The Washington times., 1916-04-23
ST. PATR|CK'S GIVES
EASTER SPECTACLE
Church Filled to Overlooking for
/ Impressive Service Sermon
by Father Mcnamara.

An inpressive sermon on the resur-
rection wes hoard by congregation
which taxed St Patricks Church to
overlooking today. ~
The sermon was delivered by the
Rev. Father John Mcnamara. who
dwelt upon the meaning OF Easter to
mankind and characterized today as one
OF '-gladness. victory, and hope"
Several hours before tho II o'clock
service began hundreds of parishioners
and visitors took seats In the church.
II was announced from the pulpit that
300 persons living outside OF Washington
had applied for tickets OF admission and
the requests were complied with ny
Mgr. Russell. The aisles Of the church
were thronged with men, women, and
children. and II was with difficulty that
the professional was conducted.
Magnificent Easter Spectacle.
The altar and chancel were banked
heavily with myriad Easter lilies, palms
and other potted plants, and every cleo
trio light and candle In the edifice con-
tributed its brillance to the magnificent
Easter spectacle.
The solemn high mass was celebrated
by the Rev. Thomas McQuigin, with
Monsignor Russell present.
A special Eastern musical program
was given by the augmented choir. A
number of stringed, reed and brass In
struments were added, making the or
chestration all the more elaborate and
impressive.
In his sermon Father MCNAMARA said
the flowers. the lights. and the music OF
todays service were but the outward
manifestation of the joy and gladness
that reigned In the hearts Of right
living and right thinking men and wom-
en- today because OF the fulfillment OF
tho fyr0mfse.
II am the resurrection and the life.
no that beleyeth In me. even though he
be dead. shall iive."
The minister contra sted tho Mary who
stood beside the manger at Bethlehem
and the Mary who went to the tomb
OF Christ to anoint his body with sweet
spices, only to find that his body had
been removed by an unseen hand.
Still Proclaims Glad Tidings.
This Mary gave to the world then
the Joyous tidings that Christ had
arisen" said Father Mcnamara, "and
today, nineteen hundred years later, she
stands to say to you, Christ is arisen
After you have gone she will tell your
children and your children's children and
unto the end OF time.
when Christ was asked by His per-
secutors to give proof Of His divinity,
He said Destroy this temple and /
will rebuild II in three days. They de-
stroyed the temple OF his body by cruel
His body in tomb and sealed with
D great stone. Three days later that
etohe was rolled away by an invisible
hand, and Christ's promise to the world
was fulfilled. proving that death was
immortal"
Father Mcnamara announced that
today's collection was taken for the
purpose OF preparing young men for the
priesthood. He stated that Cardinal
Gibbons had been compelled to refuse
to accept the OFFERS OF a number OF
young. m9n for the priesthood BECAUSE
OF lack Of funds to prepare them.
The Government must have money
With which to prepare it's young men
for the army and the navy" he said
and the church must have funds with
which to train men for the service OF
God" The collection is said to have
been one OF the largest in the history
of st. Patrlck's Church.