The age-herald., 1900-05-21
The Sacrament Administered by
 Bishop Allen of Mobile.
THE SERVICES AT ST. PAUpS
Nearly One Hundred Persons Re- ceived Into the Church Classes at Our Lady of Sorrows and
 St Catherine's

of Mobile, administered confirmation to three classes yesterday The first eonfrma- tion was at the church of Our Lady of Sor- rows, at s o'clock a. m, the second was at St. Paurs at the late mass, and the third was at St. Catherine's, Pratt City, at p. m.
 The largest class was at St. Pauls, near ly, if not quite, one hundred persons pre- senting themselves there for this sacra- ment. The Rev Father Kennedy was the ceebrant of the mass, and the bishop read the episte and the gospel in English and 7 delivered discourse of unusual interest.
 Bishop Allen began his remarks by a brief but eloquent allusion to Pope Leo opening the golden door of St. Peters on Christmas day, thus, by this ancient cere- mony, ushering in the holy year. The bishop then compared the closing year of the nineteenth century with the close of the eighteenth. He spoke of the progress that had been made in the arts and sciences. Science had done much, he said, for civilization, but the old idea that edu- cation made men better spiritually had been exploded. He rejoiced in the fact that education and the arts and civilization had advanced, but it was the spiritual life of the world and the progress of the church that he wished to discuss and emphasize. In this country the church had made won derful gains. At the beginning of this cen tury there was only one bishop in the United States; only forty priests, and Catholic population of only fifty thousand while today the Catholic hierarchy of the United States embraces one cardinal prince, and ninety bishops and archbishops. There are twelve thouand priests and a Catholic population variously estimated at from twelve to fifteen millions, not including those in territory recently acquired.
 Trials of the Papacy
 The bishop then told of the trials of the papacy at the close of the last century and of the infdelity that swept over France and played so large part in the French revo- lution. The infidelity of Voltaire and oth- CTS of that school was the logical outcome, he maintained of the work of those who left the church in the sixteenth century
 Pope Plus VI, in his old age and after long pontifciate, was dragged from Rome, and the papacy was overshadowed with gloom. The enemies of the church said the papacy had come to an end. But in the year 1900 Plus VII was elected, and ali Europe looked to him to stay infidelity
 
 pope was to be the conservator. England was quick to show his holiness homage The papacy was not dead, but on the con trary it gained new vigor, and was ready to carry its benign work.
 Speaking of this holy year the bishop said its first note was consolation, its sec- ond note was reparation-reparaton for the wrongs done in the past; and its third note was earnest prayer He said the progress of the church gave all Catholics consola- tion. He sketched the tribulation of the church in England during the penal days, but he asserted that she was regaining her lost ground there. There should be, he said, consolation, too, over the fact that while non-Catholic Christians were in a state of unrest over their creeds and other questions the Catholic church was free from such troubles.
 Hts Closing Remarks
 The bishop closed his discourse by ex- horting his hearers to fervent prayer and to so live always as to honor their Lord and Master and be shining examples be- fore the world. Catholicsswere no longer called upon to shed their blood for their faith, but they were called upon to stand up for their faith and to make sacrifices for the cause of the Christian religion.
 At the conclusion of the mass Bishop Allen removed his mantle and over his rochet. vested himself in amice, stole, cope and mitre and, carrying his crozier, advanc- ed to the altar. Facing the congregation he made short address the nature and significance of the seven sacraments, dwelling particularly upon the significance of confirmation, explaining that from this sacrament those receiving it received the Holy Ghost. He said that confirmation was not necessary to salvation, but it had the effect of making of the faithful better soldiers of the cross. After his remarks the bishop was seated on the altar plat form and the candidates for confirmation advanced. After the usual questions pro- pounded to the pastor, the Rev. Father O'Reilly, as to the preparation of the can didates, he crossed each of them on the fore head with the chrsm, repeating the formula: "Signo te, signo crucis," etc. sI sign thee with the sign of the cross, and confirm thee with the chrism of saliva tion, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen." And then, striking each candidate gently on the cheek, he repeated Pax tecum." During the ceremony the choir sang 'veni Creator" from Millard's mass Af- ter the confirmation there were two short antiphons, the bishop leading and the clergy responding The bishop then read prayer and thus ended one of the most impressive services ever conducted in St. Paufs church.
 Father O'Reilly and Father Chariglone intended the bishop deacons of honor and Father Wright and Father Kennedy served as assistant ministers
 Approaching Marriage