Smyrna times., 1893-05-17
Bishop Coleman at St. Peter's-Con-
frmation.

uTmdJlOus
Bishop Coleman's annual confrma-
ton visit usually occurs in Nav, and
accordingly in the calendar of appoint
ments for his diocese, Smyrna was set
down for May 14th. He was duly on
hand Sunday, and greeted by a well
filled house. After going through the
regular order of exercises assisted by
the rector, Rev. G. w. Dame, he step
ped to the desk and prefaced his dis
course by saying it might not be out of
place to make personal allusion. He
wanted to thank them for their sympa-
thy and prayers which, he assured
them, coming from all parts of the
Diocese as they had, greatly stimulated
and strengthened him in bearing the
pain and enduring the restraint Incl
dent to his afIliction, and greatly re-
joiced in being able to again take up
his work. He then announced his
text, John xvi 1T is expedient for
you that 90 away" The sermon was
in cOmmemOratiOn of Ascension Day
six weeks after Easter.
He dwelt forcefully on the theme
that grew out of the text-the great
triumph in the Ascension following the
great Humiliation in the garden = the
conflict of the sincere Christian, like
wise preparing him for the greater
bliss when the conflict is OVer-the ab-
solute necessity that Christ should go
away that the Comforter should come.
Following with an earnest exhortation
to put their minds in an humble and
devOut frame with an admOnition to
L.
urged on communicates that all petty
personal or selfish feelings growing out
of whatever cause, should be laid aside
and the higher ones which Christ ex-
empliied in his daily life, humiliation
and exaltatiOn, be taken into the heart
and life.
SUNDAY AT THE WORLDS FAIR.
An enlargement of his theme brought
him to the subject of the Sabbath. as a
day of worship and rest from worldly
pursuits, noting the action of the Local
Board of Managers of the Columbian
Exposition in their effort, as set forth
in the papers of the previous day, to
violate the Sabbath in all aspects as a
sacred day, as held by all evangelical
denominations of this country. His
remarks of ten or fifteen minutes were
very direct, clear and explicit, in de-
fence of the American Sabbath. He
characterized the action of the Local
Directory of Chicago as an effort to
subVert one of the most cherished re-
suits growing out of the better relig.
lous civilization of America-a day set
apart for religious observance bv those
who honor God, and day of rest from
toll for all, whether they be Pagan or
Christian
To open the gates of the Fair on
he said, would be putting our
country in false light to European
visitors who would expect to find the
American idea of the Sabbath respec.
ted and honored, and not used as n dav
devoted to traffic and pleasure and
vice, as at home. The plea that it
would be showing disrespect to the
visitors from Europe to
shut the gates on Sunday, he consid.
cred both speciOus and false: the visi-
ltor who accepts hospitality does it ex-
pectlng to conform to the domestic
customs of the host, and not with the
expectation that the latter should
change all his arrangements to suit
him.
The claim that the gates should be |
opened in the interest of the working
mau was absurd. No greater injury |
could be inflicted on the iahorin1 |
classes than to rob them of their resi-
one day IN seven. He pictured what
would be the condition of the people |
who make their living by toll in being
deprived of Sabbath, and referred to |
,he condition of France at a time when |
he most wicked men got control of |
'he Government and esssayed bv res
)lutiOn to vote God out of their affairs
enacted law making the rest dav one |
n ten, the end of their rule being one |
II the most bloody aud desperate ne.
lods IN the history Ofthat country. He |
INSISTED that the full idea of the Sab
path as day specially set apart.
'hoald be adhered to without the least !
'eIaxation. The sermon, which occu- |
ped 81 minutes in its delivery, claimed
he closest attention of the audience
throughout for its deVout, earnest and
thoroughly gelical-sprit.
AT the close of the sermon the Rishon
the rite of confirmation to
class OF eight candidates, two having
'een confirmed the day previous.
The ofertory hymn was a very
pleasing selection, in which there were
oios OF the different parts of music
he whole well rendered.
The Bishop held confirmation ser.
ices at MiddletoWn at night