The New York Herald Newspaper, March 27, 1871, Page 4

4 NEW YORK nenatn MONDAY. MARCH 27, 207T1.—TRIPLE SHEET. RELIGIOUS. Passion furday in the Churches. Lessons from the Pangs of | Christ. RELIGION IS LIBERTY. The “Big Jobs” of Penitence and the Two Roads to Eternity. A Crowd of Converts to Catho- licity. A Splendid Bouquet of Pulpit Passion Flowers. Plety was the order of the day tn this and the sister city yesterday. Fresh, bracing air and partial Bunshine gladdened the hearts of all, and when the m.nd is wrapped in cheerfuiness it is but natural ‘that man should lift itup to the Lord. When the qceat orb of day 18 obscured and nature looks over- cast, the soul may turn to contemplation of sublime things, put it needs snrrounding quiet to be successful in this, Armed with cheer- fulness then, ana spring overcoats, the male sex led forth their wives, sisters and daughters to worship in springtide garments. Gay colors peeped out here and thereon our city’s Gaughters like opening buds upon the trees, ali the more grateful to the eye because of the prevailing sombreness of tint around. There was a smile on | every ip and a prattle on every tongue as the churchgoers marched in stately column to the Portals of the holy tenaples. Within a similar cheer- fulness was visible. The dullest preachers felt the impulse of the vernal grace and a full congregation stimulate them, while the more flowery speakers literally sowed their sermons with pleasant figures, like fields brilliant with primroses. It 1s ferventiy to be hoped that many will have felt the benefit of the good words they henrd, { FIFTH AVENUE B&PTIST CHURCH. Memorial Services—A Review of the March of Civilization Durin; the Past Thirty Years— Dr. Armitage on the Herald—It is the Pio- veer of Civil and Religious Liberty Through. | out the World. Yesterday being the thirtieth anniversary of the Fitth Avenue Baptist church a very large congrega- ‘Mon assembled in the church to take part im the morning services, which commenced at half-past ‘ten by the singing of 9 hymn composed for the occa- ‘sion by Mrs, Lydia Baxter. The preacher’s desk and platform surrounding were elegantly decorated ‘with Laturai flowers in baskets and pots, while on the pillars in the aisles hung the Sunuay scnool ban- ners, one on each side of the platform. On the wall ‘was a banner with the names of the only two pastors Who have been in charge of the church since its or- ganization. Oa one were the words, “J. W. Bene- dict, 1-41 to 1848; on the other “T. ARMITAGE. 184} TO 1871.” Afte: the singing of the hymn a selection from the ®eriprures was read by the pastor and congrega- ton, each repeating a line in turn. This was fol- Jowed by an anthem from the choir and a prayer by Dr. Armitage; after which a hymn, composed vy himsel!, was sung both by congregation and chotr. When this had been gone through the reverend pas+ tor began his sermon, which was one of great inter: j est to his hearers, the greater number of whom had been with the churea for a long ume. He commenced by saying:—We have assembled here tuis morning to celebrate the thirueth anniver- fery of this churen, aud it te Ht and proper {hat we should make it a monumental cele- bration. Were we raising a monument to celebrate any political or nationgl events, or to | any great Military man, we might take omer means of doing 11; but when we raise one to Jenovah tis Oly Necessary that we do it in cur hearts, In the matiner ot counting nowadays we number thirty years @ generation, The living works of God are the best memoria.s possivle, for they are everlasting. God hus never made an advance in a singie thought, Unchangeability 18 an attribute of the divinity. ‘fo change is creaturely, and then it is na! for all Uuings mortal to change; but Goa cannot change, tor Lie would cease to be God if He did. With Him a thousand years 1s as a day; then bow eastly do we become confused in trying to understand 413 immu- bility. With what interest will not one ofa later neration hear from some older member of the munity of What happened in years long gone by; 01 theretore, It 18 that most of you will hear with pleas- ure regarding the events of the past generation. Al times iu a Zeueration there 1s a Kind of stoppage; the worl seems to have ceased going round, as if were in the alr, when soon everything be- s Wide awake and the bustle and noise that en- Bue 1s In perfect contrast to what has preceded It, ‘Thus 1 is that God raises a memorial oi bis works and makes himself felt throughout all ages. Look ata rosebud which you have Just plucked early in tue morning, and then take a pencil and sketch it. Keep your eyes on it until might; watchjwell for every Change which takes place in it. You see none, though you examine it ever so closely, and yet at night compare it with your pencil skeich of the morning and you will perceive that it is withered. | ‘Thus itis that GOD WORKS IN NATURE, silently put surely, without being seeu, but none the jess fel Ingvery minuue of nature, in the small- est in: that crawls over the earth, in each cloud that passes through the sky, 1 see a memorial of Je- hovau. for over four ihousand years redemption Was promised before it was effected. But still He Was, us It were, chiseling out the greatest monu- mental work which He ever accomplished. WONDERFUL CHANGES IN THE WORLD, “Sin the generation which this church has seen great yents have occurred, which has made it a remark- able epoci. It has beer a period o: change, a period of improvement. Some things unknown before 2 have become familiar to us, and inventions have been numerous. Civil and religious lib- ty were at @ low ebb except in great Sriiata and Switzerlandjandeven there in their infan- cys Russta held her 25,000 seris, Italy was under the sway of tie people; Scotland was as eadeate for re- | ligious tiberty, and Dr. Challoner was en leavoring to obtatn @ footing for the Scotush Church; Ireland was endeavoring to optain Catholic emancipation. under the ieadersuip of O'Connell; Richard Cobden was tying lo uiake bread cheap; the United States were on the verge of war with Eugland, on the North. eastern question, and with Mexico on tie Texas question. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. J know of no place where religious lverty is de- nied. See how spaiu has thrown off-the yoke. I lave been inicrmed that on the very ground where the Spanish inquisition held its sway an American Chrisuan teaches Sunday school. 1s not this a gen- eration of Improvement? To-day poor Ital, a free and united country. In Rome to-day id could preach the Gospel as freely as 1 do here in this church, The Iriso State Church 1s destroyed and ull crceds are on an equality. From the way thin, Baglin St apeeitencn safe to say that the jurch esi t will fi a /ngush princess has oR pela os and broken the ABRIED & suBsEcr bro| © barrier between royalty and the ple, and if the son of the Queen woes not mend oor pyar dirt resident may tell him when er ‘ave that are Lo longer required. Look at ahaa st OUR OWN COUNTRY’S GROWTH during this me. When this church was bulit we had seventen mullions of a population in the United States; now we have forty millions, ‘Tnen the Kocky Mount Were seldom by the footateps’ of a how different is it? a ‘intern a eae a Whole country; now they can be counted by tet thousands. Lies than thirty years ego. Do One ‘nought that in the space of a second we could com- municate across the Atlantic.