The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume], May 19, 1878, Morning, Page 4, Image 4

About The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881

Image provided by: Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge, LA

                
` Ioruming tar and Catholic Messenger.
mWLU.MMD 1,VBT URnDAT MORUNRo.
gW UrLU.ANS, aUNDAT., MAY 1!. ire.
1DAI OF T13 w K.
:i{~av ..May -I-Fourtb Sunday alter Easter. Lt.
P.5I toe|ee£r. 'o- .
alssay.... MaLy -. Hensadlne of tlenna. Roll
.]ay !1-gaL !ells of Osstalice.
.. May 4-tlt. Julia V.lrjl ad Martyr.
..Way ia]-S Deslir. Bishouand Marlyr.
....a.s 94-F)sst of Oar Lady of Good Help.
»...May n-5-..Oregory VII.,Pope.
We understand that the Very Rev. G. Ray
mend, V. G., who left last week for Europe,
willb e absent only three months.
The annual fair for the bentfit of St. Joseph's I
Paroehial ScBohool, Mobile, closed on the night
,e1 the 7th inst. It was a fine success.
Right Rev. Thaddena Amat, C. M., Bishop
:r Monterey and Los Angelous, died in the last
aamed place on the 12th.inat. IIe was conse- e
Orated March 12th, 1rK,4.
Archbishop Gibbons has appointed Rev. Ed
ward MeOolgan, pastor of St. Peter's Churob,
toeccueed the late Father Dubreiul as Vicar
loeral of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Seoen thousand aorts of land have been i
aeeght in Virginia, upon which will be organ- c
ised a vast industrial farm for the benefit of t
tha Catholic colored people of the State. The
rnamdictines will takeobergeof this oh aritable
work.
The Catholic papers of Rome state that at I
hie next Consistory Pope Leo will make Cardl
--ls of the following named ecclesiastica:
Mgl. Ricci, Majordomo; Mgr. Gallo, Voe-Ca
aerlengo, and Mgr. Prosperi.Buzzi. Some of
lb. papers add Mgr. Meglia, Nonoio at Paris. t
One of the moat serious otjeotiors yet raised c
totheMoffet bell.punch, was urged in the New
Tork Legislature last week upon a discussion r
of the bill establiahing the tax. It was that
Sthere would be danger of an earthquake
from the ringing of the bellse when everybody
took his 11 o'clock drink."
- His Grace, the Most Rev. Archbishop, has re- I
osived the Encyclical Letter of Pope Leo XIII,
a translation of which, by the Liverpool Calthe
lc TZime, we publish elsewhere in to-day's 1
MogNzro STAR. liis Grace received, at the
same time, the Apostolio Blessing for himself, I
the Rev. Clergy and all the faithful of his
robhdiocese.
Our readers will be pleased to learn that
Professor II. A. Blake, las met with tte most I
fattering success,aso far, in his tour through the
Southern parishes of the State. Ilia enter
talnmente, at New Iberia nd Fansse Point, in
particular, gave very general satisfaction. Pro
ssor Blake will next visit Jeanueret and Pat
-rsonville, and on the `2lnd and 2:!rd will be in
'Morgan City.
CONFoIRMArTIONs.--Since our last issue His
hrace, the Most Rev. N. J. 'Perohe, Archbishop
of New Orleans, has administered the Saers
mentof Confirmation to the number of persons
and at the churches mentioned below :
a aday, May 12-a-- th dral ..... .............. . "
*' ' ~ 8tM r) '* lani h',a.,oA ' ) ........ 1,0
'lhoerday. May lI.-tt. Annes .................. :
Priday, May 17--in h. own private chapel ....... 4
The four persons confirmed by hlie Grace in
-ia own chapel are adults recently converted
to the faith.
T. Fitzwil'iam & Co., stationers andt entgra
-tver, 76 Camp street, have favored us
with a finely executed engraving of the
140 Monument, now being built in -
Les Place (formerly Tivoli Circle). The
eagraving, though done on stone, possesacs
all the sharpness and softness of a oopper-plato
eagraving, and is aconvincing evidence of the
b. lity of this tirm to do cnoh work in as
U oartls a manner as it can be done anywhere.
