The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-06-24

The Right Rev Edward P. Allen, bish-
op of Mobile raised five deacons of the
order of St Benedict to the priesthood
yesterday. the. impressive ceremony talk
ing place in the presence of a vast con-
gregation at st. Paul's church. Those
ordained were: The Rev. Bonaventure
Winklman, o. S. b., OF Pittsburgh the
Rev. Bede KnapFe, o. S. b., of Cincin-
natl; the Rev. Martin Schaefer, o. S. b.,
of Cullman; the Rev. Isidore Fussneeker,
o. S. B., of Ripley. o., and the Rev. Ger
main Taylor o. S. B.. OF Mobile.
The young priests belong to the com
munity of St Bernard and received their
classical and theological training at the
abby.
The ordination mass was begun shortly
after o'clock with bishop Allen as cele-
brant. Many Benedictine fathers. includ-
ing the Right Rev. Abbot Bernard Men
ges, o. S. Ba took part in the services.
A procession was formed in the parish
hall and headed by a cross bearer, the
clergy and candidates for ordination
marched TO the church and down the mid
die aisle to the sanctuary. The music for
the occasion was Gregorian and was adj
mirahly sung by choir OF 16 Benedic-
tines from the abby The choristers stood
inside the sanctuary near ST. Josephs al
tar While the bishop was vesting on his
throne, the hymn "Ecce Sacerdos" was
sung, and during the mass the music was
as follows: Introit de ventre." chorus:
"Kyrie" No. 2, chorus; Gloria" No. 3,
chorus: Graduate" chanters "Veni
Creator Sprtus." chorus: "Litaniae,"
chanters and chorus, "Credo' No. 3,
chorus and Jam non Dicam' chapters.
Not an Obstacle to Religion
After the singing of the Gloria" the
Rev. Father Carroll, assistant pastor of
st. Pauls read the notices for the weeK
and the epistle and gospel. He was fol-
lowed by the Rev. Theodosius, o. s. b.,
the preacher, who delivered an eloquent
and animating sermon on the Destiny of
Man" He began his discourse by saying
that it was singular favor to the parish
Of st. Pauls for the bishop to administer
the sacrament OF holy orders in the pres
ence of the congregation. Twenty years
ago. he said, the present Right Rev.
Abbot was ordained in the old wooden
church of this same parish He then
spoke of Birmingham $ rapid growth and
increase In material wealth. The astound-
ing progress in the Birmingham dis
trict was. he pointed out, the result OF
the mind of man. 1T is the spirit OF
man. said the preacher, that has
learned with astonishing facility to turn
the secrets of nature to his own adj
a.. ~, - that
knows how to harness the elementary
forces of nature to do the work of the
world.
Father Theodosius after stressing the
fact that the supreme and ultimate fac
tor of the material progress was the
spirit of man, said In part:
ITO the rejecting thoughtful man the
modern age, with its startling inventions
and technical PROJECTIONS, Is not and
should not by any means be an obstacle to
religion; on the contrary, the very SPLEEN
dor and brilliancy of human achievements
should be one of the strongest argu-
ments for religion and make man turn
his gaze beyond the stars to praise and
glorify the Almighty and everlasting God
who gave such powers to men. Very
properly may we admire the great inven-
tions of our modern age and the tre-
mendous powers that have been developed
by the genius of man But my dear
brethren we must not forget amidst all
the glare and glitter of our modern civ
ilization, amidst the roaring noise of our
modern life, we must not forget that ma
terial progress and physical power. are
not and cannot be the supreme goal OF
mans activity, the highest aim and object
of his life and his endeayors.
Man is more than a mere animal, more
than a calculating work machine. He
has spiritual nature, spiritual cravings
and desires; he has above all a spiritual
destiny. Thou hast made man little less
than the angels. says the Psalmist, thou
hast crowned him with glory and honor
No man can ignore and neglect the spir-
ituai side of his human nature without
mourning the severest penalty TO himself.
Woe TO him II his material lower self
gains the ascendency over his higher and
better spiritual nature and becomes the
dominating principle of his life. The re-
suit will be anarchy and rebellion, shame
and confusion.
Mans Destiny
sMan's destiny Is to share and partake
once In the very life bliss and happiness
of God Himself, Could God do more for
us? Can man desire anything greater or
better? Is not the deepest yearning of
Journey through this short life that he
may one day enjoy perfect peace. and
freed from all earthly misery. he may
dwell In an abode of absolute happiness
where the wicked cease from troubling
and the weary are at rest On the silver