People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1895 — Catholic Notes. [ARTICLE]

Catholic Notes.

St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in a most appropriate manner by the members of St. Augustine's. The Catholic Foresters attended in oody and occupied reserved seats near the altar railing. The choir sang a beautiful hymn in honor of the great saint immediately before high mass. The shamrock was everywhere conspicuous. Next Sunday a sermon will be preached at the morning service (10 a. m.) on the sacrament of baptism. Ceremenie# of Sacrament ofßaptium The solemnity with which the church administers this sacrament, though not essential to its validity, is of great importance, •'•id should by no means be omitt d. The principal object of the various rites and prayers which she makes use of, is to draw down the blessings of God upon the person to be baptised, to im press upon our minds the mag nitude of the blessings ■which we here receive, and the obligation* imposed on us by the Christian character. Conformably to the practice of the primitive church the person to be baptized is presented by his godfather and godmother, as sureties for the fulfillment of his paptismal engagements. The name which they give him on this occasion, should be that of a saint, because it is intended to remind him of his having been associated with the saints of God, and of the exertions he should make to imitate rhe virtues of his holy patron. The sponsors having asked in his name to be admitted to the faith, various ceremonies are performed to prepare the soul for the grace of baptism, such as blowing thrice on the face, in contempt of satan and commanding him to, depart; imprinting the sign of the cross, first on the forehead, to signify that we should never be ashamed to make open profession of the faith of Christ, and then on the breast, to impress the desire which we should have at all limes to obey the commandments of God; putting into the mouth a grain of blessed salt as an emb lem of true wisdom and of the happy influence of divine grace in preserving the soul from cor ruption of sin. Then, after re peated exorcisms to expel the evil spirit, the person is conduc ted from the interior of the church where he makes a sol emn profession of faith, and his ears and nostrils are touched with spittle in imitation of our Savior, when He cured the deaf and dumb man, the priest at the same time saying, “Be tho;> opened,” to signify that the senses should be ever opened to tne truth and grave of Gad. To a solemn renunciation of the devil and all his pomps and works, succeeds the unction with holy oil; first, on the breast to denote the courage imparted by the Spirit of God, to combat and overc >me the enemy of sal vation; then, betwt e i the snoulders to express the necessity of this same courage in supporting the crosses and trials which wu must necessarily meet with during life. After a second profession of faith the sacrament is administered by pouring consecrated ■water on the head of the person, with the words ordained by Christ: “I baptize thee in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” The new Christian is then anointed on the top of the head with the sacred chrism, as an emblem of the eminent character which he has received and of his special consecration to the service of God. After this a white gar ment is laid upon him to denote the robe of innocence with which he is clothed in baptism, and lastly a burning light is put in io his hand to signify the lamp of laith which he is always to keep burning with the oil of <-harity and good works, that he may be ever readv to go forth and meet the heavenly bride groom, and be admitted to that I happy nuptial feast which will I have' no end. St Patrick's Duv at leaeville. That last Sunday was St. Patrick’s day was very evident at Collegeville, not only from the celebration commemoration of the day, the religious exercises jin the morning and the literary entertainment »n the evening, ! but also from the “wearing of the green” which told its talebetter than words could have done. Green was indeed predominant. It was to be seen in ribbons and shamrocks on the co"sof the Rev. Fathers and th stu-lents; on hats, canes and umbrellas; everywhere, in fact, except the flag-staff over the college building, which was rei served for the stars and stripes.

The day was commenced with the celebration of High Mass at 8 a. m., followed by an excellent discourse by the Rev. M. F. Walz who spoke eloquently upon tho Apostle of Ireland and proved that it is not necessary to have Irish blood coursing through the veins in order to appreciate his great work and to wear a spray of shamrock in his honor. The literary program, the chief feature of the day commenced at 7 p. m. in the “Auditorium,” under the auspecies of the Columbian Literary Society. After an opening piece by the College band, Mr. Besinger stepped to the front of the stage and displayed his well known elecutionary abilities in the recitation of “Erin’s Flag.” Mr. Cogan then read an essay: “The Poor Scholar.” a weil written paper describing the manner in which the priests of Ireland were educated during the days of the penal laws. He was followed by Mr. Pfeifer with a guitar solo which so captivated the audience as to call for an encore. The Society’s paper The Columbian was read next by editor Fitzpatrick, Mr. Buerersang “The sinking ship” and upon an encore gave “That Fatal Pack of Cards” and Mr. Conroy delivered an oration on Irish Patriotism which was highly applauded. A humerous recitation by Mr. Seimetz who was dressed in Irish attire, ended the program. It was a source of regret that the sickness of several members of the college band prevented the ex ecution of music prepared especially for the occasion and con fined the musical part of the program to ordinary selections. The program was a success, nevertheless, as the frequent applause of the audience among whom were many visitors from Rensselaer and the vicinity bore testimony. Surry, March 21.—Weather fine and roads good, wild geese and ducks plenty. D. B. Nowels was to our neigh bo r hood gun day. Mrs'. G. M. Wilcox isconvalesing. Wonder why Jake Gilmorgoes to Surry S. W. Mooney and his lad., spent Sunday evening at Thomas* Gilmores. Simon Kenton has been on the sick list for the past week, but is bel ter at this writing. C. D. Thornton was the guest of Miss Katie Gilmore Sunday evening. T F. Lang has not gone west yet as he was out of a ii nb Sunday evening. D. B. Nowels has bought a herd of steers. M.s*es Lillie Lang and Elsie Rowen are on the sick li>t. W. D. Parks and C. B Knigh were the guests of Miss Alda Kenton last Saturday evening James Gilmore is indisposed, heart trouble being the cause. Warner Hopkins and his lady w mt to church in town last Sunuay evening. Melvin Kenton one of our ypung men of Surry, went Chic ago one day lust week on business. Chas. Pullins shipped a car load of cattle from this place Thursday night. Miss Maggie Lang spent la-t Sunday at home. Wild Anna. Wheatfield. March 21. Born to Mr. and Mrs George Stimble on the 18m, a -iri, Geo. is the happiest man on earth. Grandma Brown who has been quite poorly for the past few clays is reported better at this writing. , Wm. Souders hos moved with his family to Stoneyvule >u the C. C. & I *' railroad thi ,*ide of Goodland w iere he expects to keep boarde>s. Those who are at present enrolled on the sick list a,e Mrs. John Greve*, Jim bwisher, L. Langdon, Grandma Pago. Mr. and Mrs Scott, Mr*, ije nick, i Bill Brown, Grandpa Taylor, ! Mrs. Jou den and Lucy Taylor all of whom areconvaie->ing. Dr. Horton the dentist of Rensselaer who was here Monday and Tuesday of last week was kept very busy and still J here were many who chidj too date to get their work done this time and will have to come again at the next appointment. We learn that the branch of the I. 1,. & I. Railroad ca*.v J the Bufialo run, running on the C. C. &I. C. railroad from Wheatfield to New Buffalo and retnrn . will be taken off April Ist, 1895, at which time the I. I. & I. railway will piuce their man in the .old depot (which has been fitted up for that purpose), and will