Coples of the engraving are for sale, and we
have no doubt that many of our readers only
need this Information to possess themselves of I
a oopy without unnecessary delay.
We regret exceedingly the disappointment
which will be experienced by all our city
naeders at our failure to publish, to-day, the
i'psgramme f.,r the Complimentary Benefit
tendered Mrs. Theresa Cannon lackley to take
pleas in St. Patrick's Hall, Monday evening,
Jane3rd. This failure is due to the anxiety of
the managers to present such an entertainment
.s will please not only people of highly culti
wated musical tsetes, but particularly the
masses who are so fond of national airs and
simple ballads. In order to perfect the de
tells of such an entertainment more time was
sequired; but we are assured that next San
day we will have the fall prcgrammne. That
It will be very attractive in all reespects is as
asred ,by the inoe musical talents anli great expc.
deoce f the bnericiary arid thei ladies anid .ge.
tlemen who are assisting her.
On the t t: of April the Urealinee of Aix la
Chapelie had t, cloe, thteir educatioual estab
lishment, ly order of the (G;crrlan (;iavernment.
It was a day of sorrow for the whole town, but
maore particularly for the ch.thrca who were
onder the good Sisters" care. After IIly Maese
had een said for the last tirm, in the convent
chapel, about !,)0 pupils assembled in the
srfectory, where the Reotor of St. L.eonard
made them acquainted with the sad fact that
Sthe 8isters could no longer irstroct them, as
they had to leave the convent and the town.
To this announcoement, which was received
lwith loud sobs, the priest added the exhorta
taon to the children always to behave in such
a manner as to remain a standing credit to the
parting good Bisters. Then the usuanl cere
,eoy of publicly delivering certificates of
, dligence and good conduct took place, after
hlch a pupil of each class came forward, and
ia the name of her fellow pupils thanked the
.I rloress and the other Sisters in heartfelt
iors for all the good they had received
them whilst under their guidance. Each
er accompanied her little speech with a
mber of beautiful gifts, as tokens of their
*ad gIatitude, and then the company
p with signs of deepest sorrow.
Religlous Liberty In assaohusetts.
In the ease of Rev. Father McKenna, re
cently decided by the Supreme Court of
Massachusetts, that tribunal sustained
the Judgment of a lower court giving
damages against Father McKenna under
peculiar circumstances. He had been
called to the poor-house to visit a dying
woman. She desired to receive the usual
sacraments, including penance, and the
matron of the establishment concluded to
be present at her confession. Father Mc
Kenna insisted on her leaving; she
refused, and be put her out. He was sued
for assault, and the jury gave a verdict
against him, which, as we stated above,
was recently sustained by the Supreme
oourt of the State.
Technically speaking, the matron had
tontrol of the house and every apartment
n it. She had a general right to be
wherever she pleased upon the premises.
But was that right absolutely unlimited?
as it possible that the laws of Massachn
!ett can mean to impose upon the inmates
)f such houses a slavery so abject as to be
without the right to one moment of priva
:y at any time whatever T But suppose
hat there is such a law, is it, can it be,
)inding, when the interests of eternity are
it stake If Would any true Christian be
n conscience bound to obey a law that
rohibited him from doing those things
which Christ has commanded him to do ?
,ertainly not; but one of the most imper
ative duties of a priest is to administer the
sacraments of the Church to those desiring
hem, and particularly in extremity. He
:annot, then, and will not, obey any law
which prevents such action, unless supe
ior power forces him to do it.
We do not precisely know the circum
ltances in this case, but suppose Father
licKenna's action to have been necessary
o the administration of the sacrament.
In that case he was certainly justifiable
aorally in doing as he did, without vio
lence of manner or harshness of any kind.
