The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-25
DECLARES BISHOP DONAHUE IN
SERMON FOLLOWING pom:
TIFlCAL HIGH MASS.
Impressive Services, Beginning Last
Midnight, Carried Out in st.
Ioseph's Cathedral.

That the United States may be an
instrument of Divine Providence TO
bring peace to the warning nations oil
Europe was the thought expressed by
the Rt. Rev. P. J. Donahue. bishop OF
the Wheeling diocese of the Cathollc
church, in a Christmas sermon dellV-
cred early this morning at ponuncal
high mass. which began at st. Jo-
seph's cathedral last midnight.
Reviewing the devastated condl-
I tons in Europe as l.. result or the
war, the bishop said that all around
are hunger, poverty. terror, slaugh-
ter and death. Christ sleeps as or
yore He slept on the board with HIS
disciples!" he declared. But after
this orgy Of blood and horror He Will
awake" he added. ALREADY are
there signs that this scourge Of war
may cease. There is rift In the black
pail overhanging the earth where Inc
rays OF hope break iitfully through.
1t may be that our beloved land Is
to be the instrument OF Divine ProVl'
dence to say to the warning nations:
Peace, be still" Oh, brethren, for
this contamination beg you, nay,
nay, as your chief pastor | command
you to put up earnest prayers in this
holy. season so that the Babe Of Beth
lehem may again justify, even in the
eyes Of short-sighted or soothing men,
the glorious title Of Prince Of Peace,
so that again there may be glory TO
God in the highest and peace on earth
to men Of good will.
Many Attend Services.
The pontffical high mass was at
tended by more than fifteen hundred
persons. The Cathedral was crowded,
and all available standing room was
occupied. Admission was by ticket.
Bishop Donahue was the celebrant
of the mass He was assisted by Rev.
Edward Galway ar arch priest; Rev.
Up. J, Browne as deacon, and Rev. P.
j.. Heating as sub-deacon Of The mass.
Very Rev. o. H. Moye was master OF
ceremonies. and the deacons OF honor
at the throne and acolytes were altar
boys.
The Cathedral was elaborately dec
GRATED for the occasion. Southern
smilax predominated. Cut flowers
we're banked around the altar, and
the editice presented a beautiful ap
pearance.
Impressive music was rendered by
the Cathedral choir, OF which George
III. Greene is director and Miss Marg
aret Mcmahon organist. The choir
was assisted by the Court Theatre or
chestra under the leadership Of Prof
John NJ. Evans. and Frank Seals was
hardst.
The Bishops Sermon.
| Bishop Donahue's sermon FOLLOWED
the pontifcal high mass. The church
was followed by two low masses.
Right Rev. Bishop Donahue took fo
his text the we'll known passage II
Isaiah, "tor child Is born to us. ant
q son Is given to us and the govern
name shall be called Wonderful. Coun
sellor God the Mighty, the Father o.
the world to come. the Prince u
Peace."-Isaiah SO.
Thousands of years Of prophecy
! thousands of years OF type, a yearnint
of tho ages for a delivercr from un
speakable misery and moral degrade
ton. and at length Christ's coming
such, in briefest words, Is the history
OF Gods dealing with man and OF man:
attitude to God.
OF mans disobedIencc l shall sa!
nothing save as to its consequences. j
cloudcd the intellect and cnrccblcd thu
/ will Of all the children of men and vii
do so until the last shall have been borr
| and shall die. The sense of this los:
, filled for many centuries the minds, no
| alone of the chosen people of God. bu
! the heather nations as we'll The seer!
are straining their vision for Him; {
long succession of poets. philosophers
Aeschylus. Virgil. Plato sing Of Him: a
length In the fullness Of time. after thu
| weary centuries He comes! He come:
from His bright throne, true God o