¢ Truly, we have had mighty changes ip this generation. Then in our democratic institulions what changes! Slavery 13 dead. Ido not know who would restore it. And isk ed at peace, but we have had to paya fearful price. NEW YORK THIRTY YEARS AGO AND.TO-DAY. Compare New York vhirty years ago with New York of to-day. There was no Fourteenth street, no Twenty-third street, no Madison, Lexington or Fifth avenue; the streets were crooked and narrow and there was no gas. But in uo department has tnere Ways Says what he feels, and I hail them as helpers w in the good IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS @ great change baa taken place, and they have be- | cole a power in the land, and shonld any one un- | dertake to write a history of the United States he Would not have done nis work faith{ully if he neg- lected speaking ot the Sunday schools. Nor do we worsbip any longer in barns, but iu places of archt- tectural beauty, THK CONGREGATION PAST AND PRESENT. Dr. Armitage continued at some length, and con- cluded by giving a statement of the work which the church had accomplished during tho past thirty years. It had 2,250 church members altogether dur- ing that time; had now 686, leaving 1,664who had passed away to the church above, or who had joined other congregations. The church originally Was tn Norfolk street, had been burned, built a new one on the old site, soon after moved to tts present position and changed its name, At thattime it had pulse $2,800, and now the church property was wort! $200,000, with only a debt of $40, and, said he, ou have grown rich under my preaching, 80 that oth the church and the congregation have pros- pered. When he nad ended the sonior deacon aid a tew words asking the congregation to pay of the debt at once. NEW ENGLAND CONGREGATIONA'. CHURCH, Religion is Liberty—Sermon by Rev. Morrill Richardson. There was the usual large and fashtonable atten- dance at yesterday morning's service at Dr. Merrill Richardson's church, corner of Madison avenue and Forty-seventh street, Despite the semt-sombreness of the day there was the bright cleerfulness of Deautitul spring tollettes, the brightness of smiling faces—for there Is no old fashioned, Puritanic blue law notions in this congregation—and the pre-eml- nently bright smiles of the courteous ushers, George H. Gilbert, F. W. Dormon and George Wright, whose gracious and delicate style of showing People to thelr seats goes & good way toward putting them into a pleasantly worshipful mood. But these ushers are always smiling whatever the weather, and in front of the pulpit are always sweet fowers, filling the air with thetr delicious fragrance, and soft and low the music of the organ and mingled harmonies of the choir. The sermon was by the pastor, Rey. Merriil Richardson, and its subject, “Religion is Liberty.” The text was Romans vill., 21.:—"Because the creature itself also shall be deliv- ered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” This was one of the grandest conceptions of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Hoe bid them stand fortn as heirs of God. Jews and Gentiles were alike under this bondage. Christ opened the doors to all. The religion of Curist was liverty. After further introduction he plunged tnto his subject in medias res, frst answering the ques- tion. WMHAT IS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY? The {dea of Goa’s government was personal. Christianity was freedom; Christianity allowed every one liberty to think and do as he pleases; It permitted largest freedom of conscience. At the same time it was a religion of law, order, right, responsi- bility. Within this compass there was the futlest liberty. He illustrated this by tne constraints and iveedom working harmoniousiy together within the circle of family relations. A further iliustration was drawn from the reiations existing between the citl- zen and the State. Mone dreamed o1 being con- strained of their liberty except such as placea themselves in bondage through violation of some of the laws and were in fear of the prison shackles and felt the halter draw. The good and law-abiding citizen was free. It was so, he urged, with Christians—those obedient to the laws of God. Tne Gospel held up all the Mberty one could ig real of thought, con- science, action. The Gospel freed from all possible bondage—the bondage of ampitton, lust, avarice and every evil passion. If they were the children of God liberty was their inheritance. If auy one at- tempted to deprive them of this liberty they should say to such @ one : “GET BEHIND ME SATAN.” How Is religious liberty optamed? While tney lived in sin God condemned them and thetr conscience condemned them, Thoy were slaves to sin, They were sons—walls of life, Take one wh @ slave to Mammon, or lust, or strong drink, or ambition. The chains of slavery are getting each day more firmly riveted. They feel the | ia thraldom, They desire free- dom, They try to themseives, and do not suc- ceed. This is particularly so with the siave to drink, | you would find me rather a big job.” tion with him, ana staiva tues whe; nt | Often felt a desire to hear him rey Wome Was Afraid lest he might hear some upleasant vaths—in fine, he was afraid the clergyman would @ too hard upon him. The priest urged him to come, promising that he would not tind hua as hard as he expected. “On, 1 guess not,” said the man. “I an} thinking “If that 1s all,’ said the it, “do not hesitate about coming; for you will find that we are always ready to make big discounts for ‘big jobs,’ Father Hecker closed with on urgent appeal to his hearers to perform worthily their Easter auties, and, by 0 doing, once more become children of God. CHURCH O* STS. PETER AND PAUL. Sermon by the Rev. Father Fagau=The Old and the New Dispensations—Types and Shadows—The Sacrifive of the Mans. At the Churoh of Sts. Peter and Paul, Brooklyn, E. D., 4 large and fashionable congregation assem- bled yesterday, who seemed much impressed with the ceremontes performed, which were carried out with all the solemnity peculiar to the Catholic Church. The sermon, which was appropriate to Passion Sunday, was delivered by the Rev. Father Fagan. ‘The reverend preacher said that the present Sun- day was by ecclesiastical usage called Passion Sun- day, because the Church, during the two following weeks proposes to honor with particular solemnity and devotion THE PASSION OF OUR LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ, and invite her children, the wide world over, to Join with her In acts of ven- eration, love and gratitude for the mercies displayed by our Lord in effecting the redemption of man by dying to atone for hissing, All the ceremonies and Prayers which the Church presents to us, whether in the holy mass or the divine office, tend to excite the devotion of the faithful towards Jesus suffering for our offences, In the lesson of the day ts placed be- fore our eyes all that is elevated in the law of grace, the sacrifice of the cross, the source of all. the spiritual benefits imparted to mankind since tae creation of the world, The death of OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST, Jesus Uhrist, is exhibited to our view, by which the crimes of men have been expiated, and the excel- lence and the efficacy or the sacrifice which Jesus offered om the cross, and which ts each day renewea on mitlions of altars over the world, constitute the superiority of the law of grace over the ancient ais- Densation. His