Sotonly was bojustifiablebut he wasimper
stively bound to do it. lie could not im
peril the salvation of an immortal soul
while stickling about some minor legal
provision or social etiquette.
This being the case, ought not an en
lightened court to tind sonim way of pro
tecting such action as his, illegal in a tech
nical sense only, and justifiable under
every aspect of moral law and good con
science 7 Are there no general principles
securing the liberty of conscience Is
there no public policy abhorring and for
bidding slavery I We speak not of the
rights of the priest, but of the rights of the
dying penitent. Had she no right at such
a moment, higher and more potent than
some little, narrow, township regulation 7
For our part we believe that she had an
absolute, indefeasible right to save her
soul in spite of all laws, and to take such
steps looking to that end as to her seemed
necessary.
HBt if the Sipreme Court could not take
that view of the case, it certainly could
not for a moment disguise to itself the
infamous brutality of the woman who
would play eaves-dropper at the confes
sional of a dying fellow-creature. The
judges could not blind themselves to the
tact that Father McKenna acted entirely
without malice and solely from a sense of
inty. In tbaicase they should have lim
ited the verdict to the traditional legal but
nominal damage of one cent, and have
stigmatized the woman's outrage as it de
served.
We find nothing of this, however, in
their judgment, no reprobation of the ma
tron's brutal bigotry, no sympathy for the
dying pauper, no regret that an imperfect
law forces them to an apparent injustice.
This is to be regretted, as it leaves them
in an equivocal position of neutrality on an
issue where no decent man can be neutral.
Labor in Politics.
There are two classes of men in politics,
and only two, when political tendencies
are reduced to their first and broadest elo
ments. Some men think that almost every
thing ought t. be done by the national
government ; that whenever government
can take charge of any work it will be bet
tcr done than by privateonterprise. ()Ohers
hold that government work is "s3 econ
oorical, lees energetic and less honest than
that cotnducted by individuals; that the
cit;z'n degerneratcs and sinks in the scale
of n:anhood Lby- shiting his responsibilities
on the government and putting himself in
the position of a cl.ild ; that multiplicity of
otlices is the very motlher of corruption,
and that civil government departs from the
object of its creation whenover it goes be
yond providing for general order and pro
tection. Men of the former class naturally
desire to see government enlarging its field
of operations: those of the latter class
would inexorably limit the action of the
government to those functions, and those
alone, which it is utterly imrhssible for
individuals to exercise whether singly or
in combination. It will be remarked that
this distinction has no reference to strength
of government, but only to its scope.
We are not aware that philologists have
settled upon any two terms as ensfti
eiently descriptive of these two classes. In
this country the latter class have for many
years been called Democrats, while the
former have enjoyed the various titles of
Federalists, Whigs and Republoanes.
None of these names is indicative of the
distinction alluded to. The nearest ap
proach that we know of to a descriptive
title in this connection is that of "Paternal"
government as applied to the principles
favored by the first class. It assumes to do
for its citizens as a father for his minor
children.
We may therefore call the class who
favor such a government, "Paternalists."
The second class we may as well, for want
of something better, style, "Individual
ists," that is, men who would leave to is
davidual enterprise and ffort every thing
that is not essentially national in its
character.
So much being premised, we come to our
subject. The Paternalists of this conatry
(or Republicans) are said to be negotiating
a combination with the workingmen's
party. They are liberal of promises to
their expected allies. The government is to
right the wrongs of laborers and make
them happy. It is to project and inaug
urate vast works of public improvement
on which a laboring man can always get
a job if he choose. No man in this country
need, in that case, have a moment's ap.
prehension on the question of employ
ment. He may look the far-cff future
steadily in the eye and snap his fingers at
prospective hard times and business stag
nation. Moreover, government work, as we
all know, means half work with nobody to
watch you, so that people will have not
only plenty of woik but plenty of time to
do it in.
