Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1904-06-16

Confirmation Tour Of the Bishop
On Monday, June 9Th, Right Rev
Alfred A. Curtis, ID. D., came 4
MechanicsviIle and st. Joseph s, st
Mary's County, TO administer tbs
Sacrament Of Confirmation in tho
Catholic Churches. The Bishop was
the guest at dinner OF DIR. Zach and
Mrs. Morgan, Of Mechanicsville
where he confirmed class of 9.
children and adults, five of whom
were converts. Doctor Morgan and
DIR. Thos. I'll. Fowler were Sponsors
for the white boys; Mrs. w. III. Bur.
roughs and Mrs. Sylvester Adams
for white girls; VIM. Herbert and
Z. Golring for the cOlored boys and
Mrs. Eliza Reed and Mrs. C. Jackson
for the colored girls. Mr.. Ben
Adams drove the Bishop TO st.
Joseph's.
Bishop Curtis was the guest oil
Rev. FIR. Kelly at st. Joseph's dur
ing his stay. The Rev. Pastor was
assisted by the following members
OF st. Joseph's Guild: Mesdames
L. b. Johnson, A. G. WEIGH, VIM.
Russell. Stephen Alvey, ]. III. Par
sons, Zach Johnson, Fred Davis,
J. I. Herbert, and Miss Fanny
Mattingly. A throne for the Bis
hop with cardinal red hangings and
drapery. as he was the Cardinal s
Delegate, had been prepared at the
gospel side Of the altar. At nine
O'Clock on Tuesday morning the pas
tor preceded by Eve acolytes and
followed by the Bishop with his
two pages, in white and crimson,
entered the sanctuary to begin the
High Mass. The music of the Mass
was rendered by a large choir un.
der the direction OF Mrs. "A. G..
WEIGH with Miss Agnes johnson.
organist, and Miss Marthaline John
son, viOlinist. The altar was bril-
liant with lights and crimson flow
ers. The episcopal blessing. was
given by the Bishop at the end OF
Mass. Then the Bishop preached a
sermon on the gifts of the Holy Ghost,
which the candidates were to re-
ceive in Confirmation. Vested in
cope and mitre, with the gold Gro
sier in hand, the Bishop was seat
ed in front OF the altar and the can
didates advanced to receive the
Sacrament. Judge Parsons andIMr.
Chas. j. Russell were Sponsors for
the boys; Miss +. Mattingly and
Miss +. Costigin, for the girls; w.
A. Somerville and Stephen Young
acted for the colored boys; Mrs.
Jos. Herbert and Mrs. Geo. w.
Greene for the cOlored girls. Dur
ing the ceremony, the choir sang
See the Paraclete Descending. !"
The Bishop explained the ceremony
in full, translating the Latin prayers
into English. After the services,
the entire congregation advanced to
kiss the Bishops ring and to re
ceive his blessing. An exquisitely
embroidered altar cloth, the handi-
work OF two young ladies of the par
ish, was used for the first time at
the Confirmation services. Mr..
Harold Joy drove the Bishop to
Leonardtown, where he was the
guest of the Jesuit Fathers during
his stay. The Pastors thanks are
due to the ladies and gentlemen of
the congregation who helped TO the
success of the occasion, but espe-
cially to the young people who as
teachers, Sunday after Sunday, gave
time and trouble TO prepare and
drill the children for the ceremony.
ST. ALOYsIUs' CHURCH.
On Sunday, June 18th, undoubtedly
the largest crowd ever assembled i'm ST.
Aloysius Church, witnessed the Confir
nation services. Representatives from
Sacred Heart, st. Joseph's, Medley's Neck,
st. Johns and Newtown were present.
The altar was a pyramid of st. Jnseph's
lilies, Crimson HANDLERS and golden huei
tapers. Never before has st. Aloysius'
Church been decorated with such exauis-
lite taste. OF the decorations and ilIumi.
nation it safiices to exclaim, "oh. what
must heaven be when such beauty dwells
on earth on Gods altar. Bishop Curtis
WAS never happier in a sermon than he
was on last sunday. The choir sang
Rosewig's new Mass with telling effect
After the Sacrament of Confirmation
was conferred beautiful sight was wit
messed during the BenedictiOn. The pie
ture was a striking one the children in
their white dresses and wells, the acOlytes
with lighted candles, the Bishop clad in
the rich vestments of the church holding
sloit the Monstrance containing the most
Holy Sacrament, every head bent low t.
receive the Benediction of their Lord and
Saviour.