purpose was to vindicate the dignity and efMcacy of the sacrifice of the cross, and, at the same time, to endeavor to ex the’ unnatural conduct of many Christians who frustrate the ends of this great sacrifice in their regard. The sacrifices of the old law could not give to God the giory of which He is worthy, nor could: { they appease His anger, nor present an adequate re- turn for His goaeem. nor obtain from Him @ con- tinuation of His mercy and grace. Therefore it was that Chriscsaid He had come to supply the deficiency of all the ancient sacrifices and to expiate the sins of man by the effusion of fils blood. St. Paul gives us the most sublime idea of this sacriflce when he declares tiat the sacrifices of tne old law were but TYPES AND SHADOWS of the good things to come. While our Lord was hanging on the cross He exercised every divine vir- tuc. He loved, He prayed, He gave thanks, He | made acts of adoration aud resiguation—in one | word, He performed the most perfect act of worship. It should be remembered that He does the same | evel day in the august sacrifice of the mass, It would be a great mistake to think of the body and biood of Christ in the mass @3 a sort of dead offering. It 1s living and offered by the ever living Jesus Christ—a sacrifice immea- | surably above the ancient rites, and truly and in- | deed one and the same with the sacrifice on Calvary, only differing from it in manner and form. The reverend preacher, in continuation, proceeded to describe a solemn and tuuching scene which trans- red iu the garden of Gethsemane before the etrayal of Christ by one of His disciples, and called | the attention of his hearers to the manner in | which that scene and all the circumstances of Christ’s passion were symbolized and reproduced | in the sacrifice of the mass, Dissenters regarded the mass as A MERE FORMALISM, an unnecessary service; but to those who thoroughly comprehend its spirit 1t was the most sublime, the most satisfying act of worship which God could re- quire or the hand of man offer. In conciusion, the But there 13 no passion or vice that cannot be re- sisted and overcome. The final throes of manhood, the final struggles of remaining self-respect rightly put forth will prevatl, and now great 1s the free- dom and innocence of sucha redeemed one! God helps all such. His hand is stretched out to all. The turd point considered was the EXTENT OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. Like a pebble dropped in mid ocean, whose infla- ence extends and disseminates ttself to te farthest Shores, 80 it had been with religious pea 6 There Was not a land, or people, or nation that did not now to agreater or less extent, its influence. In tngiand i¢ was felt, in vrussia, in Austria, in ce, in Rome, the Eternal City itself; im Asiatic Turkey, 1n the Arehipelage of Greece, In the most distant waters and the remotest isiands of the sea. Much had been accomplished since the commence- mentof the Christian era. A great work still re- mained to be done, and in describing this work the pastor reached an acme of enthusiasm and eloquence that electrifed the audience, The sermon, indeed, of which the above is but the merest kind of abstract, was one of the best and most earnest and impas- sioned he has delivered since assuming the pastor- silp of this church. : The setvices last evening at the church were of a varied but deepiy interesting character. It was on behalf of the Howard Mission. Rev. Mr. Van Meter, Superintendent of the Howard Mission and Home for Little Wanderers, made an address, which was foliowed by addresses by Mr. A, S. Hatch, Pre- sident of the Mission, and Kev. Mr. Richardson. An interesting feature was singing by the members: of the Mission who were in attendance. A contri- bution was taken up at the close, which met with a generous response. ST. PAUL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Christ a God of Love—Sermon by Rov. J. T. Heck: Father Hecker preached yesterday tn this church, taking for his text the last verse of the gos- pel of the day:—“I am, who am; amep, amen, before Abraham was, lam.’’ When our Saviour said this the Jews stoned him, for they were satisfied that He had been guilty of blasphemy; and, with them, that was the customary puutshment for that crime. Jesus Christ used the expression “I am,” and not “I was,’’ because He wished them to understand that He was eternal; in fine, a God, There are two classes to be found among Chris- tans; one, being fearful, timid and distrustfal; the other, being presumptuous and too confident, I contess with the first I have no patience what- soever. Again and again are they assured that “God loves those who serve Him with @ pure heart;’’ still they keep on doubting, worrying and tormenting themselves, because they are not more perfect; fearing lest they may have concealed some sin in confession; ang, after the performance of their religious duties, they go out in the world, and instead of appearing with illumined countenances, as did Moses when he came down from the mountatn, they are morose and petulant, and their brows are darkened with a scowl. 1t 1s not, unfortunately,confined entirely to the world’s people, but we find them even among those who have re- nounced the world and given themselves up wholly to tue service of God. Did they but know it, this shows that they are re NOT YEE FULLY WEANED FROM THE WORLD. Persons belonging to this class work great injury to the cause of religion, because others who are not religious, upon seeing how the practice of religion affects them, refuse to amend their ways, giving as @ reason that if it makes persons so cross they would rather let it alone. They ‘insult God by their co! duct, since they make Him appear as ay God wrath and anger, and not a God of ie and justice. Deus est caritas, ‘God ts love,’ saith Bt. John, Christ’s beloved Apostle; and He surely must be a God of love, who has said to us, “Oome unto to me, all ye who are Reavy Jaden, and I will give you rest; for my burden Is light and BY yoke 1g sweet,’’ {at “they are sunePing trom spiritual deabeoae: ing from spin 8. mm the other hand, those of the second class insult by their overweening confidence in His mercy. He is indeed a God of mercy, but they will learn one day to their regret, when it is too late, that He ls also a God of justice, who will not siways allow them to-go on thus violating and disregarding His divine commanas and precepts, When tney are asked to go to cenfession and become practical Catholics, one wili tell you he is TOO BUSY JUST AT PRESENT, but he will do so by and by, Another ts baba hard to acquire a fortune upon which to retire, and | a5 s00n as he succeeds he intends to give up busi- hess and devote the balance of his life to God. When he first started in business he was very careful to invoke Goa’s blessing upon his undertaking; but Row that success has crowned his efforts he says to Goa, “See here; I can get along by myself now, and don’t need your help any longer.’ ‘This 1s not the language of ‘his lips, gout | am interpreting the lan- guage of his heart. Ob, how I wish I could make you fully comprehend the great and fearfnl import Of that litle word ‘now! Poor, presumptuous sinner, what right have you to say you will repent in the future? How do you know you will be given the time? Now, the present, 4s the only time you have, tor yesterday ts dead, 1s a thing of the past, n- of been so great a change as tj the newspaper and literary worid. You'see an immense change in the wielding of power of the daily press; There is no city ia the world which has such a manly untram- melied press as ours. When I was commencing my ministry THE NW YORK HERALD was surging its way aliead and going into new 3 Of rnalism, and it was tie first to begin Ine repordag of sermons which has given it such a wide reputa' Some of the papers have handied we pretty roughly, but 1 mind it not, as one who al- ! and to-morrow is not yet come. No act of thine cau morrow, ‘Some Sbject to golds tovontontn fa tis A got 0 con! on on tl ground that the priest would tad them ba Come along: do uot allow that. thoogh ome along: do not allow that thonght to prevent ‘ou, for you Will find that for bi jouwe meke very ug discounts, certain Catholic priest some time sluce Was riding tn the Hudson River cars, when he was approached by a man who had Just been lib- rated from Siog Sing. The maa, baviog asked it was not Father $0-and-s6, entered iato conversa- preacher said that there was something in the ‘atholic worship so simple and beautifal that it ex- ercises a holy influence upon all who witnessed it, and no one, no matter how sceptical, could enter a Cathouc church without feeling In some degree the reverential awe and qutet devotion which never fail to characterize Catholic piety. BEDFORD STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CEURCE. The Powor of the Cross and the Progress of Christianity—Sermon by a Strauger. The Methodist Episcopai church in Bedford street, corner of Morton street, was crowded yesterday morning, a3 usual; but the pastor, Rev. John E. Cookman, was absent, and a stranger from the Theological Seminary at Morristown, N. J., occu- pled the pulpit. The mfnister read a Scripture lesson from I Corinthians, i, and subsequently preached from the eighteenth verse of the same:— ‘for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.’ The preaching of the cross, he said, has always been considered by some Persons foolishness, just as the apostle found it in his day. This ts the more remarkable when we con- sider that the apostolic age was an age of learning and science. But with all its knowledge and learn- ing the worldly wisdom knew not God. The an- cients TAUGHT A PLURALITY OF GODS: gods for war and peace, for adversity and prospe- rity, for storm and sunshine; indeea, for everything they had their gods many and thelr lords many. Human sacrifices were sometimes offered to these gods, and the multitudes wallowed in the aepths of darkness and error; and there was no means of dissipating this darkness until Christ came and brought life and immortality to light through he Gospel. Jew and Greek admitted that He spake @snever man spake. Heconvinced them by His Goetrines, His miracles and His life that He was the Son of God, and even devils were subject unto Him, and unto his disciples through His name, The aposties lifted up the cross as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness, and everywhere men looked unto it and lived. Paul went forth a herald of the cross, and entered into the synagogues of the gews, the schools of philosophy of tne Greeks, and the market places and resorts of the multitudes, and Kings and rulers trembled before the mighty power of God as presented throngh the cross, hen he was abused and mockeil and driven from place to Place he did not desist {om preaching the doctrines of the croas, but clung to tiem ine more closely, and in the exultation of his soul declared that he was not ashamed of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, be- canse it ty THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION, unto every one that believeth. God forbid, he ex- claims again, that { should glory, save in the cross of our Lerd Jesus Christ. Jew and Gentile agreed 1n thelr contempt of the Gospel. The former re- quired a sign from heaven—something additional to the supernatural demonstrations which they had witnessed—before they believed. This they had at Jordan, whea the Holy Ghost, ina bodily snape like & dove, descended and rested upon the Saviour and voice from the Excellent Glory declared, “This is my beloved Son.’ Stillthey did not believe. The Greeks sought after wisdom, They ceuld not com- prehend a religion which was not laid down deep in their philosophies, and yet which all their philosu- phy could not fathom—a religion so simple that 4 child can comprehend it, and yet so grand that the archangel before the throne cannot compass 1t all. A religion which could be fllustrated by the grain of Mustard seed, or the leaven im meal, or the lily of the field, was TOO MEAN FOR THEM, and they turned away from it. But, he asked, have all the Jews and Greeks, the infidels and scoffers of Christ and His cross passed away! Nay, verily; there are scores and thousands of them still even here in our midst in this city, and in every cly in i — a “ne a rie of een cross and declares, 1n the language of inspira- tion, thac there 1 no other name under heaven among men by which we can be saved, they turn away, and with a contemptuous sneer tell us they Will not have this man to reign over them. But the time wiil come when those proud hearts will bow and those tongues confess that Jesus Unrist is Lora to the glory of God the Father. ‘The cross is the power of God. This was clearly tee by the prophets of old, who foresaw the dois of the heathen overthrown, their temples con- verted tnto Christian churches and the worshippers turning unto the true and living God. We may talk Of the victories of Alexander and Napoleon, of Washington and Marlborough, of Grant and Sher- man, but none of them can compare with the BLOODLESS VICTORIBS OF THE OROSS. No sooner had the banuer of Christianity been flung to the breeze than pagan idols and priests be- gan to tremble. Had not Christianity a divine life within itself it must have perished from the earth long ago. It could not have withstood the persecu- aed cae aarinte ana om wo to-day it towers ae e sunlight in all the strength and majesty ot the cedars of Lebanon, and before it the Tae Hi Wen lous systems Of idolatry have disappeared. ere are now the systema which ealsted when tus ,*posties ved? Where ara note Jupiter, Mars, ‘Juno, biercury, and the host of gods and the tem: ples devoted to their worship? The fire has gono out on their altars, and their worship has ceased for- ever; while the cross, with all its glories, rises still higher to gild the nations of tho earth. ‘The cross has triumphed over Jew and Greex. — Its banner has Noated Irom Mars hill, and the gl fail down and Worship the lowly Nazarene, teas than @ year + Must be constant. from the time the cross was reared on Calvary 10,000 believers were trusting in 1a power; in two years Ohristianity had overrun Judea, and in ten years all whe country around and beyond had heard the words the living God, THE GOSPEL HAS NOT LOST 1TS POWER. What 1t has done it can do again. it may have to struggle with Popery and paganism, but it must pre- yall over every territory where the black flag of fasselity, superstition or idolatry floated, It ag vonguered its bitterest enemies. Its power has n felt and acknowledged by the untutored savage, ft a8 triumphed over the brave and stout-hearted, it 18 adapted to all classes and conditions every- wheie. trial and danger, in sorrow and in deati it sustains us, Yea, th we may walk through the dark valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, use