Truth to say, the Republican party needs
allies. Its unhappy Southern record has
left it in a sorry plight in which to come
before the country, and its most sanguine
adherents must feel quite uncertain of its
future fate. The new blood of a working
men's party infused into its veins may
give it another lease of life, and probably
will, if the scheme be consummated. It has
been successively the patron of a high pro
tective tariff which the victimized sections
will no longer stand, of a run-mad Aboli
tionism which plunged the country into a
frightful war, and, finally, of a sectional
persecution which for a time flattered the
bigotry of a powerful majority but of which
they are now ashamed.
Another line of action in imperatively
needed, and to all present appearances that
line is going to be upon the policyof a vast
system of public works. It is calculated to
propitiate the South which needs levees,
railroads and steamship lines, and it is a
direct bid for the immense vote of the suf
fering, starving labor class.
Who shall pretend to say that this new
combination will not be a power. Of course
it will have to change its name, for "Re
publican" stinks in the nostrils of decent
people, not only South but North. We may
fondly hope, too, that it will give the
quietus to sectionalism, and divide parties,
not upon geographical lines, but altogether
irrespectively of latitude and longitude.
So much of the result we shall gladly
welcome, but as to the final effect upon the
"allies," we have misgivings. The only
true friend of labor as distinguished from
capital is Christianity. The world has no
real love for the poor and the humble.
It is always trying to enslave them for the
rich, who are its pete. It is Christ alone
who says of them that they are his brothers,
his children, his beloved.
The only real friend and ally of the
laboring class is the Catholic Church. It
has always been and must always be such.
We are very much afraid that the ex-Re
publican party is going to swindle the
laborers out of their votes and pay them in
Dead sea fruit.
The Orangemen in Canada are preparing
for a big row on the 12th of July, and all
the glory of having worked up the trouble
will belong, as in the past, to the Young
Briton organization. These broils were
almost unknown in Canada till that organ
ization was started, in 1867, by H. P.
Gowan, son of O. R. Gowan, the father of
Orangeism in Canada. Though at first
confined to Torcnto the Young Briton or
ganization now has lodges in every section
of the Dominion and a membership of
twenty thousard. It is controlled by a
Grand Lodge which nmcets annually. Its
members are divided into three classes,
the Orangeo True Bluee, Apprentice Ioys
and Britorns. Bo~ys of 12 are admitted into
the tirstnamed class. The order is a nur
eery for Orangeiemn proper. When a Young
Briton gets into his twenties he passes up
into an Orange lodge and becomes a full
fledged son of William. Some of the ti
bornian societies of Canada also have junior
or cadet associations attached to them, and
to these boy organizations much ot the bit
terness of the faction feeling now alarm
ingly prevalent is due. When they meet
on tue street they fight, and their Orange
and Catholic seniors are quickly drawn
into the melee. An act prohibit
ing persons from joining secret soci
eties until they have reached their
twenty-fifth year has been prepared more
than once, but the politicians are afraid to
touch it.
St. Agnes Academy, in Memphis, was de
stroyed by fire on the morning of the I;.h
inst. The building, furniture, etc., were in
sured for 2L,000, which will about cover the
Sloss.
Jefersea college, t. James Parish.
Last Sunday, the Feast of the Patronage of
St. Joseph, the students of Jefferson College,
which is under the control of the MaristFa
there, gave their annual entertainment in honor
of the FatherPresident, Very Rev. J. B. Bigot,
8. M. This day is always a joyful one for the
college; but it was especially sa in the present
case, for the interesting programme, joined to
the fine weather, gave every prospect of spend
lg a pleasant afternoon. Long before the
commencement of the entertainment, the spa
olous hall of the college was filled by a select
audience, several of whom had come many
miles to be present on the occasion.
About two o'clock, the proceedings oom
menced by an overture, "La Caravane," execut
ed with great effect by the fine brass band of
the college. We were happy tose that Jeffer
son College has not forfeited its right to the
reputation it has so long enjoyed of produoing
good musicians, especially when we heard the
piano solo by Master Claverie. As an agree
able variety the third item was a chorus, one
of the finest pieces of Spofforth. Not only was
it appropriate to the season : "Come bounteous
May," but its harmony was everything that
could be desired, while its execution spoke well
for the pupils and their music master.
