Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1894-05-10
Concerning Confirmation.

AS the Bishop of the Divine has ap-
pointed the % and "a days Of June for
visitation of part of Frederick Co., and
one ofthose days will visit St. Stephens
Chapel, it may be we'll to call attention
to the objects of such episcopal vista
ton.
As many people know that the word
'episcopas' from which episcopal is de-
rived, means an overseer, it is quite
clear that the first purpose Of Episco-
pal visitation is the duty Of overseeing.
A bishop comes to fulfil the Apostolic
president of which st. Paul's declare
ton ACTS XIV. Sc. "let us 60 again
and visit our bretheran in every duty
where we have preached the word OF
the LORD and see how they d." gives
the example; an overlooking of those
first established in the faith. To ex-
anime look into and fully understand,
the circumstances as well as the spirit
ual conditions of those members Of the
church, who by baptism haying received
the Lord Jesus, ought to know to walk
in newness of life.
But in order that such building up
in spir1tual life should be organically,
and not systematically performed. the
Holly Ghost enjolned ACTS XIII. p
cpecial visitation Of the region Of
Lystra, Tconium and Antioch bidding
tbs college Of the apostles send two Of
their member for this special purpose,
which IS summed up in Acts XIII. %
and %, as confirming the Souls of the
disciples,' and also Supplying the want
in some points, where the gospel con-
gregations where organized but without
presbyters, "they ordained them elders
(presbeteror) in every church--so that
none should be without the due per-
Torrance of the sacred rite and proper
officers to conduct the mysteries of the
"Klngdom of Cod
That this confirmation spoken Of
was not a cereal result to the minds Of
the converts and expressing the feelings
experienced by them, is evident by the
general reference to such rite estab-
lishel in the apostolic age aud the sum.
mary of the work by st. Paul IN Acts
XIV Al. where it is said of this very
same journey, extended to Syria, that
he "went through Syria and Cillcla, con.
tirming the churches Showing the
fact that confirming and ordaining
were functions Of the higher Office, Of
the episcopate, district from the pres.
bytery, then they were called apostles,
because the Lord Himself has personally
sent them, but in the next age rever-
emily united to those SO sent and the
term episcopas, or overseer as especially
suitable was fixed for the. highest Of
Gcer of the ministry.
The Confirmation, as recorded in the
New Testament writings, Is commonly
called "the laying on OF hands," as in
the Epistle to the Hebrews we find 1t
referred to as one of the fundamental
principles of the church at that day.
[ Heb. vi: II. The doctrine of bap
tism and the laying on of hands, The
last rite, evidently the compliment and
completion of initiatory ceremonies.
Yet long before the eplstle to the He
brews was written we find 1t practised
as a solemn INVOCATION of the Holy
Ghost and assurance of gifts Of grace
sealed in the Apostles day by the gilt
of tongue, the power of spiritual dis
cernment, and working miracles of
grace and healing. Powers of the I'M
seen world not abnormal to it, but then
only specially manifested in order that
the unbelleving might be convinced
that the kigdom of God-the unseen
world-had come upon them. In the
process of ages, as far and wide the gos
pei prevailed and children baptised IN
the faith and grown up to confirmation
were received into communion of the
Holy Supper. Those supernatural tes-
timonies were not required, and the
extraordinary gifts accompanying the
laying on Of hands, ceased. But the
rite itself never did cease, because its
Fundamental character as scaling lndi-
vidual and adult faith, was one the
Holy Ghost had at all times and at all
places called for. When children, brougt
into the covenant by their parents,grew
up, "sanctiied' as the apostle calls it,it
was upon a borrowed truth, Cor. II,