Year: 1867

- y - y" "


A very large audience assembled in St.
Joscph's Cathedral last evening, TO hear
the lecture of the Rev. w. T. Payne, of
Rochester, which was delivered for the
benefit of the Young Mems Catholic As
sociation. About one thousand tickets
were sold by the members.


SIN like manner, women also in decent
apparel, adorning themselves with mod
esty, and not with plated hair, gold or
precious stones burxs il becometh wemen
who profess godliness with good works. -
]. Tim. iii.


The speaker, after reading these two
verses, said the times are very much
changed since the Apostles were first in
spired by the spirit of God to pen the
words. 1t would appear from the Gospel
that the pomp of dress was confined al
most exclusively to the courts of princes
and kings. In our own day this disorder
for itcan be called by no other name
exists in all ranks and classes Of society.
In fact, We may say that there is great
deal more abuse in the present age in res
pect to vanity among the middle. and low
or classes than exists among those who
are considered to be in positions Of wealth
and opulence. 1t is a difficult subject to
treat in the pulpit, and that is the reason
why preachers seldom touch upon il.


All ornamcutation is not contrary to
the letter or spirit of the Gospel, but the
excessive use of ornaments is a prevailing
vice among the female sex. The fashions
are extravngant and immodest. God sane
toned the use of ornaments in the dec
oration of the temple and altar, in order
to make them attractive TO the Jews. That
which would be proper in some case would
be improper in others. The condition Of
woman in life should regulate her dress.
4 woman whose husband was living per-
sisted in wearing widows weeds, and this
drew out letter from ST. Austin, in which
he laid down three rules for the guidance
OF women. First, married woman should
follow the will of her husband. 1t was n
very good rule, and the husbands present
would no doubt be very much obliged to
me II | could induce women 10 follow the
will of their husbands. The second rule
for those who are not married, but may be
engaged or seeking an engagement is
equally salutaryj it is to follow the will ef
their fathers aud mothers. The speaker
said if young lady, nowadays, "was to
come to me and make secret confession
Of the fact that she was going to be mar
ried and / should tell her to 90 and con-
suit her parents, she would think / ought
to have been born q hundred years ago.
There is nothing more absurd. they think
than for young ladies to consult their par
ents; but they follow the guidance of their
own passions, and the results are divorces,
wretched lives, and still more wrctched
deaths. The third rule Of ST. Austin re.
lated to those who had renounced the
world, and they should follow the will of
Him whom they had chosen TO follow.


The first rule allowed considerable in
diligence in dress, which should be regu-
straw hat, exceedingly short skirts very
short cropped hair, (Which short time
ago was the fashion among ladies who were
considerably advanced in years are prop
er in girls from eight to ten years OF age,
but border on the ridiculous and indecent
in ladies of fifty summers. Marriage is
the normal condition Of men and women,
but when it is not sought for by those
who are free to enter into that state, il
shows that there is n cause, and that cause
is no. favorable to virtue, religion or the
good of society. Only seven marriages
we're solemnzed in the church of St.
Bridget last year. The cause is apparent.
| broached the subject TO young man
not so very young eithcr-remarking /
heard he was going to get married. lie
turned and with the simplicity Of child
ten years of age, said, "Fathcr Payne, /
am surprised that you should even think
l was going to be married. Bless your
life (his very words,) could not keep
my wife in dry goods. [ Laughter When
[ become a rich man, then | will marry
! but not before, because | want to do the
thing properly Laughter You smile
said The reverend speaker, but am IL
earnest.


lie had certain amount of reason fol
what he said, and that reason Is not cred
liable to the young women. Extravaganza
in dress makes it difficult for men in the
married state TO fulfill their obligations
and this is the reason why young men dc
not want to get married. The young wo
men have become so fond of dress tha
the young men are frightened, and this il
not for the good of religion and society
Let me give the young ladies this advice
BE less anxious about your appearance
spend less Of your earnings in adornins
your persons; and think Of your souls
Remember that the moment will force it.
self upon you when you will be stretched
ont lifeless in the coffin. When that time
comes there will be single winding shect
that may be bought for a few cents, tC
wrap YOU in. The ornaments that remain
will be ornaments of virtue which have
accompanied you all through life, and will
remain through hout an endless eternity.


Though the great vice among women Of
the present day is a want of economy
still there is something of an immodesi
nature. There never was time when wo
men studied more sedulously the art ol
dressing than at the present time. 1t has
been reduced to a regular system, and th.
dressing of the body is just as much al
art as sculpture or painting. If the wo
men had spent half as much tine in adorn
ing the soul as the body they would hav'
been saints long since, leaving the Steiner
sex in the aground. Woman has q
special mission to remove The rough spots