Then followed the leading feature of the en
tertainment: "The Prophet Daniel," or "The
Triumph of Duty and Justice," a sacred drama
in four acts. The subject, taken frou_aHoly Scrip
ture, forms one of the most interestingepisodes
in the history of the Jewish people. It con
tains a great fund of instruction under a pleas
ing form. However dilicult it may be to per
form such a piece, the students on this occasion
showed themselves equal to their task. They
rendered admirably well all the pathos of that
great event. The audience could not but
admire the dignity and naturalness of Master
J. Roman as Darius, King of the Medes. At
the same time Daniel's firmness in resisting
the impious decree, joined to his calm confi
dence in the protection of the God of his
Fathers, captivated everyone, and showed to
advantage the acting powers of Master O Ro
man, Master F. Choppin, as Pharnabazos, the
deadly enemy of Daniel, acted to the life, es
pecially when plotting the destruction of"that
miserable Jewc." Many were moved to tears at
the feeling appeals made to Darius by the two
children, in behalf of the condemned Prophet.
The fourth act was particularly interesting, as
it represented the miraculous deliverance of
Daniel and the punishment of his enemies.
Between the acts several musical pieces were
given. The "Concerto," by the orchestra, was
quite a treat for the numerous lovers of music
who were present, while the two vocal selec
tions "Comrades in arms," and the "Capstan
Chorus," were especial favorites.
After this came a laughable piece, entitled
"Poisoned," a farce in one act. The audience
were kept in a continual roar cf laughter by
the comical blunders of Sam, (Master J. Sevier),
the servant of Mivins, (Master P. F. Choppin.)
Mivins had procured a bottle of deadly poi
son for killing rats, and had put it into a cup
board strictly forbidding Sam to touch it. As
soon as the master's back was turned, Sam, full
of curiosity, wanted to know all about the bot
tle. By soma blunder he spilled the poison,
and in order not to be detected filled the bot
tle with water. Mivine came in soon after,
and in a fit of abstrao'ion drank the contents
of the bottle. Great was the hubbnb when he
perceived what he had done. Thinking him
self poisoned he sent for a doctor. It was only
after the arrival of the medical man that Sam
could prevail upon himself to explain to his
master what had taken place. So by a mis
take on Sam's pa't, Mivins escaped poisoning.
The interesting entertainment was brought
to a close by a grand finale played by the brass
band.
Picture Books.
We all have a leaning towards the beautiful,
and even if we are of a scholastic turn of
mind, naturally give the preference to books
that are illuminated with sketches of the ob
jects described in the work. When these draw
ings are high specimens of art, and the read
ing matter on scenes with which our interests
are intimately conneoted, the value of the
work is greatly enhanced. Of all books, those
intended for the guidance of strangers visiting
a commercial mart or popular resort, require
most the aid of the pencil of the painter. We
are therefore pleased to know that Mr. J. Cur
tis Waldo has engaged the services of Mr.
Charles Knobelook, a competent and talentel
artist, to make the drawings for his forth
coming work, the " Illustrated Visitors' Guide
to New Orleans." Mr. Knobelook has made
sketches at the Carrollton Gardens, New Lake
End, Crescent City Rifle Park, and of the stores
of Messrs. Suhmidt & Ziegler, Zaberbier &
Behan, George E. Strong and others, all of
which are pronounced by competent judges
the most perfect drawings they have ever
seen. Mr. Waldo prolilses the most elegant
Guide Book ever pub:ished in the South, and
we have no doubt the work, when comp!eted,
will be fully equal to the most sanguine ex
pectations cf the friends of the enterprise.
Societies for the perservation of the Irish
Language exist in Boston, Brooklyn, New
Haven, Pittsburg and other Northern citiks.
