The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-26

[AIl0lGN > AS1liIO0Id al CNStIA1iS ~ LIN
members of the Episcopal Convocation
and the congregations OF the churches
in Honolulu, was one of the most in
teresting heard during the present
gathering. The address followed the
evening service the Bishop sitting in a
chair in the main aisle of the chancel
during the reading of his paper. His
| references to the baptism of children
the duties of the sponsors and the
etiquette of the church for marriages,
were of special value as was afrank
criticism OF those persons who fail in
their duty to the children for whom they
stood sponsor at the baptismal font.
Following the address an adjourn
ment was taken to the Sunday-school
room where the remaining business of
the Convocation was concluded with the
election of a Board of Equalization
The Bishop began his address with
! references to the eminent divires Of the
| Episcopal church who passed away
during the past year. Among these
were Bishop Clark of Rhode Island,
Bishop Starkey of Newark, Bishop Tay-
lor of Springfield, Bishop Hugh Thomp-
son of Mississippi
The Bishop then enumerated many
matters coming under his personal
direction in the diocese, stating also that
there were, including himself, fourteen
clergy in the Islands.
He spoke of the pleasure churchmen
felt in the knowledge that the diocese
was moving toward the addition to the
fabric of the Cathedral, he having al
ready been promised substantial gifts
for its completion. With reference to
the importance of baptism and t1e
bringing up of children under Christian
influences, the Bishop said:
1t is the full intention of the church
that for the children whom she receives
by baptism ample provision shall be |
made for their being brought up in the |
nurture and admonition of the Lord. I |
am sure we all doubt the wisdom or |
eXpediency, not to say the Christian |
utility or even right action of baptizing |
children unless there is a reasonable |
guarantee that the children shall be as
they grow up instructed in those
things which Christian ought to know
and believe" 1t is for this that pro-
vision is made for sponsors in addi-
ton to the natural sponsors, the par
ents. In the American church there is
a wise provision that the parents may
be the sponsors. 1 say wise because
often there are no suitable persons
known to the parents, and sponsorship
is not something to be undertaken
lightly. We of the clergy while we
can not refuse to baptize children
brought to US, ought to talk to and as
far as possible instruct parents as to
the duties and obligations involved in
bringing child to Holy Baptism. 1t
it not merely a pleasing ceremony, not
a conventional function for the giving
Of name. 1t is the grating of a
soul into Christs holy church. a graft
will not grow and bear fruit unless il
receives proper attention. A seed not
only needs the planting, it needs also
light and heat and moisture if it is to
grow and develop. I speak reverently
and from a high religious standpoint
when L say that if a parent brings a
child to baptism from any other mo-
i've than a desire to make the child a
member of Christ's church and to bring
him up as a living member of the same,
hen, as far as the parent is concerned, I
he action is irreverent and may degen
crate into a superstition or Gas far as
hey are concerned 1 repeat a religious
'arce.
hon &c f1an cit n "a |
parents should be instructed before
hey bring their children to holy bap-
ism if there is any doubu as to their
serious intention and proper under
standing. This is day of lightly TAX
IN vows. Men in various secret orders
lake long oaths, the terms of which
hey never heard before they sWore to
keep them.
Again not only must the parents be
instructed what a solemn vow and
promise the. baptism of children in
wolves but there must be the careful
selection of sponsors. In a community
such as this, in fact in any community,
we must be very careful. I have had
brought to my notice lately the care
and faithfulness of sponsors under
serious difficulties of distance and SEEM
ing parental Indifference. The sponsor
CANNED the right to tell the parents
what she thought was dangerous and
what would impair the intention of her
VOW. We have many examples of faith
full sponsorship in these Islands for
which we may we'll thank God.
But there are often cases when it
seems as if parents had only in mind
in the selection of sponsors that it is
to be a compliment to ask
some friend to act. How many of you
brethren of the clergy have been con-
fronted with intended sponsors whom
you know to be Indifferent or goddess
or even unitarian or agnostic? I re-
member very we'll having difficulties as
a parish priest because I quietly but
firmly insisted that a sponsor must at
least be a person who meant what he
said in the answers to the questions
in the baptismaI service. That he must
be one who ''beIiayed all the articles