The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-05-25

CoNFIRMATIoN.-S SERMON OF BISHOP Glib
BoNs.-At the Catholic church, OH last Sun
day, Bishop Gibbons administered the rite Of
Confirmation to class of thirty-twc. The
Young ladies were each dressed in white, with
a long white veil and u wreath of flowers.
After the ceremony the Bishop addressed the
class briefly, warning them against the temp
tationS of the world and counseling them to
SO walk that they should become worthy nlein-
hers of the church. Joy to their parents and
Ornaments to society. s
After mass, the Bishop delivered sermon
on the Perpetnity of the Catholic church. 1t
was a theme, he said, challenging the admira-
ton of the most learned philosophers, and
deepest scholars. It stands out solitary and
alone in its antiquity and grandeur, the only
institution that has survived the storms OF
eighteen centuries. From its foundation, it
has been assailed, and its children prosecuted,
but conscious OF the holiness of their cause
and trusting all to Christ the Redeeiner, they
have come forth from the crucible sustained
and strengthened, and, to-day, the sign Of the
cross issseen in every land - &
Reviewing the history of the church through
the third and fourth centuries, when barbara
ans, Goths and Vandals, carried ON their war
of determination against christianity. and the
streets of Rome were illumined with the
burning bodies of the martyrs he followed its
course OH down the vista OF succeeding ages,
until the clouds which yelled it had paled into
nothingness, and its enemies were consigned
to unknown graves. 1t had witnessed the
rise, reign and fall Of generations of monarchs !;
had seen the fairest empire the sun ever slions
upon, flourish and disappear, and now in the
same city and almostion the very spot from
which the edicts of the Caesars had beer full
minated against it, itrears its honored head,
and the rays OF its influence penetrate the re-
hottest regions OF the world. Neither skep-
ticism. infideity nor atheism from without,
nor yet the schisms from within, had impeded
its progress and rivers Of blood and heca-
to1nbs of human bodies have been but the dews
and fertilizers developing its strength, and adj
ministering to its growth. 10 it may be APP
piled the apostrophe of the English poet,
ssrime writes no wrinkles on thy sacred brow"
for its glory is perennial. Much has been said
Of the civilization of the nineteenth century. and
it is claimed by some that the advancement of
SCIENCE art and literature would. retard the
growth of the church. Far from it He bless
ed the inventor and man of science, for their
discoveries were tut the Instruments to more
widely diffuse the blessings OF christianity.
AS to art, the church had always been its rec
ognized patroness, and, to-day, tire museum of
the Vatican at Rome contains more of the
master pieces than the Whole of America,
while the cathedrals and churches throughout
the old and new world are the repositories of
the productions OF genius. In literature, it
has handed down all that is known of the
classic writers. 1t has brdged the gull Of the
past, and without it, antiquity would be a seal
ed volume, wrapped in the same mists that en-
velop the Egyptian Sphinx. But it is not on
its antiquity nor its present glory that its chill
dren rely, bat Gu the blessed assurance that
Christ is with them. and has promised to abide
even to the consummatinn of the world.
With the development of America. the
church has grown and strengthened, and now
its chapels and cathedl;lls numbering tlOus-
andS, are scattered over the whole face Of this
broad lantl, and its member ship aggregates six
millions of souls. In this Centennial year OF
the naten's existence, acme had ealise to be
more thankful than the Catholic church, aud
the speaker trusted that ten more centennial,
would be added to the hist DRY of ..-nerica.
AS to himself, he held his love of country too
sacred to be made the theme Of oratoly. 1t
was devotion which could find no expression
in idle words. He prayed that the church and
country might 80 on prosI ering, and spoke
earnestly Of the work to be accomplished. *
Bishop Gibbons is IL much younger, man
than we had expected to see in one occupying
so prominent position i'll the church. lie
appears scarcely over forty years of age-7o
'commandi.g form. and graceful, easy man
ners. One is attracted by his preaching, no
less.by tIe beauty of his ideas than the sim
plicity and chasteness of their expression,
while his voice is clear and musical, and lbs
gestures always appropriate. His style of de-
livery is earnest and impressive, and every
sentence carries with it weight of reasoning.
On Monday he left for Harrisonburg.