The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-05-17

We celebrate this morning, my,
brethren the anniversary of Pente-
cost. 1t is tho custom OF the Church
to commemorate every Important
event in her history. just as we COM
mcmorate the chief events in the an
mails of the state, and this day. tho
1lftieth day after Easter. marks an
occurrence of that kind for today the
Holy Ghost in the form of tongues OF
fire descended upon the Apostles.
Just before the Ascension from
followers, that they should not depart
from Jerusalem, but should wait "for
the baptism of the Holy Ghost in fire."
Accordingly they assembled to the
number of one hundred and twenty
persons in an upper room where abode
Peter and the Apostles. "And when
the days of Pentecost were accom-
plishcd they were all together. and
suddenly there came a sound from
heaven as OF a mighty wind. and it
filled the whole house whcro they
were sitting; and there appeared to
them parted tongues as ii were OF fire,
and it rested upon every one of them
and they were all filed with the Holy
Ghost" Such in brief is the Scriptural
account of tho event we are NOW cclc-
brating.
II is filling, therefore; that. we
should give some attention this morn
4 ing to the coming Of the Holy Spirit;
fitting, that we should mediate on
what ST. Paul calls the Communion Of
the Holy Ghost--the abiding presence
OF the third Person of tho Blessed
Trinity in the Christian world.
would observe. first of all, that it
was in response to n great need Of
our nature that God granted this
blcssing--thc Communion of the Holy
Spirit. For human life Graves fellow
ship. It, is a deep and permanent fact
of human life that our nature clamora
for communion. We want Fellowship
with those above us on whom VIC de-
pend; with those beside us who arc
j, our equals; with those below us whom
We help; and these fcllowshipS, these
relations which we sustain towards
life around and about us. completely
, satisfy our human nature.
Let nc observe further that these
communions or fellowships Of mon
come always through a certain mcdi-
um. They are not merely the liking
, OF men for eac, other. They are the
result OF a. common interest which
brings them together. There is an oc.
cason for their mutual sympathy, ar
atmosphere or element wherein thcil
J, communion lives. Two children in tho
same family grow UP with a cOrdia
i. love for each other q love which
p grow and ripened becnusc OF the com.
o mon bond of home. Two scholars fint
= their bond Of communion in their com
;, mon study. Two business men reacl
:. each other and become friends through
;, their common business. Two artist!
learn and love each others nature:
through the beautiful work in which
both arc engaged. SO IT. is with sol
.. dicrs in the throblong heat Of tn
same battle, or with patriots in tn
- same country. In every case tn
~ union of men is made through Il thir,
term or element into which both en-
c ter and through which they come t.
), know and sympathizc and commun
will, each other. This medium o
= common bond accounts for thos
+ groupings of men which make tn
variety and picturcsGucncss of human
life from the '-illagc club to the ma
,S tonal assembly. from the small com
lv m,,nion of home life to the embracin
ri communion Of humanity.
- IT we apply this idea to spiritus
70 society we will understand what til
Apostle means by the Communion c
re the Holy Spirit. He means by tn
20 presence and action of the Holy Spir
men are brought together. They de
- vclop common love and sympath
and character as servants of God. A
ne their fellowship is a fellowship by an
" through God. Their communion is tt
or communion of the Holy Spirit.
h. And hence. in speaking of the Hol
Spirit as bond Of communion an