The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-05-05
HIS LAST
SERMON
Bishop Nichols
Speaks in St.
Andrews.
LARGE CLASS
IS NfiRMED
Ceremony Performed by Visiting
Churchman Who Was Assisted
by Bishop Willis.

II ISHoP NICHOLS bade farewell to
II the congregation OF st. Andrews
Cathedral last night at the close OF
his address to a class of over thirty
men and women whom he hal just con-
/ firmed. The distinguished churchman
expressed deep regret at leaving his
Kew made friends in Hawaii.
A very beautiful choral service was
given by an augmented choir in con-
nection with the confirming Of the
class the anthem following the confir-
nation being of a high order. Among
those who were at the altar rail to
receive the blessing OF Bishop Nichols
and of Bishop Willis, who stood within
the altar space throughout the service.
were H. NJ. Whitney and Robert Ry-
croft.
The two bishops occupied seats side
part Of the service. Lessons were read
by Rev. Mr.. Tompkins. of Hamakua,
and Rev. Canon Kitcat read the prayer
'service. Rev. Canon Macintosh pre-
sented the candidates for confirmation
at the altar rail The women were
robed in white and wore gauze wells.
The bishop, laying hands upon each
candidate in turn, said: Defend, Oh
Lord, this thy servant with thy holy
grace, that he Cor she) may continue
in thy favor and daily increase in thy
holy spirit more and more. until he (or
she) shall come into thine everlasting
kingdom" Bishop Willis tnen arose
and invoked the blessing.
In his address to those whom he
had confirmed, Bishop Nichols spoke
of the principles of the doctrine of the
service. He said the service was such
as would edify not only those who were
confirmed, but those who witnessed it,
and ii was an opportone moment for
most people to remember the time when
they also knelt before a bishop to be
received into the church. But there
were many who did not understand ex-
actly what it meant. He said that in
discussing the rite of confirmation he
was going over familiar ground The
laying on of hands after the example
of the apostles is sign OF Gods good
ness. Some people say they do not see
any particular use in the sign as ex-
pressed in the laying on Of hands.
Bishop Nichols put the qu.ry, Why do
people in transferring piece OF prop
erty, attach a seal to The paper OF
record? 1t was a sign OF the civil
power OF the country. The laying on of
hands is sign of the spiritual power.
The bishop told an incident In a
South American city where a file OF SOL
1iers were about to execute a man. An
American rushed forward and, wrap
1ing an American flag about the man,
Jared them to fire. One by one the
nuZzles of the guns were lowered and
Il length the soldiers marched away.
What was there in a piece of cheap
,untiDg and cheap dies that caused the
ifles to hold back their missiles of
eath? In that bunting was sign. the
ign OF great and powerful nation;
he bunting, the flag, represented the
highest ideals of the nation Tt was
his sign for which men went forward
nto battle for their country's honor.
'hus IL was with the sign of God.
Some people say to a minister that
hey do not feel good enough to go to
Iod's altar to be confirmed. The bishop
aid this was probably an honest opin-
IN of ones self. but too often it wa.
n excuse Should one man say to an
ther that that same man was mo
ood." Il would mean that he was not
eiiable, had no integrity, did not pay
IS debts. and, in a commercial sense,
as not TO be trusted. This was the
inerence between a man saying of
mself he was mot good enough" and
hers saying it of him. Confirmation
d not mean that one was joining a
.lect club. Not at all. 1t meant fel-
wship in the church Of Christ