Jesus 38 with us, and His rod and staff they comfort us. the cross | the cross | around it and in 1t cluster all our hopes and joys. We love the centre of the Christian system, the hope and piea, At the foot of the cross We are complete! nape n and while we gaze on it we aro trans} ‘wear the crown which has been prom! to those who hold fast their conf- dence firm to the end. A fervent appeal was made to the impenitent to come to the cross and to accept its salvation, after which a collection and subscriptions were taken up for superannuated preachers, 8°. PaTRich’S CATHIDRAL. The Leeson of Christ’s Passion—Sermon by the Vicar General. Tne ordinary high mass was celebrated at the Cathedral yesterday by the Rev, Father McGeoghan. Ac the end of the first gospel the Rev. Father Starr went into the pulpit, and after reading the last four verses {rom the gospel ef the day according to John, sald:—Tnis day we commemorate the passion of our Divine Lord and Savious, Jesus Christ, To re- mind us of His tribulation and suffering the pictures of the stations of the cross. the altar and the em- blem of the crucifixion’are robed In mourning. To- day the Catholic Church throughout the world ‘weeps over the sorrows of our Divine Master. The gospel of to-day is part of a discourse delivered by our Saviour in the Treasury of the Temple on the day following the FEAST OP THE TABERNACLES. The reverend gentleman enlarged upon the teach- ings of Christ during His unblemished life on Earth, and continuedt—Fatth to be efficient must not be dormant. The Christian who believes and is content with believing only, has but placed his foot upon the threshold of existence in spiritual life, Faitn without good works is dead, and if we would follow the example set us by our Saviour, we must have an earnest faith, a firm and confiding hope, with a never-ending desire to perform our duty as followers of our Redeemer. Although our path may be beset with trials, our cup of sorrew bitter, our sufferings hard to bear, still, 1f we accept them with resignation and a * "THOROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, they will pass from us to the honor and glory of God. Our Divine Saviour performed miracles while on Earth, but the Jews did not believe them. They ascribed’ the power He possessed to the influenvo of Satan—He who came down from Heaven to shed fis blood upon the cross they accused of being possessed by the devil. Again and Hie refutes the charge, and appeals to His own lite and character in support of His denial. He tells them plainly that the reason they shut their ears and refuse to believe His teachings is because they are not of God, “I come not for my own glory, I come not to establish my own name, but that of GOD THE FATHER who 13 1n Heaven.’’ You knew how & man who has nothing to do corresponds with @ faith that is une aided by practical results; belief must be active— The warrior going to the batile field to seek the bubble reputation at the cannon’s mouth sacrifices all to gain the desired object. Country, home ana friends are as nothing compared with the glory that is eel oye after, and aa he lies wounded, dying, on the bloody flela he sees, with a smile of satisfaction, life’s current ebb slowly away, for death will bring the laurel of réward. Sorrowing friends are nothing now. ‘The soldier is dying, even ; a3 he has lived, to win a place among the list of heroes of his native land. Or he who goes out upon the ocean, wandering, upon the stormy bil- lows, fearful of his precious cargo and dreading lest his frail bark may come to harm, leaves no effort untried to gain the land. As the sterm comes on and DESTRUCTION SEEMS IMMINENT he redoubles his vigilance and exhausts every effort of his ingenuity to steer unharmed through the warring elements that threaten such terrible de- struction. To secure his object he braves all dan- gers, and arriving safely in the destined haven is overjoyed to think how narrowly he has escaped the terrible fate that threatened him. The Christian, launched upon the sea of life in the vessel of faith alone, is like the bark upon the waters deprived of her helm and the watchful master to pilot her through the stormy stream of life. The ship, with- out the guide, will rush upon the quicksands and be lost. Our faith must be strong and lasting, ever anxious and watching, ready to do and dare all in the SERVICE OF THE MASTER we have elected to foliow, never stopping to weigh or balance how much We shall perform, but striving at all times and upon every occasion to make our actions commensurate with our faith. The true Christian sheuld do everything in his power to be meritorious of heaven. To gain the piace promised to the elect should be the end and aim of our every step in life, Christians may often bave faith and not reduce it to practice ; still it is a Pernictous and erroneous belief. ‘Their lives do not correspond with the faith that 13 taught. Man should always bear in mind the two-fold declaration re “yur Divine Saviour” to the wicked and the just. The reverend gentleman, after an eloquent perora- tion on the sufferings of Christ on earth and his great love for men, which prompted Him to undergo the bitter TRIALS OF HIS PASSTON, exhorted his listeners to brace themselves vigorously for the struggle, to carefully watch thetr actions, that their wos may be in keeping with their faith and their lives acceptable in the sight of Heaven, that the great mission of their career on earth shall tend to the honor and glory of God, so that when the end will come they will be taken {nto the bosom of the Lord and receive the proud inheritance of their labors—“Come, the kingdom which ts ‘prepared for you.” The music, which was magutficently rendered by the chor, consisted of some classical selections from the best masters—the Kyrie and Credo (by Carcano) and Sanctus, Agnus Det (by Churubini). At the offer tory Fac ut Portem, from the Stavat Mater of Rossini, Was sung by Madame Chome. Mr. Gustavus Schmit presided at the organ, The following ladies and gentlemen compose the quartet:—Mme. Chome, so- prano; Mrs. Werner, alto; Mr. Groschel, tenor; Mr. A. Sobst, basso, ST. STEPSENS CHURCH. Tho Passion and Death of Christ-Scrmon by the Rev. Dr. Mciilynn. At half-past ten yesterday morning high mass was celebrated in St. Stephen's Catholic church, Twenty- eighth street. As usual, the sacred edifice was filled to repletion. The musical Part of the service, under the direction of the organist, Mr. Danforth, Was sung in superb style. After the gospel the Rev. Dr. McGlynn entered the pulpit and delivered anable sermon in his usual eloquent and logical manner, taking for his text the epistle of the day (Passion Sunday), Hebrews ix.:—“‘Christ, the High Priest of the good things to come, not by the blood of goats or of calves, but by His own blood, entered once into the holy place, and, therefore, Ho. is tne Mediator of the New Testament.” The Church on Passioh Sunday begins the special season of com- Memoration of the passion and death of Christ, by which, out of; our ransomed humanity, He won her to bo His cternal bride. she invites, even by touching appeals to their senses, those children, whom she has begotten to Him, to lament with her over His agony and death. THE CHANT OF THE “GLORIA” IS HUSHED and her sacred pictures are draped in the garb of mourning. Her children cannot better show their love and gratitude for the great price at which they have been redeemed than by conforming at this sea- son their minds and hearts to ner—to that mind of hers which 1s so wise, 80 considerate, 80 puetic, 80 human and yet so divine, because the holy spirit of God has been promised to abide with it and to be its animating principle; to that heart of ners in which is concentrated the tenderness of the hearts of all the saints, and that is loving with a love more than human because it 13 in closest harmony with THE HEART OF THE MAN-GOD. But it was not left merely to the poetto mind ana loving heart of the Church of Christ to devise the manuer of commemorating the passion and death of her Saviour. Ho Himself has left with her His own sweet memorial. He has entreated and com- manded her to “do it in remembrance” of Him, aad pertcueely of His passion and death—‘‘as often ag ye do this you shall show forth the death of the Lord, until He come.’ Christ the Bol priest of the good things to.come’’ and the mealator of the New Testament, has purchased to Hi If, not by the biood of oxen and calves and goa ut by His own biood, the right to enter into he holy of holies, where He lavishes all the wealth of love of His human heart and all the resources of His divinity in instituting a sacrifice that shall supersede all ‘THE BLOODY OFFERINGS OP THE OLD TESTAMENT, shail be the seal and consecration of His last will and testament and shail be to us His most precious Temorial, not_ merely because it 13 the last chosen memento of our dying Saviour, but because mys- teriously, yet truly, the ploture of this sacrifice 4s none other than Himself, “This 18 my body;” “This ig the chatice of my blood of the New ‘Testament;”’ “Do this in remembrance of me.” lt was this eucharistio sacrifice of Christ, the priest, that Mala- chi proguested when he foreshadowed the cessation of the olden sacritices, to be superseded by one that Ghould be offered among all nations; “for My name ye blessed of My Father, into” 1s great among the nations, saith the Lord: for in very Place there is sacrifice and there is offered to name a clean offering.’ This was to be an essen tial part of Christa minfstry, and the testimonies of Scripture are as explicit and clear concerning the true sacriticial character of the holy cucharist and the eucharistic priesthood of Christ as are those that bear upon Christ’s bloody sacrifice upon the cross, AS His sacrifice on Calvary was foresnadowed by the bi offe) of the Jewish law, 80 was His world-wide eucnaristig sacrifice, the holy sacri- fice of the mass, foreshadowed by the offering of a Ponte Melchisedec, who was ‘a priest of the most h God"? and who offered bread and wine, It is istinctly foretold and recorded by an oath, which ie forever through the eternal vaults of heaven: “The Lord hath sworn, and He will not repen' ene art ele. a priest forever according to the order o! isedec.” This unusual and startling lan- guage shows us With wouarous force the extreme importance to the divine pian of Christ’s eucharistic ‘lesthood. Is not God’s merest word more han any human oath? Yet sworn and, stranger still, that having sworn: HE WILL KEEP HIS WORD. Tt 18 because in view of mau’s indifference and tn- tude for the wondrous git of Christ's presence in the eucharistic offering God might well find but too much reason never to promise it, and after He had 1d almost to repent of His promise. But it is something that He is to do in virtue of His own infinite goodness and meroy and love; and therefore He swears by Himself—and He will not yonent—aas Christ 13 to be @ priest forever, accord- ing to the order of Melchisedec, ‘The love with which our Lord “loved us unto the end,” which beat audibly in his heart and glowed upon his countenance, constrained Hun, as He was about to go out te die, to give us Himself, and fle must fultil the Father’s word pledged by an oath in heaven and through the lips of His prophet Malachi; and therefore “He not only offers. the eucharistic sacrifice _himsel but impafts His _ priest- hood to His Church, an commands her to keep doing ‘‘this in remembrance of Him till the end of time—till He come.” ‘fhe Church were un- worthy of her mission if she could forget the dying entreaty and command of her beloved, and, there. fore, “in every place there 1s sacrifice, and there is Offered to His name a clean offering,’”? and so will it be to the end, and around this central object of our worship ana our love the Church makes fo cluster THE CHOIOEST FLOWERS OF NATURE and the noblest works of art, of architecture and sculpture and painting, and poetry and eloquence And music, now festive and now mournful, to show her love and remembrance of her Lord, and to make God's altar and God’s house on earth # beautiful image of the heavenly temple, where, without these thin sacramental veils, Christ, the mediator of the New Testament, stands clad in our wounded hu- mauity an eternal sacrifice to the Father. S?. MARWS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Services at Close of the Jesuit Fatzer’s Micelan—Addresses by the Rev. Father Glackmeyer—Baptism of Converts. It bas rarely been the lot of the parishioners of St. Mary’s church to witness such a display of pulpit eloquence and to enjoy the fruits of such a mission as that which was given them for the past two weeks by the Rey. H. Glackmeyer, S.J. Day after day the building was filled with people of every class—mechanics, laborers and merchants, Protestant as well as Catholic, to hear a sermon or to assist at religious exercises. Yesterday the mission was brought to a close by two powerful dis- courses by Father Glackmeyer, who preached twice or three times each day during the mission. That his labors have been crowned with UNEXPECTED SUCCESS 1s undoubtedly due to his powers as a preacher. He is among the first orators of the Society of Jesus, and, although his language ts at once elegant and terse, he imfluences his hearers far more by the intense animation ot his delivery. He is a Canadian by birth, He means everything he says, and can excite at pleasure a smile or a tear, sometimes both together. Yesterday at high mass, which was celebrated by Father McQuaid, 8. J., the very passageways of the church were thronged. After the gospel Father Glackmeyer ascended the pulpit and briefly addressed tweive catecnumens— persons not yet baptized. They were respectable looking men, who were CONVERTED TO THE APOSTOLIC PAITH during the mission. A week agotwelve converted ladies were baptized also. The preacher said:—Oh, af you only knew the joy with which I was animated, which made my hand tremble when I poured upon the heads of those con- verted women the water of baptism which linked their souls to God! if you who have failed to protit by this mission had only kuelt beside me and simply witnessed the joy of those who have benefited by ourlabors! Their joy was inexpressible, like that of Peter and John before Christ transfigured, when uhey cried out, ** Lord, it ts good for us to be here.” To you sinners who have not been reconciled to your sweet Saviour I can only say, you may thank All I ask of you, and all that I ask of my God, tc that You may keep the robes of BAPTISMAL INNOCENCE unblemished and unsu.lied that so your light may shine before God and men. Let us give thanks for your conversion to God and His blessed Mother; for she was imploring her Divine Son for you while we were assembled in this edifice, erected in her honor; she extended her loving arms to you, and to-day you will be her children. He thea proceeded to speak on the Blessed Virgin, taking his text from the first chapter of St. Luke. It secms to me, said he, as if at fhe . ond of this mission you had a reproach to Address tome. We have spoken to youonall the great topics—whence we nave come and whither we are tending. We have pictured to you the good man and the wicked man—the one practising virtue and the other wallowing in crime—so that 1n the last agonies of death the latter heaves his last sigh to perish forever, the former to flee to THE MANSIONS OF HAPPINESS, there to dwell forever. But while we filled your mind with these things have our hearts been cold to that Virgin? Has her name been neglected? I was speaking to you ot her Son, of His power, His good- ness and His mercy; I recounted the expressions of His love for man—aid whatis Mary but the mother of Him?