Year: 1870

The Question Of Infailibilif y-El0Quent Sermon


by the Rev. Father Prestou-A Large and


Fashionable C0ngreGatiOn-Fine Music and


the Latest Styles.


st. AIMS Roman Catholic church. In Eighth street,
was crowded yesterday morning by an unusuly ele-
giant congregation. Summer toilets prevailed In
abundance and some OF those charming, exquisite
little hats just brought across the broad Atlantic.
divided the attention OF the ladies' between the
pastor on the one hand and these magnificent pro-
ductions on the other. All in all, though the wor.
shippers were exceedingly devoted, and only took
those brief gances at the fashions which 1t is the
weakness OF all to display.


THE MUSIC


was excellent and though there were fewer solos
than might be heard at st. Stephens, their quality
was superb. The soprano voice especially was that
of a celebrated artist


After the usual preliminary services the Rev.
Father Preston advanced and preached very elo-
quent sermon from the text, selected from the twen
ty-eignth chapter OF Matthew, eighteenth verse.
There is peculiar charm In the oratory Of Father
Preston, for he speaks entirely extemporaneously,
yet with certain precision and freedom that are
truly marvellous. One would think, to hear him.


that his phrases had been nicely selected and ahmi-
rably arranged before hand. His remarks are per-
suasive, rather than wildly declamatory, and his
treatment OF subject is from method seldom found





subject seems TO be measured of, as of 80 many feet
on straight line, with many lateral branches; but
when the reverend gentleman goes on In illustration
or observation towards one OF these branches he
never loses his way and f0rgets to turn back, but
keeping in mind the logic OF his discourse returns TO
the main proposition This admirable faculty OF
continuity and assmiated terseness is embelished
with q rich abundance OF dlction and musical now
saP a an
course marked and effective; and because OF these
qualities Father Preston has obtained his present
hiuh N fha rncf oaAo ovar
eucdaon Of the text he SAID that this was the day
| OF the


COMPLETION OF THE CHRISTIAN FESTIVALS


and that 1t suggested many interesting themes bear.
| ing upon the well-being and glory OF the Holy
Cath0ic Church. which now stood before the world
the living embodiment OF truth, the fearless enemy
OF sin. He thought 1t peculiarly opportune to refer
| TO some Of the articles OF faith and some OF the
divine mysteries which belonged to the office OF he
| true Christian. Among them was the mystery of the
| Holy Trinity, confirmed and decreed in Ecumenical
those which relied for explanation upon The eyolu.
tOns Of reason, and those mysteries In grace which
could only be brought through the Churcn-the
| agent OF God on earth and His way to the kingdom
Of heaven: Owing to the distance between God and
HIS children It was impossible for man
faith for himself. There must be some tangible.
responsible and constituted authority, and that a.
thority was the Holy Catholic Church. How much
oil heresy and unbelief, OF atheism and n1delity,
were to be found in that society where every man
was the architect of his own theology, making from
| a shallow mind and an Impoverished education
| creed OF his own An this had injured unity-the
unity Of the Church in man, the unity typided by
the Trinity. The Church was teacher OF these mys-
teries to men, and such Instructor necessary
for were not the Holy Scriptures full OF mysteries
The Bible was not book OF dogmas or . catechsm.
Hence there must be some court TO decide upon dis
| puted points. The


MYSTERY OF THE HOLY TRINITY,


now almost universally accepted, even by dissenting
sects, Was sOlemnly declared In $685. and now the
great council In the Vatican, across the water
about to pronounce the Church infallibe-that Is,
the DEGREES OF the Ponin religious matters were
to be authoritative and final. And how necessary
was this The Sovereign Pontn who was the head
OF the Church must not err for If his teachings
falsehoods, where would be the stability or the
ChurchY They must be infallibe. He (the preacher
had long fOrcseen this decision, and there was pal
pabe parity between the question OF Trinity and
Papal IN aiibility. lie, therefore, reoiced ia the
consummatOn OF the great truth, which he doubted
not would soon be promulgated. He would, before
the prOmugaton Of this Decree bind his heart closer
TO the Church OF his Redeemer and offer up hum
BILE tributes to Him who stteth at the right hand OF
God the Father Almighty. He would ask his hearers
10 make fresh sacrifices for their Maker; to follow
correct and Christian lives, working for the Church
and through the Church for God and their immortal
souls. " -s.- ~