Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-04


filed the sacred edifice, the doors of the en-
trance to the main aisle opened, and the can.
didates for confirmation made their appear
ance, the young ladies being dressed In
white. and each bearing large bouquet OF
beautiful flowers, the youth being in the
lead, also bearing a bouquet. The class
moved slowly up the aisle In the following
order:
Master Joseph s. Nathans,
Miss Ellen E. DeCastro,
Miss Hannah d. Guckenheimer,
Miss Miriam Well,
Miss Rose Z. Morales,
and halted for moment at the altar plat
form. They then separated, and filing
around assembled the steps on either side
and Joined together in front of the reading
desk, facing the Ark, where they gave oral
declaration Of their intention, and then took
seats on the platform provided for them.
After some Introductory remarks from
the minister In reference to the occasion,
the exercises were commenced with an in
vocation to the Most High. Miss Miriam
Well, daughter of our well known citizen
E A. We'll, Esq, was selected from the
class for this duty, and, arising, advanced
to the front OF the platform facing the con-
gregation and delivered the
OPENING PRAYER
q II.
Her dictiOn was superb, and the large con-
gregation listened with almost bated breath
as the reverential words OF appeal fell in
clear. distinct AID mellifuous tones from
her lips, as follows:
Eternal and omnipotent God, by whose
word the universe was first called into exist
ence, and who with loving kindness hath
surrounded with halo OF love and mercy
all that Thou hast placed therein, that the
sons OF man may learn to appreciate Thy
gracious goodness and beneficence; Thou
who hast with Thine own hands wrought,
link by link, the golden chain OF peculiar
selection with which Thou hast bound Thy
people Israel unto Thee, accept we
beseech Thee our words of PRAYER
addressed unto Thee on this SOL
emn occasion, and deign, . Lord,
to grant us that speedy and long looked for
answer which well Thou knowest thy chill
dren hope from Thee. How awe-iuspiring, 0
Lord, is the thought that we who are now
suppliants before Thee, that we who have
been prepared for this most solemn ceremo-
NAL, have yet to prove in the presence of the
whole congregation of Jacob that our
knowledge of cur religion entities us to re-
ceive, with Bonded heads, Confrmation's
wreath of future duty, that wreath which is
to be worn hencefoIth by US, ard whose
fragrant blossoms are to leud us nj life,
new hope, new strength ard new al. 0
grant that our own hearts may be as pure as
the snow-white garments In which we are
enVeloped, and which are symbolical OF all
that is holy, just and true. Grant that our
minds may be free from all clouds Of doubt
and uncertainty, and that Thou, with Thine
own hands, will lit the veil of childish EN-
barr2s sment from before our eyes, giving us
at tie same time wisdom gnd penetra
ton to pass through the trying ordeal
of our religious examination with credit
and satisfaction unto Thee, our God,
and with pleasure to our instructor, whose
untiriDg forts in our behalf has prepared US
for this great step. Guardian of thy children,
remember | beseech Thee, In love and kind
ness, nv fellow classmates and friends.
Bind us firmly unto Thee, cur God, that In
after years the recollection of Thy religion
will keep us true unto Thee, faithful unto
our charge and loyal to the tenets of that
faith which will always form a barricade of
strength around Us, and whose simple yet
eloquent appeals now serve to convince us
that Thy favor is life, Thy presence is
heaven, the smiles of Thy benignity are
our chief JOY and the delight of our soul;
under Thy approving eye we must always
be happy, now and forevermore. Amen.
THE RELIGIOUS EXAMINATION
consisted in the reverend teacher pro-
pounding the following questions:
/. What great lesson was impaired to hui
manity and intended as an everlasting heir
loom for all interested In the truths OF the
Bible2
2. Granting that man believes In the exist
euce OF a God, and the necessity OF
acknowledging His superiority over all,
how can we improve the opportunity OF
gaining closer communion with Him?
OuCht NOT ,TIdats fo copuav -
some further lessons of Gods law than
those which bear upon the manner in which
we should serve Him In worship?
4. Repeat that portion of the Scripture
which fully explains the principles Of the
first commandment.
5. By what name is that portion known
to u.s.
These questions were responded to at
length by the candidates, respectively, and
in manner which showed their thorough
understanding of the subject.
The hymn "Ccme ye Children" was then
exquisitely sung by the choir, and was after
wards repeated by the Rabbi.
CoNFIRMANTs' ACCEPTANCE OF THE LAW
OF GOD.
Master Joseph I. Nathane, on behalf of
the clsss, here advanced to the front and
spoke as follows:
"Here, in the presence of the mighty
God OF Israel. we yield that loyal allegiance
which binds US henceforth to His holy law.
We bow our heads with dutiful submission
to all that He may decree concerning
us in the future. We place all our
hopes and all our trust Ia Him, feel
ing assured that He who is the mighty God
can place US far beyond the reach Of dan
gers or troubles, and can erect oyer our
heads the sacred tabernacle of everlasting
q Vrft1 81 to hon -.orx-
grateful for the honor conferred upon US to-
day by adbering to our heavenly religion,
by endeaVoriDg to live in that religion,
and ~reverenciDg It until the moment
of the separation of the immortal
spirit from its mortal dwelling
place. We will carefully treasure
up within our hearts this noble Inheritance
left to us by our ancestors, and, like them, will
always turn to Judaism as the only lamp
which can illumine our souls with the hope
of future salvation. We believe In the
immutability and eternity of our holy law,
and, strengthened In this beliefg we will
lean for support in the snowy winter of our
lives. We accept the burden Of duty Con
irmation has placed upon our shoulders,
and we now turn to God with the
heartfelt request that He will
strengthen our resolves and cause US to
groE up good men and good women, that
He may teach us how to appreciate as well
as follow the declaration of our fathers at
the foot Of Sinai"
Confrmants. in unison: "All that the
Lord hath spoken we will do, and we will
obey from now until the end Of our days,
Amen"
The confirmation hymn, "The Teachings
of Our Lord,n was then sung by the choir,
and afterwards read by the Rabbi.
After few remarks from the Rev. Mr..
Nendes, the examination Of the confrmants
was brought to q close with prayer, offered
by Miss Ellen E DeCastro with much fer
vor and effect, her pronunciation and style
being perfect. Intense silence pervaded
the large congregation as In reverential
manner she repeated the eloquent and beau
tiful words which constituted the following
CLOSING PRAYER.
Almighty and Merciful Creator of the
Universe, It Is with feelings of the deepest
with sentiments of the purest
and most religious, Thy children again draw
near to Thy footstool of mercy that we might
seek communion with Thee, and in pouring
ont before Thee the desires of our hearts,
ask at the same time Thy speedy answer to
all that we might think, and to all that we
might express with our lips. ., do Thou,
our kind and good Father, register in Thy
Mighty Book Of Record our declarations Of
feaity and love which we have made this
morning, that these may form for us, Thy
children, shields Of strength and hope to
protect US from the chilling blasts OF sin
and temptation. Cause them, 0, our God to
illumine the path before US, so that the new
life OF religious responsibility, whose dawn
ing hours we have been spared TO well
come, may be the means Of Yielding for vs.