The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-19

Truths Contained in the Address
Delivered by the Bishop.
In st. Luke's Episcopal church yes
terday morning Rt Rev. Bishop TAI
bot, of the Central Pennsylvania dio-
ccse confirmed a large class of per-
sons and also ordained to the priest
hood Rev. Sidney *. Evans. of this city
The career of this young man has
thus far been not only source of
pride to a large circle of friends. but
also to st. Luke's parish, from which
he goes forth to enter upon his Cleri-
cal duties, followed by many prayers
and good wishes. lie Is the son of Mrs.
William Evans and the brother of Mrs.
$. p. Longstreet. He was prepared for
college at the School Of the Lacka-
wanna, from which he entered Trinity,
afterward going to the General Thco-
logical school. Last evening he preached
at the East End mission. on Prescott
avenue, and this morning at $50 will
celebrate his first communion at ST.
I.uke's church.
Bishop TalbOts Christian name, with
its fine old Saxon rhythm seems to
harmoniZe with his vigorous English.
and with a certain majesty of mien
and distinction of feature He breaches
a sunny gospel and impresses his hear
crs as being intensely alive and active
in his chosen work.
In his address to the newly-Coniirmed
communicates he urged immediate ell
trance upon real Christian service as
a vast safeguard against temptation,
and added
BISHOPS ADVICE.
Don't think so much about your sins,
though they are many. Don't dwell SO
much upon your fears, though they are
great, nor upon your anxieties, though
they thicken about you; nor upon your
personal sorrows, though their load
weighs down your heart. Lose your
self in the great, absorbing work Of the
world. following the divine command,
to lose your life in trying to find the
highest and best in Christ"
The rector, Rev. Rogers Israel, sup
plemented the bishops eXhortation with
a request for friendly offices of the
congregation in welcoming and caring
for the young communicates.
Bishop Talbot then delivered the SER
=,
this is one of the few occasions when
no choice is left to the speaker, as from
the rubric comes the authority that the
theme must he the holy ministry. His
text was from John. xv;16: "Ye have
not chosen me but | have chosen you,
and ordained you, that We should go
and bring forth fruit and that your
fruit should remain"
ha hoe
addressed to the eleven disciples and
apostles and also in a real sense be-
ing given to all Christian mon and
women to actual service. 1t was spok-
en- to the apostles at the critical mo-
ment just before our Lords passion
and as addressed to men called out of
the world to act as apostles and mis-
sionaries and who would shortly re-
ceiVe the Comforter. going out as
ambassadors of Christ.
The significance of the statement "T
have chosen YOU" depends not only for
its truth upon the certainty that Christ
| said it but that it has been borne out
by all historical facts.
CALL TO THE MINISTRY.
Men are apt to say that a clergyman
chooses his calling much as a man
chooses law, or medicine, or banking,
or business. This is true in one sense
! that one may have in mind. 1t is not
true if the mind is turned back to the
beginning of the young mans life or
possibly to early childhood, when in
mind and heart the thought grew
when perhaps a sanity mother, now in
Paradise, solcmnly presented her boy
to God, or perhaps it was a father in
| whose heart the longing was cherished.
| or the pastor who saw graCeS and
| qualities which would evolve into the
! sacred work. The influence Of envi-
| ronment, the tendencies of our mind,
all combined to proclaim to him the
path he must follow, so that, as in the
case of our young friend here, he comes
this morning and the. Bishop asks if
| he believes himself called of God to
| the work he answers in all soberness
| and truth, as he knows his own heart,
II do"
! He then spoke of the moral advan-
! tage in the rites OF ordination and the
! great stimulus thus afforded to the
! clergyman. 1t may be asserted that
! delight in the work itself is stimulus
/ and reward enough, and this would be
| true if there were no conflict between
! human nature and good in this world,
! A minister is not always associated
| with good men and women alone, and
! he needs the reinforcement given by
| the consciousness of the authority by
which he goes forth.
The Bishop then spoke directly to
| the candidate for priests orders, say.
! ing gently:
! ADDRESSED THE CANDIDATE.
Dear brother, the things that you
are doing may seem to be futile and
! Insignificant by tho side Of the things
men call great. The tide Of human
affairs over does flow on obliteratng
the faint marks you leave on the sands,
but the things you do are for purity,
for devotion, for self-sacrifice and are
| indestructiblc, perishing never You
| baptize the little child and that life
| goes on forever; every eucharist is q
sacrifice whose influence reaches into
eternity. The poor souls you comfort
the bleeding life desolate for the touch
of a vanished hand, the saints cleansed
| by Jesus-the unhappy woman your
| whisper has told of Jesus and his love
| for her in her sin; these shall speak
in the ways no man can number for
eternity"
At the conclusion of his remarks the
bishop proceeded with the ordination
| -