The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-07-15 00:00:00

CONFIRMATION AT ST. JOHN'S AND
CMIIST CHURCH.

Confirmation services were held in St. John's Chnrch
on Friday. In the morning the candidates for the
sacred rite were meetly compoeed of young people from
St. John's and Holy Trinity perishes. From St.
John's there were 55, fmm Holy Trinity 16, Bothen-
hemnton 6s_Colletriate School 6, Salisbury 1, Bland.
ford 1, and Winfrith 1, altogether numbering 83. The
Bishop was attended by his chaplain, the Rev. W. A.
Moberly, the Rev. Chancellor Swayne, and the
Registrar, Mr. Fitaherbert Macdonald. Among other
erlii7r/y present were the Rev. .1. Stephenson (vicar and
deanl, the Rev. H. L. Randall (curate of the
parish', and the Rev. W. S. Shuttleworth (curate of
lb sly Trinity).
The Bishop having given the blessing to each person
I separately, he addressor' • few kizAly, plain, and
simple words to them. In the course of his address
his Lordship said he gave them all credit for being
quite in earnest in what they were doing that day, but
the question warn—What could they do to keep their
premises in all the variety of life which, through God's
movidence, they were destined to go through ?
Would they, he asked, under other circumstances, and
in times of temptation, keep the Promises made that
day? He impressed upon them to be constant and
Instant in prayer, lie spoke particularly to the boys
just now because he knew them so well. If they had been
thoughtless or negligent before, from this day forth
they could not afford to he in the least degree either
careless or neglectful. They were confirmed and what
did that mean' It meant that the Holy Spirit was
with them henceforward to strengthen and keep them
In the right way; if they had been thoughtless as
children and young boys how could they, now they
were Christian young men. be either careless or
neglectful? The Holy Spirit given them at their
confirmation ought and would make them strong if they
would take thoee means whereby the thoughts; ought
to be cherished in their hearts. Besides Prayer, he
urged upon them the importance of the Holy
Communion. There was nothing iii all this world so
great, nothi ws holy and nothing by which they ,
could so nearitc)riozol.ord and Saviour Jeep'
Christ m gat greit Tha Bishop Chao

spoke of the great good to be derived from two leper
two girl,. (seining a companionship from the day
their confirmation to help each other in all these
things, to pray for each other, t,ms to church and
Communion together, and in all spiritual Chino helping
each other. He prayed tied to Wad and keep them
firm in their resolution,., for this confirmation ought
to be • very great help to them in their Chriatian
progress, and lead them forward from etrere,th to
strength until the day when all would be called away,
and in the end of all things appear before the
judgment scat of Christ. An appn priate confirmation
hymn was then sung, and the service concluded by the
Bishop giving the benediction.
In the afternoon a second service wee held in the
same church, when 161 pertons were confirmed, coin-
pricing
alrlLeys from H.M.S. Boscawen, 6 from the
ent, and I from the Dorset County School.
Among those present were the dual dai n of the lbs,cawen
(the Rev. James Payton, 8.A.) and the following
officers,—Mr. Hicks, warrant officer ; and Messrs
Wolland, J. A. Sprang, Yates, and Docidhaton
(ednelmastens). Mr.Wolland presided at the organ.
The Bahop delivered all admirable address to the
boys, which was full of advice, and most appro-
priate, for no one we imagine is more capable
of knowing the style of an address to boy. than
Dr. Moberly. He pointed out to them that one
half of their Christian life was finished to-day ; for it
began with their Baptism and ended with their
Confirmation. The second halt begtua today and
would not be ended till they died. At this taint of
their lives they stood where they could never stand
again. He took it for granted that they were in the
habit of continually praying, for unless they could
pray to God he did not know how they could have
any share with Him. There warn much to be repented
of, and much to he contested, if they hail not bad
proper training in their two homes. He wanted
them before they went on to the future to make their
peace with God, for sins already committed. Some of
them might be destined to become very old men, and
others might be called away very tam, hut whether
their lived be long or short, one, part, and that not the
least ingertant, of their Christian life was done that
,lay. Before they passed in to the future he leargcl
thens to make acknowledgment and confession before
Gssl of the things they had done which they must
have known to be sinful and wrong.
In the suhsement admirals after the blessing, the
Bishop said he believed they were all earnest in what
they had done. He did not know hew anyone could
doubt that Confirmation was is wholesome, useful, and
edifying thing. Never was Confirmation so important
and is. nect--ry these days, when no Lege a
proportion of the children were baptised before they
were °machete of the nature et Baptism. Upon the
warrant of apostolic tin... they were taught it, and he
believed that to those who received it faithfully and
with prayer, and with a full intention of doing what
they promised, there came the additional strength of
the Holy Ghost to strengthen them to do what they
Promised. Sleeking to them was different to speaking
to an ordinary cons:natation. Their temptation. and
occupations were very different to those in ',aright.,
and words which were suitable to ordinary congrega-
tions were not suitable to them. He knew very little
of the dangers and trials. to which they werelikelyto be
subjected, and he only wished he could speak to them
with that knowledge that be was able to address other
congregations. In the first place he would say to them
—Pray. He did not know how they did in this
matter, but he knew that when there were many boys
together there were Kollle who set themselven against
it, and neglected to pray. But he es odd not condemn
them, bemuse it might be that they had not leen
taught better. Now, however, they were baptized
and confirmed, and had promised before Gel and
man to be true and faithful eervanta. If they did
not know any prayers, he urged upon them to
go to their chaplain and ask him to give them some.
and ay them regularly night and day. They should
watch and pray—pray continually, and not be ashamed
of their prayers under any circumstances. He al.,
impressed upon them the necessity. if Holy Communion,
for, said he, if they neglected the apintaud Gest their
souls would die of starvation. He warned them against
all dames of sin—evil words, and evil unholy converea-
tion, and the like—for the life before them wag full
of dangers; but dill he reminded them that they were
all in the hands of God, and were as much under His
protection on the sea, as three who seemed to be living
safely on shore. He prayed God to bleNs them, he
with then; and protect them wherever they went, and
help them to keep thoroughly and earnestly the vows
they had made.—On the following day there wag a
collimation service at Christ Church, and the Bishop
gave rem very wholesome advice hi the large number
of young persona who were confirmed.