Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-05-31

CONFIRMATION, &C.--A beautiful scene was
presented at st. Mary's Church yesterday
morning ut o'clock. One hundred and
three candidates for confirmation occupied
tho body of the church, the boys, except
few in uniforms, being mostly attired in
dark clothes and the girls in white, with
white vests and crowns of white flowers.
A large and attentive congregation, includ-
ing many Professionals, filled the remaining
pews and the galleries. The beautiful mar
Dle altar was elegantly decorated with
flowers and lights, and Bishop keane in
embroidered vestments Of cloth of gold,
celebrated mass pausing at the first Gospel
to deliver beautiful and affecting charge
to the children. At its conclusion he retired
for few moments and re-entered the chan
eel in his Epis copal robes wearing richly
embroidered cope and mitre and bearing
the crozer, or shepherds crook. lie took
his station in front of the altar, supported
by Rev. Fathers O'kane and DeWolf on his
right and left. After another impressive
charge to the candidates and
short prayer in English, he invoked
with outstretched hands the Spirit of God,
in the beautiful Latin form of the Catholic
ritual and then seating himself on the altar
p!alform, the candidates presented them
selves before him, two by two, and he
anointed their foreheads with chrism in the
form of a cross, saying to each in Latin: Il
sign thee with the sign of the cross ! con-
firm thee with the chrism of salvation in
the name Of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost;' afterwards striking
each one lightly on the cheek with the
words, PAX tecum" Peace be with thee,
to teach them, as he said, that they must
suffer persecution patiently for Christ's
sake. There were forty-two white and
eight colored males and forty two white
and eleven colored females. Most of them
were children from twelve to sixteen, but
there were one male and eight female
adult converts TO the Catholic faith, one OF
them an aged colored woman Messrs.
Richard L. Carne and VIM. II. Greenwell
acted aa sponsors, or presenters, Tor the
male, and two ladies for the female candi-
dates. A congratuatory address by the
Bishop concluded the ceremonies.
At IL o'clock st. Mary's Church was again
crowded High Mass was sung BY Rev.
Father Okane, the choir accompanying
with Mozart's Mass No. -. Bishop keane
preached very able and eloquent sermon
from the gospel of the day: st. John xvi,
$3.50. There was very large congrega
ton.
At D. m. the Sodalities of the Blessed
Virgin occupied the body of the church. and
Vespers were sung, Rev. Father DeWolf
officiating. After the Regina Coeli'' Bish..
op keane addressed the congregation and
Socialists in an impressive manner, and ad-
mitted to the Sodalites by the usual form,
three young men and boys and eight young
ladies. The services closed with the bene-
diction.
During a visit paid him by the st. Vim
cent of paul's Conference yesterday, Bish-
op Keane, while cordially thanking the
members for their prompt and generous
orphan asylum, informed them that its ac-
ceptance was by no means certain, as cir
cumstances beyond his control might COM
pei him to locate it in Lynchburg instead of
Alexandria.