The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-04
BECKW|TH
CONFIRMS CLASSES
impressive Services at St
ry'S-on-t he-HighIands
VERY PRACTICAL SERMON
Fourteen Candidates Were Confirmed
Yesterday Morning-Several Con-
firmed at Church of Ad-
vent at Night.
VERY PRACTICAL SERMON

The Right Rev. C. M. Beckwith. bishop
of the Alabama diocese of the Episcopal
church, who Is visiting the churches of
his jurisdiction in the Birmingham dis
trict this week, officiated at ST. Marys-on-
the Highlands yesterday morning. High
celebration of the holy communion and
conformation were the special features OF
the bishops service
The chancel still retained its Christmas
decorations, and the altar was draped in
white with vases of beautiful flowers
placed upon 1t.
Bishop Beckwith's sermon, delivered in
his usual practical way, was based upon
the Lords injunction to the children Of
Israel to keep the Feast of the Pass
over as set forth in the first chapter
of Exodus.
The bishop, unlike the majority Of
divines. did not use the pulpit, but in ad-
dressing the congregation came down into
the aisle, from which place his sermon
was delivered.
The Sermon.
The speaker opened his discourse, which
was brief, by referring to the Injunction
of the Lord God of Hosts to the children
of Israel; how He instiled into their
hearts and minds the Importance of keep
ing the Memorial He had given them
in establishing the Feast of the Passover.
To destroy this feast or to allow its true
import and meaning to fade from their
minds would likewise mean the destruc-
ton of the testimony, proof and teaching
of the fact.
BY way of illustration the bishop spoke
of Birmingham and the cause of its ex-
istence. He supposed that the discovery
of the natural resources around this city
was the prime factor of its foundation.
The discoverers of these products" said
the bishop may have passed away into
other fields of industry or gone to the
great beyond but every building, every
chimney, every furnace and every evil
dence of the city's progression is me-
mortal to these men who were founders
of the town"
In the same sense the speaker consid-
cred that the church was a memorial to
Gods goodness and love. the destruction
of which would mean the destruction of
the proof of what 1t stands for
The bishop referred to the celebra ton
of such days as Thanksgiving, Christmas.
sunday and New Years Reterating over
and over again that his words were not
in a spirit of criticism he deplored the
fact of their true meaning being almost
lost. In speaking of the day of circum-
cision, or New Years day, he said: 1.-THE
day OF circumcision has been swallowed
up by a civil holiday, and what Is the
result? Look into our jais. look into our
penitentiares look into our very homes
at our children, and you get your an
swer." The speaker then dweit upon the
awfuness of transgression of the law Of
God and the dsobedence of His children
Christmas Day
Christmas day was another of Gods
m emorial days. A day instituted long ago
as a memorial of the fact that our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ was born of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, took upon Himself
our nature, dwelt among us subservent
to the will of those in authority and to
be the savior of mankind.
The speaker dwelt with especial force
on Sunday. Its observance was the most
is a memorial to the resurrection of
Jesus. 1t began on the first Easter
morn and today Is monument to that
fact.
1.-The day that you and l." said the
bishop, succeed in blottng out the obser-
vance of this sacred day we blot out the
memorial and proof Of the resurrection.
Why Man Doubts.
MANY a man in our midst doubts the
resurrection of Jesus Christ because he
has lost sight of the fact that today
memoralizes that event.
In conclusion Bishop Beckwith urged
better observance of the days set apart as
memorials of Gods goodness and mercy.
The injunction was given In the spirit of
the apostle Peter who said, II came to
stir up your pure minds by way of re-
membrane"
The Confirmation.
After the sermon fourteen persons pre-
scented themselves for the rite Of con-
firmation. With bowed heads they each
received the "laying on Of hands" from
the bishop. who. with solemnity BETTING
the occasion evoked the Holy spirit and
the guidance of God upon every one of
them. After this ceremony the bishop
delivered short address to those who had
been confirmed, which was in substance
along the same line that part Of his
sermon regarding the observance Of Sum
day After the address the newly con-
firmed returned to their seats and the
communion service was proceeded with.
The church was filled and after the SER
vice the bishop was the subject of much
praise.
At Night.
At night Bishop Beckwith preached at
the Church of the Advent, where confir-
ration services were held. A large con-
gregation was present
Bishop Beckwith has several appoint