Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-02
LARGE CLASS
CONFIRMED
FoRTY-TWo PERSONS ADMITTED
TO ST. JOHNS CHURCH
BISHOP JOHNSON SPEAKS ON
RESPONSIBILITIES
Lenten Sacrifices, He Says, Are Made
as Training for Future Tempta-
tIons and Not as Atone-
ments

pal church, 514 West Adams street,
yesterday presented to the Right Rev.
DR.. j. II. Johnson, bishop of Los An
geles, for confirmation class of forty
two, the second biggest class in the
history of the parish.
BY hard work and energetic perse-
verance the Rev. Morris has expanded
the sphere of usefulness of the many
fiourishing activities of st. Johns, and
has accomplished good results,
The, beautiful church building was
crowded to overfiowing by large and
earnest congregation. Addressing the
new members. whom he had admitted
to church privileges and responsible
tiles, Bishop johnson expressed great
satisfaction with the zeal and earnest-
ness of Rev. Morris, saying that he
knew the class had been perfectly pre-
pared.
He addressed the class as follows
"I have felt called on several occa-
sions to emphasize the Importance OF
the church's training for spiritual life.
/ feel sometimes as though this IDEA
was lost sight Of have sometimes
thought that our church people them
selves have sometimes failed to neeog-
nize the fact that the power or the
church system is in its force as IN edu-
cational institution. It Is the duty CT
fathers mothers, sponsors and all up
on whom the responsibility for the up
bringing of children rests to make
them appreciate the fact that they are
not without divine influences con-
stantly about them, but that they are
Gods children, and that as being God 9
children they must live with this idea
predominating their lives.
Lenten Season Educational
"The Lenten season is part of the
eAn adt finna1 do not
think people who are in the church and
properly instructed have that feeling;
but sometimes you may see In the pa
pers implications that during Lenten
season we are paying off spiritual
scores, and that during the rest of the
year we feel entitled to do things that
are wrong or Observation-Disclosures the
standard or off COLOR that through
the Lenten Season we may be striving
to be sanctified. and that when Easter
comes we let the reins loose again, and
go back to the place whence we came
Now the Lenten season Is part-a
feature--of the educational system or
the church. During this Lenten season
perhaps we are taking account of our
spiritual stock We are looking to see
where we are in the sight of God; not
that we should not always be aware or
the fact that we are always IN GOO s
sight. but one consequence of lives so
ficult to concentrate on these serious
matters.
an Lent we come apart with Jesus
and rest awhile in order that we may
look into our own souls and gauge our
lives by the divine standard of the life
of Jesus, and by spiritual exercise we
are to prepare ourselves to meet the
spiritual exigencies and emergencies
that arise We are making SELF
deniaIs and surrendering this or that
pleasure not because they are wrong,
but because by the exercise OF VIII
power. strength is given to US, so that
when the occasion comes ana IL is
necessary for us to face temptation we
shall have been trained as soldiers and
shall be ready for it and prepared to
resist it and overcome IL.
This is part of the training the
church gives its members as GODS SOL
diers. with the object that when these
soldiers are thrust into battle, victory
shall be theirs. Have this thought in
mind during Lent, that you are not
paying off old scores, BUT preparing
yourselves for the battle of life, 1t is
the practical opportunity that the
church gives in her system for the
training of the spiritual life'
Gods Help in Trouble
The bishop dwelt eloquently on the
subject of the reality of Gods help In
times of trouble, trial and temptation,
and told the new communicates that
thew need not be afraid of temptation
if they would look God in the face and
trust in Him.
.'God is always anxious to help, you
rise to your ideal,' he added. "As
some one has said;YGod and one man
are a majority. There is another thing
TO bear in mind. You will find, as you
read the story of the church's life, that
confirmation has been regarded as
sort ofe ordination of the laity. We
are all called to be kings and priests to
God. Every member of the church of
God is priest. / am priest. was
a uriest before was set apart to be
minister. Every man and woman and
child upon whom have placed my
hands this morning has been ordained
to a priestly work. If you rise to this
idea that you are priests 1t means that
wherever you are you will be powers
for the Lord Jesus Christ, and that IS
what the world needs at the present
day."
referring to the worldly trend of
human society and the nature of the
objects in life sought by many, tho
bishop said:
when Wolsey said to Cromwell,
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away
ambition.' he simply uttered what
every wise man and woman gets to
realize, and every man as he realizes it
says to every one beginning life, r
charge thee, fling away ambition. 1t is
not worth while We often hear the
expression, there is nothing In that
life. 1t is wholly unsatisfactory
"But If, as priests of the church of
God, you are doing. something every
day to make some one else happier, IL
you are doing something to bring some-
thing into other peoples lives, if only
kind word, If you are only performing
a service that seems no more than Civ
ing a cup of cold water, as a priest Of
God in the church of God you are doing
an immense thing, although it seems to
YOU so small a thing.
"Not long ago heard woman say
there is more real joy in ministering
day by day at the bedside of a sick
woman than in all the social success
for which so many people are con-
stantly striving. and this woman who
made the remark I have quoted knew
what it is to have great social success.
as well as to have this spiritual satis-
faction"
He'd Noticed 1t
The Professor-The North star is es-