Brethren, there is one other place where you may study the necessity of religion — by a man's deathbed. Death dispels illusions and brings us back to the realities of life. Many a life-long argument as to the uselessness of religion has been disproved at the hour of death. Even that arch-atheist, Voltaire, acknowledged his error at the last, and would have called in the ministers of religion were they not forcibly kept away from him by the members of the society he himself had founded — the " Society for the Protection of Man from His God." That of so many unbelievers so few die in their unbelief is the strongest argument for the necessity of religion. And of those who carry their unbelief beyond the grave, witness the horrible death of one such, and tell me if that is not even a stronger argument. I have seen one such that I am not likely soon to forget— such that even now I turn in horror from the remembrance. But assist at the death of a faithful child of God — a young Catholic boy or girl — on their face that look of peace and love one sees on the face of a nun — the quick flash of the closing eyes as they get their first glimpse of their glorified Saviour — and the tremble of the lips as they settle into a smile that reflects the peace of heaven. Truly, blessed in the sight of God and man is the death of God's saints.
Brethren, let the services to-day be a repetition of the scene at Nairn. Pray to Our Lord for the conversion of sinners. To Our Lord, the Comforter of souls, that He may console the sad heart of many a mourning woman. To Our Lord, the Converter of