The oldest and most powerful of them is the
Boston society, which is said to have about
3000 members. The Brooklyn society, which is
only a year old, numbers over a hundred mem
bers and is progressing favorably. The tutor,
M. J. Logan, is a highly accomplished gentle
man who, tillihe was twenty years old, did not
know a wordof English. We have heard of no
branch of this Society as being in existence
here orin any other Southern city.
The Abbe Debaize, who has been commis
sioned by the French Government to cross
Africa from Ineibar to the Atlantic Ocean,
embarked at Marseilles on the 23d ot April.
He expects to be gone three years. Nine mis
sionaries from Algiers accompany him to Ean
sibar, to establish Catholic missions at Lakes
Victoria and Tauganika.
NSW PUBLICATIONS.
Ths Epiritsal Ma; or 274 S'iritual Lýfe re.
dsoed to its first principles. Translated from
the French of Rev. J. s. Saint-Jore, 8. J.,
New York, P. O. Shea.
The very title of this book together with the
name of its illustrious author, announoes at
once its useful object, interesting matter and
able treatment. Concerning the manner and
value of its English rendering, we can use no
more suitable words than these of our own be
loved and venerable Arohbishop, himself one
of the most profound scholars of the age :
"As the writings of Reverend J. B. Saint
Jare 8. J., rank high among the beest spirit
eual works. we joyfully authorize the publi
oation, in E.nlish, of his book entitled
L'Hormes Spirituel The translation, by a
Religious of our diocese, is not only faultless,
bat elegant ; and we rejoloe in the hope that
this excellent work, which we oordially re
oo.nmend both to clergy and laity, will be
usefnl to a vast number of son's.
' t Naroczoxr JOEsPH,
Archbishop of New Orleans."
We learn from the publisher that this valua
ble work is for sale at the Catholic Bookstores,
generally.
Anthony; or, The Sihrar Crucifix. Translated
from the Frenoh of H. De Beognon.
Conversations on Home Education ; or a Mother's
Adrice to her Children. Translated from the
French by the Lady Blanche Murphy.
The Adventures of a French Captain, at present a
Texas Planter. By Joust Girard. Translated
from the French.
Here are three attractive presentation books,
just issued from the press of Messrs. Benziger
Brothers, New York, Cincinnati and St. Louis,
at the very moment when such books are
sought for by teachers to use as rewards for
their most deserving pupils.
The first volume is an interesting story in
ouloating a wholesome moral, the second, a
very thorough manual of instructions on sub
jects of vital interest to every woman, while
the third portrays some phases of American
frontier life that will be now to many young
readers.
The whole series is printed on good paper,
in large, clear type, and bound in brilliant
e3vers, embellished with gold and ink arabes
quee; but doubtless many conscientious Catho
lice will consider that their greatest claim to
pnblio esteem lies in the fact that they all
bear the approval of His Eminence, Cardinal
McCloskey.
Handbook of Instructions and Devotions for the
Children of Mary. Translated from the
French, by Rev. J. P. O'Connelr, D. D. New
York; Catholic Publication Society Co. 1878.
This little manual has been widely used in
France for nearly forty years, and seeing its
great usefulness, it is wonderful that so long a
period should have elapsed before it was placed
within the reach of English readers. As the
translator justly says, "it is, indeed, a most
useful and invaluable guide, not only for Sod
alities of young ladies, but for every pious
Catholic maiden. That it may be profitable
to all those who seek to love and imitate Mary
here below, and may lead them through the
door of her heart to heaven, is the earnest
prayer of the translator."
Ths Church and the Gentile World. By Aug. J.
Theband, S. J. New York: Peter F. Collier.
This fine work of the learned Father The
band is in two volumes, comprising about
one thousand pages and accompanied by
four maps, bound separately, so that the
reader can follow the writer as he unfolds the
marvellous spread of Christianity from Jerusa
lem, the starting point, over the whole known
world.. The design of the work is to show that
the establishment of the Christian religion
was not effected by human means alone; but
first and above all by miraculous agencies, by
the supernatural interposition of divine Prov
idence, planning, directing. and accomplishing
events in.His own time and by His own chosen
instruments.
