The New York herald., 1874-04-06
CHRIST PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Interesting Confirmation Scrvice--Ad-
dress OF Bishop A. N. Littlejohn, d. ID.
The services at Christ Protestant Episcopal
church, on Bedford avenue, were unusually In
teresting and attractive yesterday. In the morn
ing the elegant edifce was filed to repietion, 1t
having been previously announced that the Rev.
Dr. Lttlejohn, the Bishop OF Long Island, would
be present and celebrate the rite OF confirmation.
Rev. DR.. Partridge, the esteemed rector, and Pro-
fessor Barton OF New York, assisted in conducting
the service. The chancel, the font and the read
ing desk were tastefnny decorated with choice
flowers, whose fragrance blended with the de-
vOtiOns OF the wOrsnippers The music which
was under the direction OF Mr.. william Richard
son, the organist, was admirably rendered
by Mrs. Cable soprano; Mrs. Blinn, contralto; Mr..
Louis Becher, tenor; Mr.. Frederick Condir, bary-
tone, and Mr.. James Bates, basso, assisted by
chorus OF thirty adults and boys. The selections
consisted OF an Easter anthem-"Chrlst Our
Passover" by Millard; Glorias, by Mosenthal ana
the Te Deum, Jubllate, and On'ertory-"Ye Faith
full Souls, /" by Warren. At the termination of the
usual liturgicai service thirty young ladies and
gentlemen presented themselves as candidates Tor
confirmation. The Bishop laid his nands upon
each Of them respectively, accompanied BY the
heavenly grace; that he for sne) may continue
Thine forever, and daily increase in
% %s co@s unso P' THY %0re everlasting
Amen" Bishop Lttlejohn then said he Thought
1t best to decline preaching. and reserve
whatever strength Of voice he had to utter few
words OF counsel and admonition to those who
presented themselves on that occasion to receive
forth secured to them the privileges ard blessings
OF membership IN the visible body OF Christ's
Church He welcomed them with the felicity and
them IN her means OF grace aud blessed fellowship
OF saints. The occasion was full OF interest to
take that step which was bound up with every.
thing In their future lives: and he uhe Bishop
gregatIon would be invigorated, ana their work
enlarged and intensified by their act OF consecra-
ton to the service Of their Divine Master. II was
an occasion, too, over which the whole Church
reJolced, OF which that parish was but part;
but she beheld in each Of them, reJolcingly, the
spiritual nurture which had gradually prepared
and rlpened them for that service. Everything in
their previous religious training was gathered up
Ghost. Not only did the Church rejoice, but o
higher order OF created beings looked upon the
service with sympathetic JOY, ior the Scriptures
stated that angels rejoiced over one sinner that
repented. And then tney could not forget that
they stood amid the beautiful types OF reviving ma
ture and that upon their still fingered those
jubilant notes which reminded them OF the glorious
tact OF Christ rising from the dead and OF the ieiic
ties that gathered around this queen Of the sacred
festivals in the Christian Church. On that day the
Christian world enabled to plant their iee as it
were, on the first plank OF that bridge which the
Lord OF glory had thrown across the gull between
the living and the departed on the shores OF the
invisible W0rld Tor We were entitled to believe
that amid the JOY OF the Easter Day angels
ana the dead and the living make but one COM
munity, Christ being the head OF all. To-day white
they tthe candidatesl kneit and received the lay
ing on OF hands, and thus showed their steadfast
purpose to consecrate the mselves to the Masters
service, there rose over them, over the lndivid-
ual members of Chrlst's body, noodtlde Of re5ur-
rection light that started from the open tomb Of
Jesus, the LORD OF life and glory. The service OF
confirmation had very little virtue for those who
were not willing to surrender all their powers as a
voluntary sacrifice unto God but he expressed the
hope that those upon whom this rite
had been performed would show their godly
sincerity OF purpose by leading unblamable
lives. God would be present with them in
every time OF trouble, guide IN the Time OF doubt
and q blessed comforter In every hour OF sorrow
and trial. In conclusion, the reverend Bishop
urged them, by consistency OF life, to become
ments OF the Church, that IN whatever land they
might dwell, or In whatever avocatiOn they might
engage, to never be ashamed to own that they
were the children OF God and tue messengers or
Christ, and as such they would look forward to the
prize OF the nigh calling Of God In Christ Jesus as
the recognized inheritance Of the kingdom of
heaven. The molly communion was then celebrated
In the afternoon the Sabbath school marched
with banners to the church, where an interesting
service was held, consisting OF the singing OF
Easter carols and the presentation Of offerings.
The rector preached an appropriate discourse IN
the evening, and the choir rendered some choice
selections OF Easter anthems and solos in q very
effective manner.