The herald., 1896-05-25
VIEW OF THE cnANceL PROT TnE NAVE

beautifully sung by the choir, which, be-
sides the small boys and men in surplice
and cassOck, consisted of a vested choir
OF young ladies. an institution of two
years standing in this church, and one
In pleasing contrast to the ordinary
choir; the long. white yestments, with
black mortar-boards and high black
collar. giving a distinction of classic
dignity and churchly repose impossible
with the constant fiutter of flowers,
feathers and the furbelows Of fashions
behests.
The candidates for confirmation occu-
pied the front of the church in q body,
and were presented to the bishop by the
Rev. b. w. r. Tayler, rector of the
church, robed for the occasion in the
cassock, alb, amice, red stole and girdle.
The confirmation service was exceed
ingly simple The candidates in unison
confirmed their baptismal vows, after
which each in turn went forward, and,
kneeling solemnly before the bishop. re-
ceived blessing. 1t was q beautiful
and touching ceremony; with the earn
est faces of the boys, and of sweet young
girls simply attired in pure white, offset
with the serene faces Of those of ma
turer years in more somber garb. With
the laying on Of his hands over each
bowed head. the bishop pronounced this
benediction:
Defend, Lord, this thy child Of thy
heavenly grace. that he may continue
thine forever and daily increase in thy
Holy Spirit more and more, until he
como to thy everlasting kingdom
After the confirmation Bishop John
son addressed the class with a simple,
heartfelt and practical talk. He said
in part:
1t seems most beautiful and felictious
that your confirmation should take place
upon this day, concentrating the de-
scent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles.
1t Is strange, moreover, that the force
of the Pentecostal gift has not been
more emphasized by those who have
taken upon them the servicd Of the be-
loved Master.
We know that for the disciples after
their conversion, and after becoming
allied with the gospel of Jesuls Christ,
1t was necessary that they should re-
ceive the gift of the Holy Spirit and that
they waited in Jerusalem after Christ
assembled into heaven for the reception
of the Holy Ghost
Although you have been received into
the church the thought must come,
that even with the laying on Of hands
1t Is possible to become a castaway. AS
close as we may come to Him, it is pos
sible for us to fail to gain the great re-
ward OF Him who said Thou shall
come to me at the last day certain of
those who sat at the same table with
me ate with me, drank with
me and walked with me, but
I shall say unto them, depart from
me, know We not" Sadder yet is the
story Of those who said, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in Thy name?''
And the answer was, II never knew
YOU" Rather be the woman who reach
eth out her hand to the Master and to
whom 1t was said. "You have received
the grace of God"
TO you who have gathered up all the
past and placed it before the altar and
tuyr
three things that must belong to your
future. If you are to be Of those rec
ognized by the Master, II you are to
have the real power of God In your
hearts. you must hunger and thirst.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst
after His Righteousness"
There will come to you the fascina-
tions and temptations of the world to
lead you to other paths; calls to society,
business or pleasure, but the purpose
and object you have devoted yourselves
to today must come first; every thing
else must be secondary. Look into God
with the first freshness of your life.
Again. you must give time and
thought You remember how our Lord
was constantly calling His disciples
aside, away from the world. The
Psalmist said, BE still and know that
7 am God" Be willing to seclude your
selves, to engage in the business of
spiritual life, and this spiritual life must
be formed along revealed lines; in crit
ical study of the life the church incul-
Gates, and In the study of the holy Scrip
ture. Learn the story Of the Masters
life; the parallels as they uttered; the
miracles; every event in the life of the
Master.
Be true to the church's system. She
asks you to come to the holy altar and
that you will be faithful to your altar
duties. taking the constant inf1owing of
the body and blood of the Master; the
church development she gives you in the
Book Of Common Prayer.
If you thus take the grace given you.
Feek first to make the best use of 1t.
Think Of it earnestly in the quiet of your