The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-07
BISHOP OPATST.PETER'S
cLAss or FIFTY CHILDREN IS CON-
 FIRMED.
Three Impressive Services at Catheise Church, and Two Addresses by Distinguished Prelate of
 Mobile.

N Mobile.
 I The three services at St. Peters Catholic Church yesterday were largely attended
 Early mass was the occasion of a very impressive ceremony attendant to the first communion of fifty children. who received for the first time, froii the hand of Right Reverend Edward Allen. Bishop of Mobile. the Holy Sac rament of the Eucharist. The proees- sion to the altar, with its lighted can dles and accompanying music by the children's choir. was inspiring.
 Bishop Allen. addressed some telling and appropriate remarks to the congrs- gation and the communicants, exho.t- ing the latter to preserve through lie the innocence of their first communion and the former to recall the sweetness of their own impressions on similar day of happy memories.
 II At the late mass St. Peters male choir sang a difYlcult mass. Although only recently organized. this choir un- der the direction of Prof Hammond, Is attracting very favorable attention. The present members are, Me;Nrs. Csssi- mus, Edwards and J. Linnehan, tenor, Messrs. West and O'Connell, baritone; Messrs. Locke and Hogshead. bass. Professor Merriam presided at the or gan.
 As soon as the gospel was sung, and the announcements were made, Bishop Allen who occupied seat in the Sanctuary, approached the altar and delivered an elegant and instruc- tive sermon on Union With God"
 Happiness" said the bishop, "is an attribute of humanity. In every hu- man heart there is that ever present longing for something that will satis- fy Its needs. That something is var I H&<sx x~I& I-tz E<1 | ov1c the riches of the world, for others the triumph of the social order, for others 1 still the qualification of carnal pleas ures. But do any of these false illus ions with their superficial lustre give to man the satisfaction that is com pletely in accordance with his nature? Not at all. Viewed as the ultimate ends of life, they are rather productive of the vexation of spirit that the wise man sorrowfully laments.
 | True happiness cannot be attained by any object that is purely earthly. The soul besring the stamp of Gods eternal majesty cannot be happy when | its energies are confined to the sordid | things of life. Higher than the stars 1t scars. beyond the galaxies and suns. even to the throne of Him who made 1t, and there alone suffused with the light | of the Infinite does 1t rest in peace. Urion with God will alone on earth give that Inward calm that Is suggest i've of eternal happiness and this union 1t is within our power to make Jour own.
 Thus have the saints in all ages read the puzzle of existence. In Tact, union | with God Is demanded by our nature. and may we at ell times in the turmoil of existence keenly appreciate its ne- cessity."
 The reverend speaker interspersed his
 
 cal allusions and concluded with an earnest appeal for a realization of the union on which he dwelt. in the daily routine of the household or business cares.
 The third service of the day. the con- firmation service, was attended by congregation that filled not only the auditorium and galleries, but also the vestibule and aisle. The beautiful ves- per service began at o'clock. being chanted by members of the ladies' and childrens' choirs.
 At the conclusion of the chant. Bish op Allen again addressed the congre- gation. His sermon had reference to the means of grace in the Catholic Church, as found in the seven Sacra- ments of Catholic belief, with a special description of the sacrament about to be conferred namely confirmation.
 What is a sacrament" he asked. "A
  rior grace Every sacrament has three special characteristics. the outward sign, invisible grace, and institution by Christ. God. who Is the author of grace, could alone confer 1t and. ther"- fore, could alone institute a sacrament properly so called. Might He not. however, adopt other measures than those He in His wisdom selected? Might He not have healed the blind man with out the spittle? Certainly, He might in both cases, but the question is one of fact and not of possibility. God has His own way of doing things and what He does wc must not question.
 Who are we, that we dare to crit icise the ways of God? When then He elects to give us means of grace. not to the exclusion of other means of course. in the Sacraments, we accept them in a grateful not a critical spir- 1t.
 There are seven sacraments given to us by Jesus Christ, each with its own peculiar power, Baptism Confirm T ation, Holy Eucharist. Penance, Ex- treme Unction. Holy Orders and Mat rimony You notice how beautifully they are adapted to our needs. Bap- tism makes us heirs of Heaven. chill dren of Christ Confirmation strength ems us, confirms us soldiers of the cross; Holy Eucharist gives Us spirit
 
 lifts us up again. if we fall, restores 1 the sinner
 Extreme unchion help us in the dread moments of death, prepares us for eternity, and Holy Orders and Mat rimony underlie the economy of God in carrying out the preservation of his priesthood and his people. the one by giving His ministers to the world, the other by sanctifying the propagation of the human race"
 This line of thought was considerably developed by the learned preacher with great skill and simplicity adapted to the intelligence of the children. to whom he principally spoke The var ious ceremonies proper to the sacra- ment of confirmation were explained, a strong appeal was made to the can didates for the sacramental rite to be ever true to the gifts of the Holy spirit about to be conferred upon them. gifts, fidelity to which would be an earnest of their felicity with Christ who was their Creator and Redeemer.
 After the sermon the candidates in- dividually received the annoiting with the holy oil. which with the imposi- tion of hands. are proper to the con ferring of the Sacrament
 During the event the Veni Creator, and other hymns were softly rendered by the choir, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given by Bish- op Allen, and was sung by the male choir assisted by the children.