who have their consolation here. Lazarus may be in Abraham's bosom and Dives buried in hell, but the rich man here is our ideal and the beggar is the beggar still. Why, so imbued are we with worldliness that if, perchance, some poor blind sinner turns to God and cries: " Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me," a dozen straightway rebuke him and bid him hold his peace. Those disloyal Israelites sought eagerly to spread disloyalty, and everywhere are found bad Christians, careless Catholics, who would in wisdom fain precede the Lord and still the voice of penitence. O Saviour! during this Lent and Mission, do so afflict those sinful men, so blind them to the world, that with softened hearts and straining ears they may listen for Thy passing footsteps and cry out: " Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me; Son of David, have mercy on me! "
Brethren, there is one sin, especially, at which the Lenten mission aims — the worship of the false god, Bacchus. Some say it is a modern vice, but no, it dates back to the Deluge. Bacchus was worshipped in the Egypt of the Ptolemies, and in ancient Greece and Rome — nations, mind you, now extinct or fallen under Turkish sway. The Roman Senate once forbade this worship — an eloquent contrast to Christian governments that foster it and license it. It is safe to say, in fact, that Bacchus gets more votaries from Christians than from Pagans. They point to us with scorn. Every Christian drunkard delivers to the Gentiles once again the Son of man to be mocked and scourged and spit upon. Ah! when we think how