It is difficult to review the book with cold
and critical phrases while the warm lines are
open before us, and the magnificent details
chain our whole attention. Closing the two
volumes and looking at them as a whole, we
know not how to begin, in order to show the
wide and splendid field through which Father
Thebaud leads the Christian mind.
Interior Asia, Persia, Armenia, India, the
Greek-speaking countries, Rome, Western Eu"
rope and Africa, these are the places we are
invited to explore, and where w" are to meet
evidences of missionary zeal and apostolic
labor in the very earliest ages of the Church.
The chapters onu Prophecies are exceedingly
interesting, and reveal the wonderful workings
of the divine plan in a clear and startling man
ner. The profound knowledge of ancient
rites, of classic works, of philosophic lore, all
make this work a standard guide in these mat
ters ; and as a grand didactic work regarding
the spread of Christianity, there is none to
compare with it in the English tongue. The
Unity, Catholicity and Apcstolicity of the
Church are shown forth in all the labors of
the past, in all the wonderful events of every
sgo, in all the persecutions brought to bear
against Her minsion, and, in all the marvellonus
disposition of circumstances by which She
was to prove Herself the Teacher of Nations.
Deep and learned as the book is, it still pre
serves throughout, that simplicity of style
which marks undeniable geninus, for its object
Is, to be understood, and not to so involute its
sentences and obscure its words as to pass for
an oracle of wisdom, by the mere fact of not
being comprehended.
The scholar will, of course, revel in the
wealth of erndition and of thought displayed
in its pages; but even the ordinary intelligent
reader will find it singularly attractive, and
will discover after its perusal, that he has
treated himself to an amount of knowledge,
geographical, historical, philosophical and re
ligionus, which, in ages past, would have been
beyond the reach of labor, time or money.
What an age is this of books I What wealth
is poured into our hands which we scarcely
prize! Nething is more common place than
printed pages ; and yet they are to us the gol
den beds of those mighty rivers of time, into
which the treasures of eighteen centuries have
been accumulating for our enriching and erjoy
ment.
Father Theband's work, "The Church and
the Gentile World" is the golden fleece whieh
contelmn the rich deposits washbed from a whole
world of knowledge, and spread out in all liet
glitter, free to the hands of every inteoligent
Christian.
Jason fitted out large expeditions in order to
-ecure this treasure of Colehis, while we And it
brought even to our doors. If Catholics are
still to be reproached for their ignorance and
stolidity, it will not be the fault of their Reli
glon which raises up such teaobhers as Father
Theband to instruct their minds, fortify their
faith and ennoble their very personality, by
showing them what the Church has done, is
now doing, and will continue to do in behalf
of them, of unbelievers and of the world ast
large.
LETIER FROM MOBILE.
MoBaL., May 14, 187-.
"ditor Morning Star
The items of news from Mobile, in your
columns of late, have been few and far be
tween. This urges me to write you a few lines
about the official visits of our Right Reverend
Bishop on last Sunday, May the 12th, to some
of the city churches to administer the Sacra
ment of Confirmation.
THU CATHrDRAn,
at the 7 o'clock Mass was well attended, both
by the parents and the children who were to
make their First Communion, and be confirm.
ed, as well as by the many devout Catholics
who are in the habit of hearing the 7 o'clock
Mass on Sundays. The bhi!dren were care-.
fully prepared and instructed by Fathers
Keeler and Crowley, and by the good Sisters of
Charity in charge of the female school. The
number of children who approached the altar
for the first time was 51. After Maas the
Right Rev. Bishop, assisted by Fathers Brown,
Keeler and Crowley, administered the Sacra
ment of Confirmation to 57 candidates, of whom
three were converts to our Holy Faith.'
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH
was visited by the Right Rev. Bishop at 101
o'clock, and after the Mass, assisted by Fathers
Kirwan and Keeler, he administered the Sacra
ment of Confirmation to 34 candidates, two of
whom were converts to the Faith. The child
ren gave evidence of their good training and
thorough instruction under the Sisters of St.
