away
by some sinful attachment. by some
pet predominant passion. by some bes-
tial habit to which you are willing to
God.
ii II SO draw near to this casket, go
over to that cemetery on the hill and
like st. Lawrence Justinian, contem-
plate dust, ashes, worms and sigh. or
with Job cry out only the grave re
maineth for me-" The grave will teach
you wisdom. It will teachs you disin-
terestedness, 1t will teach you the fol.
ly, the vanity, the utter absurdity OF
seeking after terrestrial goods at the
, peril of your soul.
J l will end as l began. Keep ever
, before you the admonition OF Eccle-
siasticus, brought home to you 30 WV
| idly by the two funerals from this
; church. Yesterday for me. today for
thee" Our friend OF today, like our
friend OF yesterday. was pioneer in
| your midst. 1t is not my intention
: to pass any lengthy euolgy over his
remains you all know him much longer
and much better than l. You know
him as a man who had his share OF