The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-05-22
BISHOP GARRETT.
Extracts from the Bishops Primary
Charge.

l nc lOIlOWl1S cNlThctS are Nlhuo
from the primary charge delivered
by Bishop Garrett before the Epis-
copal convocation recently in ses-
sion in this city
On CONFIRMATION, the bishop says:
ain preparation for this holy ordi-
nance | would have you specially
diigcnt. None who rightly un-
derstand its deep and sacred import
will be likely to fail afterwards in
life long devotion and churchly
loyalty. Superficial work here
must necessarily mark shallow
churchmen and shallow Christians.
Be careful to understand its obliga-
ton, embracing the fundamental
principles of the gospel covenant,
repentance, faith and obedience.
Surely tho trifing training of some
candidates reaches bnt q little way
into these profound things. OBJ
serve that the whole service is built
upon the assumption that these are
realities of the life, not mere theories
of the intellect, Of the person to be
confirmed To present II candidate,
therefore, where these cannot be
reasonab y hoped for is to enact a
solemn mockery before God.
"Be careful also to understand
the nature oithe gift to be conveyed.
The Spirit of being wise in spiritual
things the Spirit of experimenting
what we are taught; the Spirit Of
prudent managing Of all our actions;
the Spirit o! power to execute all
our religious purposes the Spirit
of discerning between good and
evil; the Spirit Of devotion in Gods
service; the Spirit of reverence and
holy fear
Great and wondrous blessings
these! See that you prepare your
hearts with prayerand supphcatiOn,
that their Utmost shrine may be
ready to receive so vast Il treasure.
Thus does the church guard her
holy table. Beware how we peril
ously trhe with any of her de-
fences! Her rubric is express, And
there shall none be admitted to the
holy communion until such time
us he be confirmed, or be ready and
DESTROYS of being confirmed And
the reason is Obvious. Thus she is
assured Of the validity of the bap-
tism of her commandments; thus
also that they personally acknow-
ledge tho validity Of the covenant
therein made and have actually as
sumed its obligations; and thus does
she warn them that she dare not
pronounce the gift unnecessary in
any individual case. We are there
fore persuaded that confirmation,
well prepared for, duly received
and duly ministered, is full of rich
est blessing for the soul"
Music. = 1.-The service of this
sanctuary is prominently one of
sacred song The heart is then, if
ever, enlarged. The soul filled with
heavenly desires pours them fourth
in plaintive or joyous melodies and
measured harmonics. A congrega.
ton which takes no interest in its
psalmody must be dangerously low
in spiritual tone. Surely no nobler
service can be rendered by those
whom God has gifted with musical
abilities, than to c0nsccrate them to
His honor. in the worship of His
holy name But how shall we so
consecrate them? By importing
scraps of operate, and joining them
in unnatural alliance with holy
words :? BY singing "Lct all the
people praise Thee" to tune com.
posed for the display of individual
artistic powers ? Not thus, beloved,
can your talents be employed in the
house of God. Let nothing intro
duced there suggest the theater and
the paint and glitter of gilded sin.
Remember that hallowed words are
for haIlowcd uses, and to consecrat-
cd airs they must be sung. Forget
not that public praise is II part of
public worship. and that God has
appointed you to be its leaders.
Purge your hearts of vanity and
cleanse your lips with prayer, that
when you sing soft melodies they
may tune the souls and quicken the
dull emotions, aud rouse the slum-
being voices Of the great assembly.
Let every voice in the parish gladly
give both time and care to the cul.
ture of sacred song; let the choir
take its place, when practic-
able, by the chancel, near the Holy
Table let the surroundings solemn
ize the minds of all that may be
ready to lead the burst of heavenly
music; let those things be sung
which the great masters have COM
posed, time has hallowed, and the
church allowed. Chants, plain,
majestic, grand-psalms and hymns
which move the soul-then shall we
be lifted up to the very gates of
heaven, and lingering, will but re-
luctantly return"
The OFFERToRY.-"I believe the
offertory to be the true way Of
raising money for the support of
the ministry. They who minister
about holy things live of the sacri-
fee; and they who wait at the altar
are partakers with the altar There
should be an offertory at every
Lords day service, when the aims
and offerings Of the people, pre-
scented together with their prayers,
may draw a double blessing upon
the souls and substances of the
worshipers. Let the people be
taught TO signify, by rising, their
share and participation in the act of
worship, when the priest humbly
presents and places their offerings
upoa the Holy Table
"And here permit me TO press
upon yon. my brethren Of the clergy,
: ~l 1rf~~ in