Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-27
PREPARATION URGED


OF Preparedness for Eternity
Was Made Theme Of
Able Discourse.
The certainty Of death and the need
of preparation for 1t was made the
theme OF q very stirring sermon last
night by Rev. Father T. w. Drumm at
the mission in the Sacred Heart
church. The instructions given by
Rev. Father r. P. Drumm dealt with
the life Of Christ and the great fond
ness evinced by the Savior for chill
dren. The presence of Christ in the
sacrament of the altar was dwelt up
on at some length by the speaker,
who urged greater reverence and de-
votion to the Savior in his loney sta
ton during the day and night on the
altar. where only the sanctuary lamp
burning in soft glow Is oftimes the
lone recognition of the holy presence.
Pleased with Attendance.
Before launching into his sermon
of the evening, Father Drumm con-
graduated the congregation on its
faithful attendance at the various SER
vices and said the missionaries were
very much pleased at the demonstra-
ton of piety and devotion during the
mission thus far. He said that God
cannot be outdone for generosity and
that those who have given their time
and made sacrifice that God might be
honored through their attention and
services, would be rewarded In many
ways for such acts. He also stated
that confessions would begin this
morning before the o'clock mass, and
between that and the $3.50 o'clock
mass, as we'll as during the afternoon
and evening. The men were urged to
come in the morning and evening, and
the women during the day in order
that all might be served without in
convenience. Prefacing his sermon
by the words of Holy Simeon, "Dis-
miss thy servant in, peace, oh Lord
$50 - He then said that it is ap-
pointed to each man once to die, and
this began very interesting sermon
on death through which his hearers
sat in rapt attention as the speaker
told of the uncertainty Of life and the
assurance that each person must at
one time die.
Death 10 Certain.
He pictured nature as she unfolds
her scheme of life in the spring time
her development into bloom and
growth during the summer; her signs
Of decay in the fall and final death to
growing things during the bleak win.
ter months. "The seasons in their
regular changes remind u.s." he said
"of the life, bloom and death, the pass
ing away Of friends and relatives re.
minds us of the certainty of death.
Few live to be very old, for the genius
of men and nations have never been
able to invent anything to prevent
death.
"Dust Thou Art.'
1.-THE contemplation OF death in q
general way is not profitable to the
soul, but II we make the meditation
personal, we may then derive profit
from the thought. When shall die?
There is one time, Gods time and my
time when must die. Death came
to our first parents as penalty for
their disobedience and thus we find
the words in sacred writ, Dust thou
art, and unto dust thou shalt return
Even Christ who was the light and the
truth, the life and the resurrection,
submitted to the inevitable decree.
eve read and hear Of strange deaths
and we do not realize that we, too,
may die the same way. We do not
know when, how or where for God has
this hidden among his secrets, but
Jesus has warned us that death may
come like the thief in the night. The
results of our meditations on death
are not worth while unless we resolve
to be always prepared. Ask yourself
the question, are you ready to die
now, or any time
The awful contemplation OF death
unprepared was dwelt upon and q
number of incidents from actual ex.
perience of the speaker were related
who said that it is appointed to each
man once to die and then comes the
Judgment.
Depends Upon Life Lead.
The judgment was said by the
speaker to depend not on few days
or years. but ones whole life, and that
an eternity depends upon It, LAS you
live, so shall you die" said the speak.
er, "and as you die, so shall your lot
be- You cannot hope to die a holy
death unless you have lived q holy
life. Is your life today what you want
your death to be?"
In closing Father Drumm urged his
hearers to SO live that when called by
death they, too, might be able to say
in the words OF Holy Simeon, "Dis.
miss thy servant In peace, oh Lord"
In the sanctuary during the services
there we're aside from the missionar.
les and the pastor, Very Rev. F. w.
Hoppmann, Reverends Fathers j. w.
Bulger, Henry Hogan Of Fairfield, and
Francis McGovern Of Pottsville, Pa.
Dean Hoppmann ofiiciated at benedic-
ton Of the blessed sacrament.
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