The New York herald., 1876-11-20
CONFIRMED BY THE CARDINAL

INTERESTING CEREMONIES AT THE CHURCH CT
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION IN yosKERs-
Cardinal McCloskey yesterday afternoon conferred
the rite OF confirmation on 45o children, boys and
girls At the Church OF tho Immaculate Conception,
ST. Marys street, Yonkera Tho church Is
OF limited size, but It was made to hold
. very large sssembage on this occasion.
Tho pislo and transept were occupied chiefly
by tho children and the galleries by the adult part of
ths congregation many Of them as found pos
sibs 70 squeeze themselves within their con-
tracted space. Father Slevin, the pastor, gazed
with tcnder delight upon the scene The interior pre-
scnted with its serricd OF young girls dressed
ali in white at sde and At the other about an
equal number Of young boys, principally in
the bright and handsome uniform Of the Pho
Mono Cadets Father Sievin has worked for
twelve years with great zeal to build up hir parish
tho people Of his faith regard him with
an intense affection. He was we'll rewarded with tho
suggestive and beautiful spectacle his little
church presented yesterday. Above the chancel
was q painting in fresco-by Augero, the
Italian artist-or the Immaculate Conception,
and on either side were brilliant fresco
designs CT the Alteration Of the Magi and Jesus
blessing little children The marble altar decorated
with flowers and candeabra, and In front OF Is
hune n trimming OF diaphonous gold lace
The ceremonies began with vespers, aitcr which the
CARDINAL in iull vestments with The mtre his head
and the crosier in his hand advancet from tho sac
risty, and after kneeling lew moments In silent
prayer, turned and said:"I greatly rejoiced dear
children and Christian friends to stand once moro al
this altar have the great consolation ot conferring
upon so many OF the offspring OF this flock the
ment OF confirmation ltwould give me great pleasure
TO speak to you at length this afternoon. but ! am
warned by tho number that see before
me that the conerring itself will be neces-
sarily very lengthy; yet ! cannot refrain from
congratulatng you upon the arrival OF this happy day,
to which you have been looking forward longingy.
This day is great not only because Of the wondrous
blessings II secures for you from Heaven, but because
IL Is a day that comes but once in lifetime. the
sacrament OF confirmation can never be repeated. IL
is received but once and forever Hence your pastors
you the necessity or being well prepared knowing that
you could not return to repair whatever was wrong
Or delc,en. n 1ne mrs. Mr. RECEPTION aos am nsppy
heart and soul, being deeply impressed with tho
sacredness and Importance OF the sacrament that
TO be conferred and which 10 to make you soldiers OF
Jesus Christ moro perfect Christians. Above all
this sacrament will confirm you in your holy faith.
In confirmation the Holy Gnost comes to you; by tho
imposition Of the Bishops hands you are endowed
with HIS heavenly gifts Faith is the foundation
cannot be saved. Turn back upon your faith
and assuredy, my dcar children, you would lose your
sshne 80 much to ne matter Of YOUR
sacrament You be saved without knowing
or geography, or any other worldly science,
but you cannot bc saved without faith, and you
be brought up In that faith without Catholic edu
cation Without being we'll trained Ia that faith do
wonder that your parents and pastors should bc
well educated 10 the faith. Tho Cardinal concluded
with an explanation OF the nature OF the
Tho ceremony OF confirmation then commenced
Tho Cardins seated himself in chair In front of the
altar and the boys permitted TO up TO him
first. two by two. These the Pho Mono Cadets
aud they dressed in Zouave jackets Of blue and
pantaoons OF red. After them came the boys Of the
Brother Jeremey, assisted by Brother Bernn
Several adults were confirmed at the samc tme
Whom tho boys had been disposed Of
the girls camc forward, and they certainly
made very picturesque appearance. All OF them
with very few exceptions were dressed in white
lin, with cardinal rod sash ribbons and bows white
head wrcaths set or with gold and green and white
glovca They ranged In age from six TO fourteen and
great as the multitude, thcre the utmost order
and decorum observed In their throneing ranks
approaching retiring from the altar. The Cardinal
was assisted by Father Cole and Father Mcguire
one hand and by Fathers Flynn and Farrcliy on the
other Father Tranor conducted the preliminary
vccs and was assisted by Father Reilly a voice OF
much unction and sweetness Miss Jones presided at
the organ, and the choir voices were composed of
tho children belonging to ST. Mary's schools,
whose existence and lourishing condition may bc
PASTOR Father Slcvin. Father Frederick William
Goeckeln, President Of St Johns College, Fordham.
also present, and his cyos betrayed ecstacy Of
feeling at the sight Of the myriad multitude Of chill
drcn prepared march under the banner Of the
When ali was over the Cardinal entertained by tho
pastor At select banquet, prepared by John Rogers
the well known caterer OF Barclay street.