Joseph,.by their neat, tidy locks and intelli
gent appearances. The Bishop spoke to the
children briefly, of the general effect and par
ticular effect of the Sacrament administered and
it is needless to mention that he was happy in
his remarks, as he is always on such occasions.
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH
was visited by the Right Rev. Bishop at 5
o'clock on Sunday afternoon, and he adminis
tered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 77 can
didates,of whom 11 were converts to the Faith.
He was assisted on the occasion by Fathers
Imeand, 8,. J., Serra, S. J., Brown, Deynoodi
and Kennedy, S. J. To say that a class of
children were under the inatroction of Father
Imsand, is to say that they were well prepared.
It is his delight, as he says himself, to be "with
little children." After administering the Sa
crament, the Bishop addressed the children in
his usual lucid and simple style. The Bishop
leaves this week for an entended visitation of
his Diocese, to administer the Sacrament of
Confirmation.
I mention retrospectively that Father Serra,
the veteran Jesuit missionary, has nearly com
pleted his beautiful church at Chastang's Bluff,
about twenty-one miles north of the city.
This church, under the invocation of St. Peter,
was built for the accommodation of the creole
population who live in the vicinity. The
church is a frame building, 60 feet long by 3U
feet wide, and constructed as far it goes in
modern Roman style. One old creole lady con
tributed G00 towards the building of the
Church, and though advanced in years and
necessarily feeble, she would not allow Father
Serra to build the church nearer than two
miles to her residence, adding at the same time,
that "she would walk that distance as a pen
ance for her sins." On the 9th of February last,
Father Imsand, S. J., opened a Mission in St.
Peter's and at the end of the Mission, which
lasted eight days, Father Serra had the conso
lation of seeing 33 of the children make their
First Communion. The Right Rev. Bishop
who visited the new church on the 17th of Feb
ruary accompanied by Very Rev. Father Beau
dequin, S. J., administered the Sacrament ol
Confirmation to 59 adults. The Bishop on the
occasion was assisted by Fathers Imsand and
Serra, and declared himself on his return very
much edified by the fervor and devotion Father
Serra's little flock.
LETTER FROM JACKSON, MISS.
Editor Morning Star :
We cannot appreciate your kindness better
than to go still further in your debt by asking
you once more for a little space in your valu
able paper.
The concert given by the Catholic ladies of
Jackson, for the benefit of St. Joseph's school,
was a complete success. The Jackson Times
heads it "A Rare Treat." and has the follow
ing to say concerning it:
The concert given last night was in every
respect succeestul. The hoas was well filled,
and manifestations of appreciation of the ex
cellent music were freqnent and enthusiastio.
Every part was admirably performed, the
young ladies were perfectly charming in man
ner as well as features, and the yonug gentle
men were at their bast. The Jackson Silver
Cornet Band, of which the city may justly feel
prond, discoursed the sweeteen strains. Mr. I.
Sohwartz fully maintained his reputation by
his rendition of a cornet solo, "Brightest
Eyes." Miss M. Wood sang in her usunal so
complished and artistic style. Misses Herbert,
Muller, McLanghlin and Miss Nannie Miazza
rquitted themselves in a most creditable man
ner, and were rewarded with showers of beau
tiful bonuquets. The young Missee Jehnston
and Fletcher evinced great proficienoy on the
piano, and their efforts were greeted with ap
plause. Messrs. Skellenger and Jullenne and
the Messrs. Muller did splendidly. "Walking
down Broadway," rendered by Mr. Joe Muller,
was applauded to the echo, and the bashfunl
though accomplished young gentleman carried
of a whole hat foll of bloshing roses, to msy
nothing of the blushes that suffused his manly
countenanoe. Miss Louise Jnlienne, an aooom
plished mnusician, played aooompaniments onr
the piano, and the ease, grace and precision
that chaoracterised her every movement
pr ompted many compliments, and to this mot
estimableyoung ladythe ees~e f thbe eatr-