—the bright angel that bore Him. Let us come to aah i her diga'ty, and ask her to be our protector and to shicid us from the aangers of life as she SHIELDED NER BELOVED SON. Have we not need of patience when we hear the name of that good mother reviled? We have made no goddess of her; we acknowledge that she 1s infl- nitely inferior to the Almighty God, though yet she is above all the saints of heaven. We sing to her the pene which was sung to her A a before, “Weep no more.” She is prepared—a soul that has been beautified by every gift that God could bestow. Paty was not less in the first years o1 the Church ‘han she is to-day. From all eternity God saw that this world would, be wrecked, Agama and Ere Gig ‘Paradise. Go P 0. notremain in the garden of ratl determinea—for ail things | determined, or, her, alike are forever present to Him—to send His only Son. But vefore the Son was to be incarnated the woman in whom this should be accomplished must have been prior in Hi3 mind. Did He not say that the woman’s seed should CRUSH THE SERPENT'S HEAD? But by whom and through whom should this be done? ee Mary. The Hebrews knew that & virgin should bring forth a son whose name should be Emanuel. Hence the ambition of the Hebrew women was to be that virgin. But what shall I say ef the beautiful types of Mary in the O!d ‘Testament? it Judith, Who saved her people? Of the words of Gabriel, ‘atl, full of grace?’ This can mean nothing eise than that sho bad not a siugie statn on her soul. The apostles, in their creed, declared that Jesus was concelved by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary—a declara- tien immortaiized by musical genius in the Ht Incarnatu , whose celestial strains have been the elight of Vatholics in every church, The Counctl of Ephesus declared that ig the mother of God, amid shouts of joy from the people; and the man whose lic had given rise to that council crossed the Bosphorus, and his tongue roited in his head. We remember with what acclamation our venerable Pontuf some years ago proclaimed (what was al- ways beileved in the Ohurch) thal Mary was con- celved immaculate, No wonder that we love Mar 80 well, No wonder that in eyery age devout chil- dren have sought her protection. And,their pray- era have not been without avail: The annals of our history are full of instances of the SALUTARY RESULTS springing from p:ayer to Mary. A few years ere dwelt among the mountains of Tyrol a wealthy family, noted for the plety of all its members. Ail the children except one were taken away by the hand of death to @ better land. The remaining child was o daughter eighteen years of age, and she frequently roamed from her moun- tain home through the groves and the wooded park which stretched away for a long dis- | tance tll they. verged @ steeper mountain that rose in prospect. ef the le of @ stream she loved to pluck the wild flowers, which she car- ried home and strewed around the marble image of the Blessed Virgin. The statue was placed in a beautiful little sanctuary, whicti she requested her fathor to adorn. Here she would remain and be- seech Mary to protect her and preserve her as & child. On @ certain summer alternoon ste pro- longed her walk through the ee wood, thoughtlessly culling the flowers. Night was falling fast, and she soon saw the§sun sink behind the moun- tain, leaving the country in darkness, She raised her VOICE TO MARY, and prayed that she might take her sefely home; but her supplications were imterrupted by the pat- tering of horses’ feet, and in a few moments the horseman leading the band contronted her. Half avers, she stirieked out, “Oh, sir, in the name or lary, F ask you to let mo go home.” The man tared, aud after Seon replied, ‘Tis well tor you that you've asked that inthe name of Mary,” and sacred | are told that God has Yourselves. Turning to the catechumens he satd:— | afterwards, his hoa@ body, he exclaimed, “Lord, have mercy on soul’? Oh, mothers, said the preacher, you who have had children, come Gnd kneel here before ner altar aud bog of Mary to comfort you and them. Mary was a mother; she is the comfortreas of the aMicted. ‘The congregation were in tears whon the speaker Closed his discourse, He proceeded to bapuze the catechumeus while the assemblage knelt in prayer. The ceremony was a most impressive one. At half-past seven in the evening were sung, and the church by about 4,000 to meye sermon on was, “He that shail he shall be saved. was visible, and It was listened to with breathless silence. The labors of the Jesuit Fathers were then brought to a close by a benediction of the blessed sacrament, The people of the pariah, may well feel proud of the success of the mi a and of the labora pester, Father O'Reilly, both in enlarging and beantifying the ehuren and in his efforts ta promote the spiritual welfare of his flock. 3 granted, and when, a few da; ‘Was about to rise from hi men CANAL STAELT PRESBYTE2NIN CHUROB. Charity Considered as a Broad Christian Love—Sermou by Rev. David Mitchell. ‘The modest little edifice known as the Canal street Presbytertan church was well attended yesterday morning by an earnest congregation of plain, every; day people. The pastor, Rev. David Mitchell, 13 @ young man, but an earnest and eloquent preacner. The churchis well encowed, and the seats are free. The pastor expressed the @esire of welcoming to It those who are too poor to possess pews in more fashionable churches. Situated in one of the mcst unpopular parts of the city, its mission is most dit ficult, and therefore most, commendable. The Rev, David Mitchell preached yesterday the fourth of a series of discourses on I. Corinthians, xUL, 18—“And now abideth falth, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of them is charity. We had come to the last and greatest of the gifts of "aC ia CHARITY. fhis word had come, in latter times, to be con- sidered synonymous with that of “almsgtving.”’ But throughout the Bible it was more often rendered, from the original text, as “love.’’ Se‘ St. John tti., 16, It was advisable not to carry with us a wrong idea of the world. as Faith and hope are parts of our natures, They are seen in man, whether under Christian influence ornot. They are natural endowments, A man 1a not a Christian merely because of his hoping and believing faculties, but because these faculties “are exercised toward God. So itis with love, We do not begin to love when we come under the grace of God; but have loved long before. Love is in the very nature of man. .Jt is a word which all mea understand. Every language has it, and, like those other universal words—‘hunger,” ‘th irst,’” “sleep'’—it needs no learned definition. Other ords may signify nothing to unlettered men. iulosophy or the fine arig may be to them un- known; but love carries with it a key for all hearts. Ancient Rome and Greece deified love, and wor- shipped 1t as they worshipped their other goddesses. Poets have sung of love; philosophers have spec lated about it long before theologians existed. Love bas played an important part in the world, ' THE OLD STORY y has been enacted and re-enacted. Youth and maldenhood have been drawn together by love closer and closer until blossoming into the flowers of courtship and ripening into the first fruit of matrimony. This {s what has attached such @ charm to the word. Love is like a second nature to man, and on it the world Spends for purity and civiliza- tion, The instances of brotherly love are not con- fined to the pages of sacred literature, They are found in the traditions of every nation. Some such instances are so remarkable that we cannot but believe that God moves tiie hearts of men who have never heard of Jesus Christ. The reverend gentle- man here recounted the story of DAMON AND PYTHIAS. Instances of self-sacrifice were not wanting {n non- Christian countries. Among the heathens men do and suffer for one another in &@ manner that would shame many professing the name of Christ. But it no case can one man atone for another's sin. aia above every instance ef one man loving another, Love is an original exercise ofa faculty by the human mind. Indeed, i is taught in the Serlp- sures that MAN MUST LOVE s something. Tnis ts Illustrated in the case of a lady expending her aifections on a lapdog, a favorite cat, oramonkey. She must love something—must hay some object to pet and caress. Why not love God! little ones, Uhat are orphans or worse than orphans Why not take some of God’s children to her heart and home and expend apon them her affections? So 1t is with men Who love money and property~ Who give up their souls to the grasping endeavor te enlarge their wealth. Will God regard their gold and silver? Better were it would they give it to Ha purposes ip Cate Aro degraded and weak, rather than squander it useless channels where it will bring no reward, It may be asked, since love is in our nature, Why call it @ grace? Simply because Christ takes the laculty of love and refines and enuobles it, Our love before was like silver and gold ore. In the ore it had no value. It must be separated from the dross, But the puritying inflictiou inakes it AKix To Gov HIMSELF. The great requirement of Christ’s law 13 to lova God, Begin with loving Ged. He is worthy of love. Love Him as a parent who feeds you. whio clothea you with raiment, who gives you the glorious herit- pee of this green earti, who blesses you with His ind, stperintending care. * “God so loved the world that He sent His only begotien Son.” How great was and 1s Tils fatherly love! It 1s for us te love Him, and we suall be true to ourselves, our con+ sciences, our wives and children, our fellow men. Loving God leads to the love of our fellow men, Bee this love can be comprenended those Gospel words, “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES; do good unto those that despitefully use you.” Such was the love of Jesus when he said, ‘Father, forgive thea; they know not what they do.’’ Truly Cole- ridge writes:— He prayeth best who loveth best. Though love is so sinipie that ail men readily un- derstand it, yet it comprenends so much that no one word can express tts meauing. If you say love ia benevolent it is not the whole truth; if you say love is true you do not quite express 16; if you say tt ts holy you fail short of the truth; if you say it is in- vincible you still fait in expression. Love has many | qualities—all Christ-luke—blended together, and called by the one endeared word, love. He who fears to hurt his pocket by listening to the cries of the distressed lacks one part of love—namely, benevolence. At this moment such cries come across the waters, pouring into the ears of those who profess to be Christians. ‘The reverend gentleman, referring to the sufferings in France, ue aa poltttoat ft ato i reard to he gause of the late war should not abridge one's aa any tot fae Widows and orphans who ace its victims, There were too many who placa ded that the French people had done wrong tm beginning the war, and consider such an excuse for refusing to help them in this extremity. Such was not the way with Christ. Every cry of distress reached His heart, though it were from His worst enemy—from the ee and most degraded. If He had reasoned 86 what sympathy would He have had with the poor Magdalen? He iad a heart for all. Charity was “true” and “holy.” Holiness was ita end. It does nov love sin though it ioves the sin- ner. | CHRIST HATED SIN. MY 1s impossible to teli how deeply, how intensely He ated it, He hated all that was sensual ana de- raved. Yet He did not hate the sinner, but loved him. So charity in man leads him toa tender, pity- ing love for the falien and a deep abhorrence for the sin. Chant was invincible. Knowledge might fal; friendship, riches, all else on which men depend; but charity, glowing in the human heart, will ee San, but burn brighter and brighter unto the end, But how shall we Menace of this Christian love? First, by contemplating its archetype in Jesus Christ. Second, coming to Him and being warmed by His exceeding [eed love, aud receiving it from ‘im. Thatlove which He gives us wiil never die Out from our nearts. ST. LAUENCE’S CHURCH, YORKVILLE. Sanctification and Salvation—Sermon by the Rey. Father Buyschaut, 8. J. The mission commenced two weeks ago inthe Church of St. Laurence, East Fighty-fourth street, and so successfully conducted by the Rev. A. Da- men, 8. J., was brought to a close yesterday fore- noon. At one of the early masses almost all the members of the Bona Mors Sodality, an association composed of the male portion of the parishtoners and instt- tuted durmg the mission by Father Damen, received communion. This sodality, a3 its name indicates, ras for its object @ preparation fora good deatn. Father Ferrard, 8. J., officiated at the solemn masa, and Father Buyschaut preached from the following laconic text:—‘He hath done all things well.”— Mark vil,, 37, These are simple words, few in number, and yet they speak volumes. How much worth and truth are contained in the expression when applied to our Saviour! It 13, tn fact, an ept- tome of His labors and sufferings commenced in the stable of Bethichem and ended on the cross of Cal- vary. ‘He hath doue all things well,” His actions, #0 Buying he rode away. The maiden flew home ward, and in an ecstasy of deitght said to her mother: “Oh, mother, Mary has saved me.’’ Ten years passed away. ‘The daughter was mar- Tied in Milan, when she read in a news. paper that a certain man was to be executed ‘or murder. He was the same who had granted her requeat in her father’s wood. He was in prison, impenttent, but she travelled to sve him, and in the name of Mary optained another request of him—to make his peace with God, This prayer too he Joys, affections and suffering were all done for the honor of His Father. [How consoling would it be for us If, looking back on days that are gone, we could say we have done ali things well. On! con- soling would It be, indect, | Such A RECOLLKCTION OF A WELL SPENT LIFR ; would bring us bleased peace on the bed of doath, aud enable us lo say, with the apostie, “I now wists