The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-09
CONFIRMATION
SERVICES HELD.
SUNDAY IMPORTANT DAY FOR
CATHOLICS Of BILLINGS.
BISHOP LEHMAN HERE.
sixty-Fi,ve Children Receive sacra-
ment-Father Stack and Father En-
dres of Cody Assist in Ceremonies.
Special Music for Occasion.
g

--
Sunday was an important day in
the Catholic church of this city. I'm
portant for two reasons, one, because
IS children approached holy COM
munion at the 8 O'clock mass, which
mass was said by Father Stack and
at which he preached a short, concise
and pointed sermon, and second be-
cause of the confirmation Of the same
children with 10 grown people at the
high mass, which high mass was said
by Right Rev. Bishop Lenihan, D. D.,
Of Great Fails. The high mass was
sung by Father Endres of Cody, Wyo.,
and the bishop was assisted at his
throne by the pastor, Father Stack.
The affairs were beautifully decorat-
ed in white natural flowers and the
myriads Of electric lights spread their
effulgence over the altar. The sane
tuary was carpeted with a beautiful
olive colored carpet.
The choir was augmented for the
occasion and Its rendition Of Mozart's
Gloria" vas a treat for the people Of
Billings. The choir showed what al
be done by earnest effort In the pro-
duction Of difficult and classical
masses Mr.. Gilluly added another
treat to the occasion by singing as Of
fertory in his usual happy manner the
"Veni Creator
Girls Dressed In White.
The children for the first COM
munion to the number Of IS were
dressed for the occasion, the girls in
white with wreaths of white natural
flowers on their heads, and a veil
thrown yer their shoulders and with
q lighted candle in their hands, and
the boys in black suits, red carnations
on their vests and white bows on their
right arms. They carried lighted can
dies In their hands, all making a very
pleasing sight as they approached the
altar railing to receive the communion
from the hands Of their pastor, Father
Stack. who had been training them
for the last month preparatory to this
event. One could not help but see
and admire the order, the neatness,
the quiet and dignity which pervaded
the whole ceremony, which ceremony
was under the entire charge Of the
pastor.
Miss Edna Carroll and Miss Mamie
Conway, both young ladies Of the par
ish. were dressed in spotless white
and looked out for the wants of the lit
tie ones as they were approaching this
sacrament.
Bishop Addresses Children.
After the first mass the children
and parents went to their homes and
returned for the high mass. Immedi-
ately after the high mass the bishop
dressed in all his regalia, addressed
the children on the nature and effects
OF the sacrament Of confirmation. His
remarks were solemnly uttered and
listened to with rapt attention. I'm.
mediately after his remarks the
bishop assembled his throne on the
high altar and read the accustomed
prayers, extended his hands over the
kneeling candidates for the sacrament
and prayed that the holy ghost may
come upon them, after which he pro-
ceeded to the altar railing, where, as
sisted by Father Endres Of Cody and
Father Stack, he began the conhrma-
tibn Of each one.
This confirmation consisted of the
amounting OF the forehead with holy
chrism and touching each one lightly
on the cheek with his hand to signify
that they must bear all difficulties
that they may across in their lives in
the name Of Christ.
The bishop confirmed ~ candidates,
IL Of whom were grown-up people and
eight Of them converts to the Cath
ole church, all these converts being
received within the last two weeks.
Father Stack instructed them since
the mission, preparatory to this great
event In their lives. Mr.. and Mrs.
James Carroll were the sponsors.
Four Great Evils Of the Day.
As 0 as the confirmation was
over the bishop again addressed the
audience on the four great evils Of
the day viewed from the Catholic
standpoint. He said that the first
evil he would call the attention Of his
audience to was the mistaken and
foolish policy Of missing mass on Sun
day. This he denounced as wrong
and sinful. Second. he denounced
the sin Of impurity which is threaten
Ing the homes and lives Of the people
In general. Third, he called attention
To- the sin Of blasphemy, and fourth
the great sin Of intemperance, upon
which the bishop dwelt at length, tell
Ing the people that temperance was q
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